Category: Memphis Grizzlies Blog

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Lakers trade Marc Gasol to Grizzlies

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired the draft rights to Wang Zhelin in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for Marc Gasol, a future second round pick and cash considerations.

According to multiple reports, the Grizzlies plan to waive Gasol.

Per the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “Gasol has not publicly announced any decisions on his future. If Memphis does becomes his final NBA stop, it brings his career full circle after the Lakers traded his draft rights in 2008 in a deal involving older brother Pau.”

And per the Los Angeles Times, “the move saves the Lakers more than $10 million in luxury-tax penalties and creates a roster spot.”

Gasol (7-1, 255) has appeared in 891 regular season games (866 starts) and has averaged 14.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 32.2 minutes over his 13-year NBA career with the Grizzlies, Raptors and Lakers. A member of the Grizzlies’ Western Conference Finals team in 2013, Gasol helped guide the Grizzlies to seven consecutive playoff appearances during his 11 seasons in Memphis. The Barcelona, Spain, native became the first European-born player to earn the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award (2012-13), was named to the All-NBA First Team (2014-15) and was selected to a franchise-record three NBA All-Star Games (2012, 2015, 2017) while with the Grizzlies.

Wang was drafted by the Grizzlies with the 57th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Grizzlies waive Rajon Rondo, who may return to Lakers

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team waived guard Rajon Rondo.

Rondo was acquired by Grizzlies from the Los Angeles Clippers on Aug. 16.

Per ESPN.com, “Rondo will likely sign with the Lakers, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, upon clearing waivers after a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. Rondo, 35, was traded from the LA Clippers to the Grizzlies earlier this month as a part of the Eric Bledsoe deal, but he reached an agreement on the final year of his contract worth $8.3 million to go back on the market.”

Grizzlies trade Patrick Beverley to Timberwolves

The Memphis Grizzlies have acquired guard Jarrett Culver and forward Juancho Hernangómez in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves for guard Patrick Beverley.

In addition, the Grizzlies have waived guard/forward Sean McDermott.

Beverley, 33, has appeared in 468 regular season games (384 starts) in nine NBA seasons with the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 8.8 points on 41.5% shooting, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. The 6-1 guard played in 37 games (34 starts) for the Clippers last season, averaging 7.5 points on 42.3% shooting, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. His best game in 2020-21 came on Jan. 5 vs. San Antonio when he finished with a season-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 6-of-9 from deep, eight rebounds and a season-high eight assists. Beverley has seen action in 59 career playoff games (48 starts), including 17 games (seven starts) in last season’s playoffs and has averaged 7.9 points on 41.2% shooting, 4.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

The University of Arkansas product is a three-time NBA All-Defensive team selection, including being named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2016-17, his final season with the Rockets. Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 42nd overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Chicago native spent three seasons overseas in Greece, Russia, and Ukraine. He signed as a free agent

Culver (6-6, 195) has appeared in 97 games (42 starts) and holds career averages of 7.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20.7 minutes in two seasons with Minnesota. The 22-year-old Dallas native was selected by Phoenix with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft after guiding Texas Tech University to the 2019 NCAA Championship Game as a sophomore.

Hernangómez (6-9, 214) has appeared in 257 games (57 starts) and owns career averages of 5.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in 16.4 minutes over his five-year NBA career with Denver and Minnesota. A native of Madrid, Spain, the 25-year-old was drafted by Denver with the 15th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

McDermott (6-6, 195) appeared in 18 games off the bench for the Grizzlies as a rookie last season and averaged 2.2 points and 1.1 rebounds in 8.8 minutes. Undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Butler University, the 24-year-old native of Anderson, Ind., also competed in six games for the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle.

Grizzlies trade Eric Bledsoe to Clippers for Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu

The Memphis Grizzlies have acquired guards Patrick Beverley and Rajon Rondo and center Daniel Oturu in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for guard Eric Bledsoe.

“We are excited to add Eric, a strong, versatile guard and an established playmaker who can attack the paint and defend multiple positions,” said Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. “Eric started his career with the Clippers and we’re delighted to bring him back.”

Bledsoe has appeared in 702 games (539 starts) and owns career averages of 14.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 28.0 minutes during his 11-year NBA career with the New Orleans Pelicans, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns and Clippers. Selected 18th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft out of the University of Kentucky, the 31-year-old averaged 12.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 29.7 minutes over 71 games (70 starts) for New Orleans last season.

“It’s always difficult to part with people we care about, respect and admire,” said Frank. “Pat has been a pillar of our team for the past four years. He helped build our foundation with his vocal leadership and competitive spirit. Pat played a vital role in some of our most significant achievements. We are grateful for his presence and for the contributions of Rajon, a premier orchestrator, and Daniel, a promising young center. We wish them the best.”

Per the Los Angeles Times, “in addition to dumping the expiring contracts owed to Beverley and Rondo off their books, the Clippers aren’t locked in long-term with Bledsoe; only $3.9 million of his $19 million salary next season is guaranteed. His addition was a bet on the belief that the Clippers’ ability to spread the floor with three-point shooting will play to Bledsoe’s strengths by opening driving lanes to the rim.”

Beverley (6-1, 180) has appeared in 468 games (384 starts) and holds career averages of 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.14 steals in 27.6 minutes in his nine-year NBA career with Houston and the Clippers. Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 42nd pick in the 2009 NBA Draft out of the University of Arkansas, the 33-year-old Chicago native competed in 37 games (34 starts) and averaged 7.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 22.5 minutes for the Clippers last season.

Rondo (6-1, 180) has appeared in 918 games (732 starts) and owns career averages of 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.62 steals in 30.4 minutes in his 15-year NBA career with Boston, Dallas, Sacramento, Chicago, New Orleans, the Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta and the Clippers. Drafted by Phoenix with the 21st overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft out of the University of Kentucky, the 35-year-old Louisville native split last season with the Hawks and Clippers and averaged 5.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 17.1 minutes in 45 games (three starts).

Oturu (6-10, 240) appeared in 30 games off the bench and averaged 1.8 points and 1.6 rebounds in 5.4 minutes as a rookie for the Clippers last season. The 21-year-old Brooklyn native was selected by Minnesota with the 33rd overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of the University of Minnesota.

Memphis Grizzlies sign Killian Tillie to two-way contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward/center Killian Tillie to a two-way contract.

The 6-foot-10, 220-pound Tillie has averaged 14.5 points in 22.4 minutes per game in Memphis’ first two games of 2021 Vegas Summer League.

Last season, as an NBA rookie, he played in 18 games (one start) for the Grizzlies last season, averaging 3.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 10.1 minutes per outing.

Tillie, who is 23 years old, signed his first two-way contract with the team on Nov. 24, 2020, after going unselected in the 2020 NBA Draft.

The Cagnes-sur-Mer, France, native was named to the 2019-20 All-West Coast Conference First Team as a senior at Gonzaga University and helped guide the Bulldogs to the 2017 NCAA Championship Game as a freshman. He shot at least 40 percent from 3-point range in all four years at Gonzaga and left the program with a career 3-point percentage of 44.4 percent.

Three-team NBA trade sends Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe to Grizzlies, Jonas Valanciunas to Pelicans

The Memphis Grizzlies have acquired center Steven Adams, guard Eric Bledsoe, the draft rights to wing Ziaire Williams (the 10th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft) and a protected 2022 first round draft pick (via Los Angeles Lakers) from the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a three-team trade also involving the Charlotte Hornets. Memphis also received from New Orleans the draft rights to guard Jared Butler (the 40th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft) for his inclusion in a trade agreed to in principle and to be completed later.

In exchange, the Grizzlies traded center Jonas Valančiūnas, the draft rights to forward Trey Murphy (the 17th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft) and the draft rights to guard Brandon Boston (the 51st overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft) to the Pelicans and traded the draft rights to Tyler Harvey (the 51st overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft) to the Hornets.

In addition, the Hornets traded guard Devonte’ Graham to the Pelicans. The Pelicans traded wing Wesley Iwundu and a protected 2022 first round pick to the Hornets.

“As we entered this offseason, we were intently focused upon improving our shooting, leadership and the overall fit of our roster,” said Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin. “The players that are joining us today speak directly to those areas of concern. More importantly, their strength of character as men, and teammates that are eager to be part of our larger Pelicans family will be critical as we continue building towards sustainable success.”

Adams (6-11, 265) has competed in 588 games (524 starts) and holds career averages of 9.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 26.9 minutes in his eight-year NBA career with the Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder. The New Zealand native started all 58 appearances for New Orleans last season and averaged 7.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 27.7 minutes. Selected 12th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft out of the University of Pittsburgh, the 28-year-old ranks seventh in NBA history in field goal percentage (.591).

Bledsoe (6-1, 214) has appeared in 702 games (539 starts) and owns career averages of 14.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 28.0 minutes in his 11-year NBA career with the Pelicans, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers. Selected 18th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft out of the University of Kentucky, the 31-year-old averaged 12.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 29.7 minutes in 71 games (70 starts) for New Orleans last season.

Williams (6-8 ¼, 185) was named a top-10 finalist for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award last season as a freshman at Stanford University, where he averaged 10.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 27.8 minutes in 20 games. The 19-year-old California native recorded the second triple-double in program history with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists on Jan. 7 vs. Washington and earned Naismith Trophy Player of the Week honors on Jan. 11.

Valančiūnas (6-11 ¼, 265) has competed in 621 games (592 starts) and holds career averages of 12.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 25.6 minutes in his nine-year NBA career with the Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors. Selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the 29-year-old Lithuania native averaged 16.4 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 27.3 minutes in 151 games (148 starts) over two-plus seasons in Memphis.

Grizzlies sign guard Tim Frazier for remainder of season

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Tim Frazier for the remainder of the 2020-21 season.

Frazier (6-1, 170) has appeared in three games for the Grizzlies and has totaled four points, four rebounds and seven assists in 33 minutes after originally signing with the team on Jan. 4 and again to a 10-day contract on April 14. The 30-year-old has played 275 games (81 starts) over seven NBA seasons and holds career averages of 5.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 17.6 minutes with seven different teams.

Unselected in the 2014 NBA Draft, Frazier was named the 2014-15 NBA G League Most Valuable Player and NBA G League Rookie of the Year as a member of the Maine Red Claws. The Houston native finished his collegiate career at Penn State University as the program’s all-time leader in assists.

Grizzlies sign Tim Frazier to 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Tim Frazier to a 10-day contract.

Frazier (6-1, 170) appeared in three games for the Grizzlies earlier this season, totaling four points, four rebounds and seven assists in 33 minutes. The 30-year-old has competed in 275 regular season games (81 starts) over seven NBA seasons and holds career averages of 5.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 17.6 minutes for seven different teams.

Unselected in the 2014 NBA Draft, Frazier was named the 2014-15 NBA G League Most Valuable Player and NBA G League Rookie of the Year and was selected to the All-NBA G League First Team and NBA G League All-Star Game as a member of the Maine Red Claws. The Houston native finished his collegiate career at Penn State University as the program’s all-time leader in assists.

Frazier will wear jersey #10 for the Grizzlies.