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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.

Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson says injury rehab is going well

The Grizzlies went 34-39 this season, and an injury to forward Jaren Jackson Jr. was a factor in the squad just falling short in their playoff push. But in good news as per the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Jackson has confirmed that he will be ready for next season:

Jackson also said his rehab is going well following a torn meniscus in his left knee that ended his season. He and Justise Winslow, who suffered a hip injury before the season restarted, have been working out together and both are ready for next season – whenever it starts.

The NBA hasn’t announced when the 2020-21 season will begin, but Jackson said it hasn’t changed his approach. The Grizzlies waited three months to resume this past season after it was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and waiting again won’t be a problem.

“It’s like when you put a kid in timeout and when he finally gets out of timeout, he’s just active in breaking more things than before,” Jackson said.

The vast majority of key Grizzlies players are signed at least through next season, so they don’t need to be particularly busy in free agency this offseason. Jackson as a rookie in 2018-19 put up 13.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, shooting 50.6% FG. Last season, his rebounding was almost the same, while his scoring raised to 17.4 PPG, on 46.9% shooting. But beyond stats, he’s the most essential Grizzlies player not named Ja Morant. And it’s good to hear he’s ready to roll when next season does tip off.

Ja Morant jersey sales on the rise

Grizzlies guard Ja Morant got attention all season thanks to play that earned him the Rookie of the Year award, and his jersey sales also serve to show that his popularity is on the rise. Here’s the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

The league, along with the National Basketball Player’s Association, announced Wednesday that Morant was the only rookie listed among the NBA’s top 15 most popular jerseys since the league restarted in July.

He was 15th with LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the top five. The results were based on NBAStore.com sales from July 30-Sept. 28.

Morant being the lone rookie on there was a mild surprise. Fellow rookie Zion Williamson led the NBA in memorabilia sold since his debut on Jan. 22 across the Fanatics network, which includes NBAStore.com.

Next up for the Gizzlies is the draft. With what would have been their No. 14 pick in the hands of the Celtics due to a trade, focus will be on free agency. Every key Grizzlies player is signed at least through next season, but the team could use help in the scoring department.

Memphis Grizzlies hire Sonia Raman as an assistant coach

The Memphis Grizzlies have hired Sonia Raman as assistant coach. Raman (SOHN-ya RAH-mun) comes to Memphis following 12 seasons (2008-20) as the head women’s basketball coach at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Engineers enjoyed unprecedented success under Raman, winning the program’s first two New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) championships (2018, 2019) and reaching the championship game in 2020.

Raman’s tenure also produced two NCAA Tournament berths for the program, while the Engineers compiled a 91-45 record (.669) in her final five seasons. Following her first season in 2008-09, MIT’s record improved in each of the next five seasons. Eighteen of Raman’s student-athletes earned NEWMAC All-Conference accolades, including four Rookie of the Year awards. She also had four seniors selected to participate in the New England Women’s Basketball Association Senior Classic.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of the Memphis Grizzlies coaching staff. I can’t wait to get to Memphis and get started with Taylor, his staff and the team’s emerging young core,” Raman said. “I must also give a truly special thank you to MIT and the women I’ve had the honor of coaching for the past 12 years. I wish the program continued success.”

In September 2017, Raman was selected to serve a two-year term on the Coaches Council for the Alliance of Women Coaches. The Alliance of Women Coaches is dedicated to leading the field of women coaches, at all levels, by providing support, resources, events and programs which address the needs and interests of its members.

“We are beyond excited to welcome Sonia to the Memphis Grizzlies,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins. “She has a high basketball IQ and a tremendous ability to teach the game, as well as a strong passion for the game. She is going to be a great addition to our current coaching staff.”

Prior to her arrival in Cambridge, Raman was the top assistant coach at Wellesley College. During her six-year tenure, she scouted opponents, assisted with practice and game planning, managed individual player skill and leadership development, and served as the Blue’s primary recruiter.

Raman began her intercollegiate coaching career with a two-year stint as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Tufts University. A four-year player and a captain for the Jumbos, she graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations. Raman went on to receive a Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School in 2001.

No surprise, Grizzlies guard Ja Morant named NBA Rookie of Year

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been named the 2019-20 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year.

Morant earned 99 first-place votes (498 points) from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. The Miami Heat’s Kendrick Nunn finished second with 204 points, and the New Orleans Pelicans’ Zion Williamson was third with 140 points. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Morant led all qualified rookies in scoring average (17.8 points), assists (7.3, 10th in the NBA) and double-doubles (15) and recorded the only two triple-doubles by a rookie this season. He joined Oscar Robertson (1960-61), Magic Johnson (1979-80), Isiah Thomas (1981-82), Damon Stoudamire (1995-96), Allen Iverson (1996-97) and Trae Young (2018-19) as one of seven rookies in NBA history to average at least 17.0 points per game and 7.0 assists per game.

Morant increased his averages to 19.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and a league-best 9.9 assists during the NBA’s eight-game seeding schedule at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World in Orlando. He finished the season by registering a game-high 35 points and eight assists in the Grizzlies’ play-in game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Aug. 15.

The 21-year-old Morant won three consecutive NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month Awards to open the season and became the second player in franchise history to be named NBA Rookie of the Year (Pau Gasol in 2001-02). He set franchise rookie records this season for assists per game, total assists (488) and assists in a single game (14, twice), helping the Grizzlies set single-season club records for assists (26.9, 2nd in the NBA) and number of 30-assist games (20).

As a rookie, Morant emerged as one of the NBA’s top scorers in fourth quarters, totaling 433 points in final periods, which ranked seventh in the league behind James Harden (511), Trae Young (496), LeBron James (493), Damian Lillard (459), Giannis Antetokounmpo (448) and Donovan Mitchell (438). Morant averaged 7.0 points in fourth quarters, joining Allen Iverson (7.0 in 1996-97) as the only rookies to average at least 7.0 fourth-quarter points since the league began keeping quarterly statistics at the start of the 1996-97 season.

The South Carolina native was selected by NBA assistant coaches to participate in the NBA Rising Stars as part of NBA All-Star Weekend 2020 and helped lead the U.S. Team to a 151-131 victory over the World Team on Feb. 14 at the United Center in Chicago.

Morant, who played two years collegiately at Murray State University, received the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy, named in honor of one of the NBA’s founders, during tonight’s TNT broadcast. Gottlieb coached the Philadelphia Warriors to the NBA’s first championship in 1946-47.

Grizzlies to play the Trail Blazers in NBA play-in round

The Memphis Grizzlies have clinched the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference and will face the No. 8 seed Portland Trail Blazers in a play-in round that will tip-off on Saturday, August 15 at 1:30 p.m. (all times Central) at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Saturday’s game will be televised nationally on ABC.

Under the NBA’s play-in format, the No. 8 seed would need to win one of two games against the No. 9 seed to advance to the 2020 Western Conference Playoffs. The No. 9 seed would need to defeat the No. 8 seed twice. A second play-in game, if necessary, would be played Sunday, Aug. 16 at 3:30 p.m. and would be televised on ESPN.

The winner of the play-in round would face the No. 1 seed Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2020 Western Conference Playoffs.

Eric Hasseltine will call play-by-play action for each play-in game on the team’s flagship radio station 92.9 FM ESPN alongside analyst Elliot Perry with all radio broadcasts presented by Sonic Drive-In. Grind City Media’s Jessica Benson will host the pregame, halftime and postgame shows. Play-in games also will be available on the Grizzlies’ Regional Radio Network.