Category: Memphis Grizzlies Blog

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Four Memphis restaurants approved for NBA team dining

Here’s the Memphis Commercial Appeal with some insight on safety precautions that the league and individual teams are taking:

Wonder where NBA players eat out? Well, the secret is out.

The NBA just released a list of restaurants approved for NBA team dinners. On the nationwide list are Memphis restaurants Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Catherine & Mary’s, Bishop and Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe.

Team dinners are a post-game tradition. The NBA worked with restaurants across the country to find a way teams could safely host these gatherings.

Full article

Grizzlies exercise contract options on Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke and Grayson Allen

The Memphis Grizzlies have exercised their 2021-22 contract options on guard Ja Morant, forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr., forward Brandon Clarke and guard Grayson Allen.

For in the 2021-22 season, Morant will reportedly make around $9.6 million, Jackson around $9.18 million, Clarke around $2.73 million, and Allen around $4 million.

Morant was named the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year and received 2019-20 NBA All-Rookie First Team honors after averaging 17.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 31.0 minutes in 67 games (all starts) last season. Selected by the Grizzlies with the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, the 21-year-old was chosen for the 2020 NBA Rising Stars as part of NBA All-Star Weekend 2020 alongside Jackson Jr. and Clarke.

Jackson Jr. has averaged 15.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.51 blocks in 27.3 minutes in 115 games (113 starts) over two seasons since he was selected by Memphis with the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. The 21-year-old, who received 2018-19 NBA All-Rookie First Team accolades, averaged 17.4 points and 1.61 blocks (10th in the NBA) during the 2019-20 campaign, scoring a career-high 43 points on Dec. 13, 2019, against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Clarke appeared in 58 games (four starts) as a rookie last season and averaged 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 22.4 minutes while shooting an NBA rookie-record 61.8 percent from the field (fourth in the NBA). Clarke, who was selected 21st overall in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft, was named to the 2019-20 NBA All-Rookie First Team alongside Morant and finished fourth in the 2019-20 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year voting.

Allen has competed in 76 games (two starts) and has averaged 7.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 14.9 minutes for the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies. Selected by Utah with the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft, Allen appeared in 38 games as a reserve and averaged 8.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 18.9 minutes while shooting 40.4 percent from 3-point range last season, his first with the Grizzlies.

Grizzlies sign Zhaire Smith and Bennie Boatwright, waive Jahlil Tripp and Marko Guduric

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Zhaire Smith and forward Bennie Boatwright.

At the same time, the team waived guards Jahlil Tripp and Marko Guduric.

Listed at 6-foot-3, 205 lbs,. Smith over the course of two NBA seasons has appeared in 13 games (two starts) with the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 3.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per game.

He’s also played in the G League, where for the Delaware Blue Coats he averaged 11.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 28.2 minutes per outing.

The 21-year-old was traded by the 76ers to the Pistons on November 23, and was waived by the Pistons on Dec. 2.

he played college hoops at Texas Tech University, and is from Garland, Texas.

Boatwright (6-10, 235) spent the 2019-20 season with the Memphis Hustle but did not play due to injury. The 24-year-old played four seasons at the University of Southern California, where he was selected 2018-19 All-Pac 12 First Team after appearing in 31 games (28 starts) and averaging 18.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 33.5 minutes while shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from 3-point range (90-210 3P) during his senior year.

A native of California, Boatwright went unselected in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Tripp (6-5, 215) appeared in two preseason games and averaged 3.0 points in 3.6 minutes after signing with the Grizzlies on Nov. 28. Undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft, the 23-year-old Brooklyn native was named the 2019-20 West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year and selected All-WCC First Team as a senior at Pacific University.

Guduric (6-6, 201) appeared in 44 games as a rookie last season and averaged 3.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 11.0 minutes. The 25-year-old Serbia native played for KK Crvena Zvezda before going unselected in the 2017 NBA Draft and competed with Fenerbahçe in Turkey before joining the NBA.

Grizzlies sign Ahmad Caver, waive Mario Hezonja

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Ahmad Caver.

In addition, the team waived forward Mario Hezonja.

Caver (6-2, 175) appeared in 39 games (two starts) and averaged 9.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.28 steals in 24.4 minutes last season for the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle. Unselected in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Atlanta native was named to the 2018-19 All-Conference USA First Team as a senior at Old Dominion and led the Big Blue to the 2019 C-USA Championship.

Hezonja (6-8, 220) has appeared in 330 games (69 starts) and has averaged 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 18.5 minutes over five NBA seasons (2015-20) with the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers. Memphis acquired the 30th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft from the Boston Celtics to select Desmond Bane and acquired Hezonja from the Trail Blazers as part of a three-team trade on Nov. 20.

Grizzlies sign rookie forward Xavier Tillman

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed 2020 second round draft pick Xavier Tillman Sr. to a multi-year contract.

Tillman Sr. (6-8, 245) was selected with the 35th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and acquired by the Grizzlies from the Sacramento Kings.

A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Tillman Sr. was named the 2019-20 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and selected to the 2019-20 All-Big Ten Second Team last season as a junior at Michigan State University. The 21-year-old started all 31 games for the Spartans last season and averaged 13.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.19 steals and 2.10 blocks in 32.1 minutes.

Tillman Sr., who teamed with Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. when both were freshman at Michigan State (2017-18), finished his collegiate career as Michigan State’s all-time leader in blocks (153).

Grizzlies sign rookie Desmond Bane

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed 2020 first round draft pick Desmond Bane to a multi-year contract.

Bane (6-6, 215) was acquired by the Grizzlies using the Boston Celtics’ 30th overall pick pursuant to a three-team trade also involving the Portland Trail Blazers. The 22-year-old was named to the 2019-20 All-Big 12 First Team and selected as a finalist for the 2019-20 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award last season as a senior at Texas Christian University.

A native of Richmond, Ind., Bane started all 32 games for the Horned Frogs last season and averaged 16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.47 steals in 36.1 minutes. He led the Big 12 in 3-pointers made (92) and attempted (208) as well as 3-point field goal percentage (.442).

Bane, who shot at least 40 percent from 3-point range in each of his final three collegiate seasons, left TCU as the program’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made (249) as well as the school’s all-time leader for wins (84) and games played (141).

Grizzlies sign Sean McDermott and Killian Tillie to two-way contracts

The Memphis Grizzlies yesterday signed forward/center Killian Tillie and wing Sean McDermott to two-way contracts.

Tillie (6-10, 220) started all 24 of his appearances last season for Gonzaga University and averaged 13.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.00 steals in 24.6 minutes while shooting 53.5 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from 3-point range and 72.6 percent from the free throw line. Tillie was selected to the All-West Coast Conference First Team and was named a finalist for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award.

A native of Cagnes-sur-Mer, France, Tillie appeared in 108 games (59 starts) during his four-year collegiate career at Gonzaga and averaged 9.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20.3 minutes, shooting at least 40 percent from 3-point range in all four seasons and finishing his career with a mark of 44.4 percent from beyond the arc. Undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft, the 22-year-old helped guide the Bulldogs to the 2017 NCAA Championship Game as a freshman and teamed with Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke at Gonzaga during their 2018-19 junior seasons.

McDermott (6-6, 195) started all 31 games last season for Butler University and averaged 11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 32.9 minutes while shooting 47.4 percent from the field, 39.4 percent from 3-point range and 86.8 percent from the free throw line. He ranked second on the Bulldogs in both scoring and rebounding and led the team in 3-pointers (65) and free throw percentage.

A native of Anderson, Ind., McDermott appeared in 125 games (80 starts) over his four-year collegiate career and averaged 7.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 24.0 minutes while shooting 46.7 percent from the field, 40.3 percent from 3-point range and 82.4 percent from the free throw line for the Bulldogs. Undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft, the 24-year-old left Butler ranked seventh in program history in 3-pointers made (200).

Grizzlies re-sign Jontay Porter

The Memphis Grizzlies have re-signed forward/center Jontay Porter to a multi-year contract.

Per the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Porter “signed a three-year deal for $6 million.”

Originally signed with the Grizzlies on March 7, 2020 , Porter (6-10, 236) did not appear in a game last season while rehabbing a right ACL injury that sidelined him for his 2018-19 sophomore year at the University of Missouri.

As a freshman at Missouri, Porter was one of five Tigers to play all 33 games during the 2017-18 season and averaged 9.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.67 blocks in 24.5 minutes while shooting 43.7 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from 3-point range and 75.0 percent from the free throw line. A native of Columbia, Mo., the 21-year-old shared the 2017-18 Southeastern Conference Sixth Man of the Year award and was selected to the 2017-18 SEC All-Freshman Team.

Porter, the younger brother of Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Grizzlies re-sign De’Anthony Melton

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced that the team has re-signed guard De’Anthony Melton to a multi-year contract.

Per the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “a league source confirmed to The Commercial Appeal that Melton’s deal is worth $35 million over four years.”

Melton (6-2 ¼, 200) competed in 60 games (eight starts) last season, his second in the NBA, and averaged 7.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and a team-high 1.28 steals in 19.5 minutes for the Grizzlies, who acquired him from the Phoenix Suns via trade on July 7, 2019. Melton ranked 28th among NBA league leaders in steals per game and was the only player in the Top 30 to start fewer than 10 contests. In addition, the 22-year-old ranked third among qualifying NBA players in steals per 36 minutes (2.37) and sixth in the NBA in percentage of team’s steals (35.3).

The Grizzlies will return one of the team’s most impactful players from last season in terms of on-court net rating. Memphis outscored opponents by 5.1 points per 100 possessions with Melton on the court, the highest mark on the team among players with at least 15 appearances.

Selected by the Houston Rockets with the 46th overall pick in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft, Melton has appeared in 110 games (39 starts) over his two-year NBA career with the Suns and Grizzlies and holds career averages of 6.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.32 steals in 19.5 minutes. The North Hollywood, Calif., native also has appeared in eight NBA G League games, including two last season with the Memphis Hustle.

Grizzlies re-sign John Konchar

The Memphis Grizzlies have re-signed John Konchar, inking the guard to a multi-year contract.

The deal is reportedly for four years, $9 million.

Konchar, listed at 6-foot-4 ¾, 210 lbs, went undrafted in 2019, and then originally signed a two-way contract with the team on July 7, 2019. He played in 19 Grizzlies games last season. The rookie averaged 2.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 64.9 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from 3-point range.

The 24-year-old also started all 20 of his NBA G League appearances with the Memphis Hustle last season and averaged 12.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.75 steals in 29.1 minutes while shooting 56.5 percent from the field. He scored in double figures 14 times and scored an NBA G League career-high 33 points to go with 16 rebounds on Dec. 22 vs. Wisconsin. He also set NBA G League personal bests with 17 rebounds on Dec. 27 at Sioux Falls and 13 assists on Jan. 24 vs. Raptors 905.

A native of West Chicago, Ill., Konchar enjoyed a four-year collegiate career at Fort Wayne (2015-19), where he became the first player in conference history to be named to the All-Summit League First Team in all four seasons. He is the first player in NCAA Division I history to compile at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists and 200 steals.