Memphis Grizzlies Blog – Page 16 – NBA Blog

Grizzlies waive Brandon Goodwin, Markel Crawford and Doral Moore

The Memphis Grizzlies have waived guards Brandon Goodwin and Markel Crawford, and center Doral Moore.

The Grizzlies’ roster stands at 17 players, including two-way players D.J. Stephens and Yuta Watanabe, who will be eligible to play for both the Grizzlies and Memphis Hustle, the Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate.

Crawford (6-4, 210) competed in five preseason games and averaged 0.4 points and 0.8 rebounds in 5.8 minutes after he was signed by Memphis on August 15.

Goodwin (6-2, 180) appeared in four preseason games and averaged 3.3 points in 5.8 minutes after signing with the Grizzlies on September 4.

Moore (7-1, 280) saw action in three preseason games and averaged 3.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 4.6 minutes after he was signed by Memphis on August 30.

Grizzlies sign D.J. Stephens, waive Ismaila Kane

The Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday signed guard/forward D.J. Stephens to a two-way contract and waived forward Ismaila Kane.

Stephens (6-5, 188) played professionally last season in France, where he competed in 46 games (nine starts) and averaged 9.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in 21.3 minutes to help guide Le Mans Sarthe Basket to the French LNB Pro A championship and earn the league’s Sixth Man of the Year Award. Most recently, he appeared in seven games for the Grizzlies during MGM Resorts NBA Summer League 2018 in Las Vegas, his second summer league stint with the Grizzlies.

The 27-year-old saw action in three NBA regular season games for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2013-14 season and split the 2015-16 season with the NBA G League’s Canton Charge and Iowa Energy (now Wolves). He holds NBA G League career averages of 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.03 steals and 1.26 blocks in 24.0 minutes in 38 games (29 starts). Stephens was named the NBA G League Performer of the Week on March 28, 2016 and competed in the 2016 Slam Dunk Contest as part of 2016 NBA G League All-Star Weekend.

Stephens went unselected in the 2013 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at the University of Memphis, where he was named the 2012-13 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. The Killeen, Texas native also has played professionally in Ukraine (2016-17), Puerto Rico (2016-17), Russia (2014-15), Greece (2013-14) and Turkey (2013-14).

Kane (6-9, 200) was signed by the Grizzlies on September 24 and made one preseason appearance, logging two minutes on October 5 vs. Atlanta. The Senegal native went unselected in the 2018 NBA Draft after playing 13 games last season for Atlanta Metropolitan of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

Grizzlies sign Ismaila Kane

The Memphis Grizzlies signed forward Ismaila Kane today.

The signing is probably a non-guaranteed deal that merely brings Kane to Grizzlies training camp.

Kane (6-9, 200) appeared in 13 games last season for Atlanta Metropolitan of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and averaged 14.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.69 blocks. The Senegalese native went unselected in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Grizzlies making use of G League affiliate

Here’s the Memphis Commercial Appeal reporting on the Grizzlies and the advantages that come with having their own G League team. Of course, most NBA teams have this luxury now. But different teams are using their G League affiliates to different extents. As for the Grizzlies:

Additionally, the close-proximity model seen with the Grizzlies and the Hustle is becoming the norm. Grizzlies officials have lauded the geographical improvement. The Atlanta Hawks purchased the Erie BayHawks last year, and will move the team from Pennsylvania to College Park in Atlanta beginning next season. The Kings moved their affiliate to nearby Stockton, California, the Magic have a team in Lakeland, Florida, and the Clippers now have a G-League team in Ontario, less than an hour from Staples Center.

Amid a disappointing last season, the Grizzlies were able to make expedited use of two-way players Kobi Simmons and Myke Henry because of the Hustle’s location. Simmons ended up playing more games for the Grizzlies than the Hustle. All of this certainly bodes well for new two-way signing Yuta Watanabe, and it could potentially be helpful for other players.

Full article

On Memphis Grizzlies training camp

The vast majority of NBA training camps have a similar structure. For a quick overview on Grizzlies camp, which like the rest of the league opens later this month, here’s the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

The Memphis Grizzlies will kick off training camp on Sept. 25 in Memphis.

Camp will be held inside FedExForum for the third straight year after being held away from Memphis from 2013-15.

The team’s annual media day is set for Sept. 24, and training camp will run until Sept. 28. On Sept. 29, the Grizzlies will hold an open practice and scrimmage at FedExForum, which will be free to the general public. Fans in attendance will receive vouchers for a Grizzlies preseason game and a Memphis Hustle regular-season game.

Full article

Grizzlies waive Dakari Johnson

The Memphis Grizzlies waived center Dakari Johnson today.

Johnson (7-0, 255) appeared in 31 games (six starts) last season as a rookie for the Oklahoma City Thunder and averaged 1.8 points and 1.1 rebounds in 5.2 minutes. He was acquired by the Grizzlies from the Orlando Magic on July 23, 2018.

The 22-year-old New York native was selected the Thunder with the 48th overall pick in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at the University of Kentucky. He has played three seasons in the NBA G League for the Oklahoma City Blue.

Grizzlies sign center Doral Moore

The Memphis Grizzlies signed center Doral Moore to their training camp roster today.

Moore (7-1, 280) appeared in 31 games (30 starts) last season as a junior at Wake Forest University and averaged 11.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.97 blocks in 25.5 minutes while shooting 68.9 percent from the field.

The 21-year-old native of Locust Grove, Georgia saw action in 92 games (31 starts) over his three-year collegiate career and averaged 5.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.22 blocks in 13.7 minutes before going unselected in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Grizzlies waive Kobi Simmons

The Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday waived guard Kobi Simmons.

Simmons (6-4, 170) saw action in 32 games (12 starts) for the Grizzlies last season and averaged 6.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 20.1 minutes during his rookie campaign. The 21-year-old also started all 26 of his appearances for the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle and averaged 15.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.04 steals in 30.9 minutes.

The Alpharetta, Georgia native, who played his lone collegiate season at the University of Arizona, signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies on July 1, 2017 after going unselected in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Grizzlies sign guard Markel Crawford

The Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday signed guard Markel Crawford to the team’s training camp roster.

Crawford (6-4, 210) appeared in seven games (one start) for the Grizzlies during NBA Summer League 2018 in Las Vegas and averaged 9.6 points and 1.9 rebounds in 18.4 minutes while shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from three-point range. The 23-year-old Memphis native also saw action in three games as a reserve during the 2018 Utah Jazz Summer League and averaged 5.7 points in 12.8 minutes.

Unselected in the 2018 NBA Draft, Crawford started 25 of his 32 games last season as a redshirt senior at Ole Miss and averaged 9.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.19 steals in 30.9 minutes. He spent his first four collegiate seasons at the University of Memphis following his high school career at Melrose High School in Memphis.

According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “Crawford transferred to Ole Miss for his final year of eligibility, but played in 95 games for the Tigers between 2014 and 2017. He averaged 8.0 points in his three years under former Memphis coaches Josh Pastner and Tubby Smith.”

Grizzlies sign Shelvin Mack

The Memphis Grizzlies signed guard Shelvin Mack today.

According to ESPN.com, it’s a a one-year deal.

The only clear starter in the Memphis backcourt is veteran Mike Conley at point guard. Mack is mostly joining a big cast of backup guards, many of whom will have the opportunity to compete for real minutes.

Mack, 6-foot-3, 203 pounds, has appeared in 399 regular season games (53 starts) over a seven-year NBA career and has averaged 6.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 17.9 minutes for the Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic. The 28-year-old also has competed in 30 postseason games (three starts) and has averaged 5.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 13.1 minutes for Atlanta and Utah.

Last season, Mack saw action in 69 games (three starts) for Orlando and averaged 6.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and a career-high 3.9 assists in 19.8 minutes while shooting 43.0 percent from the field, 34.5 percent from three-point range and 71.1 percent from the free throw line.

Mack was selected by Washington in the second round (34th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft following his junior season at Butler University after he helped guide the Bulldogs to back-to-back NCAA Tournament Finals (2010, 2011). The Lexington, Kentucky native was named an NBA G League All-Star during the 2012-13 season while playing for the Maine Red Claws.