Category: Memphis Grizzlies Blog

A post shared by Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) on Dec 2, 2017 at 7:17pm PST

The Memphis Grizzlies today hired Greg Buckner as an assistant coach on Grizzlies interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s staff, General Manager Chris Wallace said today.

Buckner has five years of coaching experience with the Houston Rockets (2011-16), where he worked alongside Bickerstaff for two seasons as an assistant coach (2014-16). This after three seasons as a player development coach (2011-14).

Drafted in 1998 by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round (53rd overall), Buckner played in 570 career games (117 starts) and averaged 5.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

Known as a defensive stopper, Buckner’s teams reach the playoffs in six of his 10 NBA seasons.

In 1998-99, he played for the Grand Rapids Hoops, a team in the Continental Basketball Association.

Playing college ball at Clemson University, Buckner was the first Tiger to ever lead his team in scoring in four straight years (1994-98). The teach reached the NCAA Tournament three times.

Bucker is in the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame.

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace today announced that the organization has relieved David Fizdale of his head coaching duties. Grizzlies associate head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has been named interim head coach.

Fizdale was named the 13th head coach in franchise history on May 29, 2016 and compiled a 50-51 record (.495) during his two seasons in Memphis, including a 7-12 record (.368) this season.

“After a thorough evaluation, I decided a change in course was necessary to move forward and provide the team and organization its best chance at success this season and beyond,” Wallace said. “Coach Fizdale represented the Grizzlies and City of Memphis proudly, and we wish him well as he continues his career.”

“Coach Fizdale worked tirelessly to achieve on-court success, and for that, we are grateful. We wish him and his family all the best in the future,” Grizzlies Controlling Owner Robert J. Pera said. “We remain focused on achieving sustainable, long-term success.”

Before joining the Grizzlies as associate head coach in June 2016, Bickerstaff served five seasons (2011-16) with the Houston Rockets, originally as an assistant coach and then as interim head coach, guiding the Rockets to a 37-34 record (.521) to close the 2015-16 season with a berth in the 2016 NBA Playoffs. His previous NBA coaching experience also includes four seasons (2007-11) as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves and three seasons (2004-07) as an assistant coach with the Charlotte Bobcats under his father, Bernie Bickerstaff.

The Memphis Grizzlies say that point guard Mike Conley will undergo therapy and treatment to help promote healing and alleviate soreness in his left heel and Achilles following consultations with physicians and the Grizzlies’ medical staff. There is no timetable for his return at this time. Further updates will be provided in approximately two weeks.

Conley (6-1, 175) has appeared and started in 12 of the Grizzlies’ first 14 games this season and has averaged 17.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.00 steals in 31.1 minutes in his 11th NBA season (all with Memphis).

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace today announced the team has exercised the fourth-year contract option on forward Jarell Martin.

Martin (6-10, 239) has started six of his seven appearances this season and averaged 7.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.29 blocks in 23.9 minutes, all career highs. Selected with the 25th overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at Louisiana State University, the Baton Rouge native has competed in 76 career games (nine starts) with the Grizzlies and averaged 4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds in 14.5 minutes.

In addition, the 23-year-old has appeared in 32 games (25 starts) in two seasons with the NBA G League’s Iowa Energy (now Wolves) and averaged 15.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 28.4 minutes.

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace today announced the team has exercised the fourth-year contract option on forward Jarell Martin. Martin is now signed through the 2018-19 season.

Martin (6-10, 239) has started six of his seven appearances this season and averaged 7.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.29 blocks in 23.9 minutes, all career highs. Selected with the 25th overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at Louisiana State University, the Baton Rouge native has competed in 76 career games (nine starts) with the Grizzlies and averaged 4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds in 14.5 minutes.

In addition, the 23-year-old has appeared in 32 games (25 starts) in two seasons with the NBA G League’s Iowa Energy (now Wolves) and averaged 15.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 28.4 minutes.

The Grizzlies have waived guard Wade Baldwin IV and forward Rade Zagorac to finalize its 2017-18 regular season roster.

Baldwin (6-4, 202) appeared in all five preseason games (two starts) and averaged 5.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 18.3 minutes. The 21-year-old Belle Mead, New Jersey native competed in 33 games (one start) for the Grizzlies as a rookie last season and averaged 3.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 12.3 minutes after he was selected with the 17th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Zagorac came off the bench in all five preseason contests and averaged 3.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 10.1 minutes. Selected in the second round (35th overall) of the 2016 NBA Draft and traded to the Grizzlies on draft night, the 22-year-old played last season for KK Mega Leks in his native Serbia.

The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 17 players, including two-way players Kobi Simmons and Vince Hunter who will be eligible to play for both the Grizzlies and the team’s NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace today announced that the Grizzlies waived guard Durand Scott.

Scott (6-5, 203) appeared in one preseason game after signing with the Grizzlies on Oct. 8, recording two points, one assist and one steal in seven minutes in the team’s preseason finale on Oct. 13 vs. New Orleans.

The 27-year-old New York City native has played professionally in Spain, Israel, Puerto Rico and Italy following a four-year collegiate career at the University of Miami.

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Durand Scott and waived guard Jeremy Morgan.

Scott (6-5, 203) started in 27 of his 28 appearances last season for Enel Brindisi in the Italian Lega A, his second year with the club, and averaged 14.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.36 steals in 31.2 minutes while shooting 43.8 percent from the field, 36.0 percent from three-point range and 71.7 percent from the free throw line. The 27-year-old also has played professionally in Spain (2013-14), Israel (2014-15) and Puerto Rico (2015-16) since going unselected in the 2013 NBA Draft.

A native of New York City, Scott played four years collegiately at the University of Miami, where he was selected by the coaches and media as the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2013. He also played for the Jamaican National Team in the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship.

Morgan (6-5, 192) appeared in two preseason games with the Grizzlies and averaged 1.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in 8.0 minutes. The 22-year-old Coralville, Iowa native went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at the University of Northern Iowa.

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace today announced that the Grizzlies signed forward JaMychal Green to a multi-year contract.

According to The Vertical, it’s “a two-year, $17 million-plus deal.”

Green (6-9, 227) started in 75 of his 77 appearances last season with the Grizzlies and set career highs across the board with averages of 8.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 27.3 minutes while shooting 50.0 percent from the field, 38.2 percent from three-point range and 80.0 percent from the free throw line. He led the team in games played for the second straight season and also paced the club in games started.

The 27-year-old has appeared in 179 games (91 starts) during his three-year NBA career and has averaged 7.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in 20.7 minutes while shooting 48.7 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from three-point range and 78.0 percent from the free throw line for the San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies. Green also has competed in 15 postseason games (two starts) and has recorded 4.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 13.2 minutes for the Grizzlies, with whom he originally signed consecutive 10-day contracts and a multi-year deal during the 2014-15 season.

Undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at the University of Alabama, the Montgomery, Alabama native played professionally in the NBA G League for the Austin Toros/Spurs (2012-13, 2014-15) and in France for Chorale Roanne before making his NBA debut with the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 18, 2015.