Memphis Grizzlies Blog – Page 17 – NBA Blog

Grizzlies reveal new logo, uniforms and look

The Memphis Grizzlies today unveiled an updated logo, icon and wordmark system, plus new uniforms and more.

In addition, the team announced FedEx as the Memphis Grizzlies’ first-ever Jersey Sponsor.

“If you look at Memphis on a map, the river lines one side and the city unfurls from that singular boundary – and in that asymmetry we find inspiration for all those indigenous off-center creative sparks that distinguish the people and City of Memphis,” said Jason Wexler, Grizzlies President of Business Operations. “The asymmetry, the reflection of Memphis as a 4-dimensional city with river, road, rail and runway, the inline of our new wordmark nodding to the neon of Beale Street – all draw from a city that cuts against the grain coalescing into a truly unique NBA identity. Further, we are extraordinarily excited to have FedEx – an organization that strives to connect the heart and soul of Memphis to the global community – join us in our reimagined brand identity as the Jersey Sponsor.”

“As a hometown organization with thousands of proud Memphis-based team members, FedEx is excited to build on our successful relationship with the Memphis Grizzlies,” said David J. Bronczek, president and COO, FedEx Corp. “Placing the iconic FedEx logo on the players’ jerseys provides another unique way for our brand to reach new audiences around the globe while strengthening our connection to the Grizzlies and the Memphis community.”

According to the team, “the uniforms will feature nods to the team’s first seasons in Vancouver and Memphis while drawing focus to core brand elements of blue collars and the reintroduction of the Beale Street neon-inspired inline type to the number. The uniforms feature an asymmetry that represents not only the city’s geography, but also demonstrates the unique and authentic cultural history of Memphis and the Grizzlies.”

Grizzlies, Magic trade Dakari Johnson, Tyler Harvey, Jarell Martin

The Memphis Grizzlies have acquired center Dakari Johnson and the draft rights to guard Tyler Harvey in a trade with the Orlando Magic for forward Jarell Martin and cash considerations.

Johnson (7-0, 255) saw action in 31 games (six starts) for the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2017-18 season and averaged 1.8 points and 1.1 rebounds in 5.2 minutes. The 22-year-old has spent three seasons in the NBA G League with the Oklahoma City Blue since he was selected by Oklahoma City with the 48th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at the University of Kentucky. The New York native was acquired by Orlando on July 20.

Harvey (6-4, 185) competed for Antibes in the French LNB Pro A during the 2017-18 season. Selected by Orlando with the 51st overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft following his junior season at Eastern Washington University, the 25-year-old Torrance, California native also has spent time in the NBA G League with the Erie BayHawks (2015-16) and in Italy with Fiat Torino (2016-17).

Martin (6’10”, 239, 5/24/94) played in 73 games (36 starts) last season with Memphis, averaging 7.7 ppg., 4.4 rpg. and 1.0 apg. in 22.7 minpg. He scored in double figures 23 times, including a career-high 20 points on Dec. 27 @ L.A. Lakers. Martin led (or tied) the Grizzlies in scoring once, in rebounding four times and in assists once. He pulled down 10+ rebounds five times, including a career-high 14 boards on Mar. 28 vs. Portland, and recorded two double-doubles. Martin also played and started in two games with the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League, averaging 11.0 ppg., 5.5 rpg. and 1.0 apg. in 26.8 minpg.

Originally selected in the first round (25th overall) of the 2015 NBA Draft by Memphis, Martin has appeared in 142 career NBA regular season games (39 starts), all with the Grizzlies, averaging 6.2 ppg. and 4.0 rpg. in 18.3 minpg. He has also played in 34 career games (27 starts) in the NBA G League with Iowa and Memphis, averaging 15.3 ppg., 7.0 rpg. and 1.0 apg. in 28.3 minpg.

During his college career at Louisiana State University, Martin played in 65 games (57 starts) during two seasons from 2013-15, averaging 13.7 ppg., 6.9 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 30.7 minpg. As a sophomore (2014-15), he played 33 games (32 starts) with the Tigers, averaging 16.9 ppg., 9.2 rpg. and 1.8 apg. in 35.1 minpg. Martin was a consensus All-SEC First Team selection and led LSU to their first NCAA appearance since 2009.

Grizzlies waive Myke Henry

The Grizzlies waived guard/forward Myke Henry today.

Henry (6-6, 226) came off the bench in 20 games as a rookie for the Grizzlies last season and averaged 5.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.55 steals in 18.9 minutes after being signed to a two-way contract on January 13. The 25-year-old also competed in the NBA G League for the Oklahoma City Blue and Memphis Hustle, seeing action in 38 games (one start) and averaging 16.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.55 steals in 28.3 minutes.

A native of Chicago, Henry went undrafted in the 2009 NBA Draft following his senior season at DePaul.

Kings and Grizzlies trade moves Ben McLemore, Deyonta Davis, Garrett Temple

The Sacramento Kings have acquired guard Ben McLemore, center Deyonta Davis, a 2021 second-round draft selection and cash considerations in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for guard Garrett Temple.

Selected seventh overall pick by the Kings in 2013, McLemore has accrued averages of 9.1 points (.417 FG%, .351 3pt%, .785 FT%), 2.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 24.5 minutes per contest in five NBA seasons with Sacramento (2013-14 – 2016-17) and Memphis (2017-18).

A 7-0 center, Davis was selected 31st overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2016 NBA Draft and has registered 4.3 points (.593 FG%, .640 FT%), 3.2 rebounds and 12.1 minutes in two seasons with Memphis.

In 65 games (35 starts) with Sacramento during the 2017-18 season, Temple (6-6, 195) averaged a career-high 8.4 points to go with 2.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 24.8 minutes per game while shooting .418 from the field, a career-best .392 from three-point range and .769 from the free throw line. Temple netted a career-high 34 points on January 23 at Orlando.

Undrafted in the 2009 NBA Draft, Temple joins Memphis with career averages of 5.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 19.1 minutes over 439 games (157 starts) with Houston, Sacramento, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Charlotte and Washington. The nine-year veteran has career shooting percentages of .405 from the field, .357 from three-point range and .725 from the free throw line.

A native of Baton Rouge, La., Temple averaged 6.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 33.1 minutes in 134 games (131 starts) over five years (2004-09) at Louisiana State University, helping the Tigers to the school’s fourth NCAA Final Four in a starting role as a redshirt freshman.

Grizzlies hire David Crewe as Head Athletic Trainer

The Memphis Grizzlies have hired David Crewe as Head Athletic Trainer.

Crewe joins the Grizzlies following eight seasons (2010-18) with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he served the last two as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach/Assistant Athletic Trainer and was named the David Craig Assistant Athletic Trainer of the Year by the National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association (NBATA) after the 2016-17 season.

In addition, Crewe has served on the board of the NBATA as a Western Conference Assistant Athletic Trainer Representative and was a member of the communications committee for the National Basketball Strength and Conditioning Association (NBSCA).

Prior to his time with the Timberwolves, Crewe spent three years with the National Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs, working in the team’s athletic training department.

Grizzlies sign rookie Jaren Jackson Jr

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace today announced that the team has signed 2018 first round draft pick Jaren Jackson Jr. to his rookie contract.

Selected fourth overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, Jackson became the second player in Big Ten history to win both Freshman and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season after leading the conference and ranking seventh in the nation in blocks per game (3.03) for Michigan State University.

Jackson (6-11, 242) started 34 of his 35 games at Michigan State and averaged 10.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 21.8 minutes while shooting 51.3 percent from the field, 39.6 percent from three-point range and 79.7 percent from the free throw line en route to being selected to the All-Big Ten Third Team and Big Ten All-Freshman Team. The 18-year-old set a Spartans single-season record last year with 106 blocks and tied the school’s single-game record with eight rejections on Dec. 5, 2017 vs. Rutgers.

The Indiana native, who was named a 2017 McDonald’s and Jordan Brand All-American as a high school senior, is the highest-drafted Michigan State product since 1979, when Magic Johnson was selected first overall and Greg Kelser was taken fourth. Jackson’s father, Jaren Sr., enjoyed a 12-year NBA career with nine different teams, winning the 1999 NBA Championship as a member of the San Antonio Spurs.

Grizzlies waive Omari Johnson

The Memphis Grizzlies have waived forward Omari Johnson.

Johnson (6-9, 220) came off the bench in four games with the Grizzlies as a rookie last season and averaged 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 18.8 minutes after signing with the team on April 6. The 28-year-old Kingston, Jamaica native started the season with the Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, where he appeared in 44 games (38 starts) and averaged 16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 27.9 minutes.

Grizzlies select Jaren Jackson Jr 4th overall in 2018 NBA Draft

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace last night during the 2018 NBA Draft announced that the Grizzlies selected Michigan State University freshman forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. with the fourth overall pick in the first round and West Virginia University senior guard Jevon Carter with the 32nd overall pick in the second round.

Jackson (6-11, 242) became the second player in Big Ten history to win both Freshman and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same season after leading the conference and ranking seventh in the nation in blocks per game (3.03) in 2017-18. The 18-year-old set an MSU single-season record with 106 blocks, and he tied the program’s single-game record with eight rejections in a win on Dec. 5, 2017 over Rutgers.

An All-Big Ten Third-Team and All-Freshman Team selection, Jackson started 34 of his 35 games with the Spartans and averaged 10.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 21.8 minutes while shooting 51.3 percent from the field, 39.6 percent from three-point range and 79.7 percent from the free throw line.

The Carmel, Indiana native, who was named a 2017 McDonald’s and Jordan Brand All-American at La Lumiere High School, is the highest-drafted Michigan State product since 1979, when Magic Johnson was selected first overall and Greg Kelser was taken fourth. Jackson’s father, Jaren Sr., enjoyed a 12-year NBA career with nine different teams, winning the 1999 NBA Championship as a member of the San Antonio Spurs.

Carter (6-2, 205) was named the 2017-18 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and selected the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight season after starting all 37 games and averaging 17.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 3.03 steals in 35.5 minutes for the Mountaineers. A 2017-18 Associated Press Second Team All-American, Carter ranked second in the nation in steals per game and was the only Division I player to average at least 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.00 steals.

A native of Oak Park, Illinois, Carter is the fourth Big 12 player and first guard to win conference Defensive Player of the Year honors twice. The 22-year-old is West Virginia’s career steals leader (330) and set single-season school records last year for assists (246) and steals (112).

In addition, Carter was named the 2017-18 Arthur Ashe Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year and the Division I Senior CLASS Award winner.

Grizzlies sign MarShon Brooks to multi-year contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard MarShon Brooks to a multi-year contract.

According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “Brooks will sign for the remainder of the season and return to the Grizzlies for the 2018-19 campaign with a fully guaranteed deal, Yahoo Sports reported.”

Brooks signed a 10-day contract with the Grizzlies on March 27.

Brooks (6-5, 200) has appeared in three games as a reserve for the Grizzlies and has averaged 23.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.67 steals in 25.3 minutes while shooting 57.1 percent from the field, 64.7 percent from three-point range and 84.6 percent from the free throw line. Brooks has recorded the most points (70) in franchise history of any player in his first three games with the team and is just the second Grizzlies player to average at least 20 points per game in his first three contests (Lorenzen Wright in 2001-02).

The 29-year-old led Memphis with 21 points in 21 minutes in his season debut on March 27, a 108-103 victory over Portland, his first NBA game in nearly four years (April 16, 2014). He then scored 24 points in 18 minutes on March 30 at Utah and a season-high 25 points in 36 minutes on April 4 at New Orleans. Brooks is the first player in franchise history to score at least 20 points in his first three games with the club; no other Grizzlies player had scored at least 20 points in his first two games with the team.

Before signing a 10-day contract with the Grizzlies, Brooks starred for three seasons with the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association, where he appeared in 36 games (28 starts) during the 2017-18 season and averaged 36.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.00 steals in 37.6 minutes while leading the team to a 26-12 regular season record.

Selected with the 25th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at Providence, Brooks has appeared in 167 regular season games (49 starts) during his three-year NBA career and has averaged 8.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 17.7 minutes for the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies. He was named to the 2011-12 NBA All-Rookie Team with the Nets. The Long Branch, New Jersey native also has played in the NBA G League for the Maine Red Claws and Santa Cruz Warriors and has competed internationally for Emporio Armani Milano in the Italian Lega Basket Serie A.

Grizzlies sign Omari Johnson, waive Marquis Teague

The Memphis Grizzlies today signed forward Omari Johnson to a multi-year contract. In addition, the team waived guard Marquis Teague.

Johnson (6-9, 220) started 38 of his 44 appearances this season with the Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, and averaged 16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 27.9 minutes while shooting 46.0 percent from the field, 41.7 percent from three-point range (136-326 3P) and 82.4 percent from the free throw line. He owned the G League’s highest three-point percentage among players with at least 300 three-point field goal attempts.

The 28-year-old Kingston, Jamaica native also has played in the G League for the Maine Red Claws (2014-16) and internationally for the Mississauga Power (2011-12) and Island Storm (2012-13) of the Canadian NBL, C.B. Valladolid (2013-14) of the Spanish ACB and Neptunas (2016-17) of the Lithuanian LKL. He went unselected in the 2011 NBA Draft following his senior season at Oregon State University.

Teague (6-2, 180) appeared in three games as a reserve and averaged 3.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.33 steals in 24.7 minutes for the Grizzlies after signing a 10-day contract as a Call-Up from the Hustle on March 24 and re-signing with the Grizzlies on April 3. He started all 47 of his games with the Hustle and averaged 17.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 26.5 minutes.

Selected in the first round (29th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft following his freshman year at the University of Kentucky, Teague has appeared in 91 regular season games (three starts) during his three-year NBA career and has averaged 2.4 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 10.0 minutes for the Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets and Memphis Grizzlies. The Indianapolis, Indiana native has appeared in 161 G League games (125 starts) and has averaged 15.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 30.8 minutes for the Iowa Energy, Oklahoma City Blue, Fort Wayne Mad Ants and Memphis Hustle.