Grizzlies recall James Ennis from D-League

Grizzlies recall James Ennis from D-League

The Memphis Grizzlies have recalled James Ennis from the team’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Iowa Energy, Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace announced today. Ennis completed his first career D-League assignment after being assigned by the Grizzlies on Dec. 4.

In his NBA D-League debut, Ennis (6-7, 210) posted 32 points (9-of-12 FG, 3-of-5 3P, 11-of-13 FT) to go with six rebounds, two assists and a steal in 34 minutes in Iowa’s 116-93 road win over the Canton Charge on Dec. 5. Now in his second NBA season, the 25-year-old Ventura, Calif. native has logged 16 minutes through six appearances with the Grizzlies and Miami Heat.

Grizzlies assign James Ennis to D-League

Grizzlies assign James Ennis to D-League

The Memphis Grizzlies have assigned forward James Ennis to the team’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Iowa Energy, Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace announced today.

Ennis (6-7, 210) has logged nine minutes in three appearances for the Grizzlies since he was traded by the Miami Heat with guard Mario Chalmers to Memphis for Beno Udrih and Jarnell Stokes on Nov. 10. Selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round (50th overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft, the 25-year-old holds NBA career averages of 4.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in 15.7 minutes in 68 games (three starts) in two seasons for the Heat (2014-15 to 2015-16) and Grizzlies (2015-16).

The Ventura, Calif. native was named the 2013 Big West Player of the Year following his senior year at California State University, Long Beach and played his first professional season (2013-14) in Australia and Puerto Rico before joining the NBA.

Grizzlies trade Beno Udrih and Jarnell Stokes to Heat for Mario Chalmers and James Ennis

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The Miami HEAT announced today that they have acquired guard Beno Udrih and forward Jarnell Stokes from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for guard Mario Chalmers and forward James Ennis.

“This is an tough day for myself and the organization in trading Mario Chalmers and James Ennis,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “Mario was a part of two championships with us and Ennis is a solid young player, but it is part of the business and it was a move necessary to make because of our crowded backcourt. We feel that it is in the best interest of Mario and we want him to be successful and be a part of a good team. We wish them nothing but the best. We would also like to welcome Beno Udrih, an accomplished veteran and someone that has playoff and championship experience, and the addition of Jarnell Stokes, a young player that we would like to develop.”

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Udrih, entering his 12th NBA season, has appeared in 756 career games (267 starts) and averaged 8.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 rebounds and 22.5 minutes while shooting 46.3 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from three-point range and 82.9 percent from the foul line. The Slovenian guard scored a season-high 13 points at Indiana on October 29 and has dished out a season-high six assists on two separate occasions this season. The two-time NBA champion has appeared in 53 postseason games and averaged 4.5 points, 1.2 assists, 1.0 rebounds and 11.3 minutes while shooting 38.8 percent from the field and 80.4 percent from the foul line.

Stokes, drafted by the Utah Jazz in the second round (35th overall) in the 2014 NBA Draft, has appeared in 21 career NBA games (two starts) and averaged 2.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 6.2 minutes while shooting 56.8 percent from the field. He appeared in 23 games (14 starts) with the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League last season and averaged 15.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 32.0 minutes while shooting 61.7 percent from the field. Stokes appeared in 87 games while at Tennessee (84 starts) and averaged 13.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.08 blocks and 29.7 minutes while shooting 62.8 percent. He finished his collegiate career first in offensive rebounds, fourth in double-doubles, eighth in total rebounds and 14th in blocks on the school’s all-time list.

Chalmers has appeared in 525 career games with the HEAT (383 starts) and averaged 8.8 points, 3.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 1.51 steals and 27.8 minutes while shooting 42.2 percent from the field, 36 percent from three-point range and 77.6 percent from the foul line. He finished among Miami’s all-time leaders in steals (2nd), assists (3rd), games played (4th), three-point field goals made (4th), minutes played (6th), starts (6th), points (11th), free throw percentage (11th), double-figure scoring efforts (12th), field goals made (13th), free throws made (13th), rebounds (15th), field goal percentage (19th) and three-point field goal percentage (20th). Chalmers was the starting guard on two HEAT championship teams, appearing in 99 career postseason games (73 starts) and averaged 8.8 points, 3.2 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 1.19 steals and 29.1 minutes while shooting 42.9 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from three-point range and 74.2 percent from the foul line.

Ennis, drafted by the HEAT in the second round (50th overall) in the 2013 NBA Draft, has appeared in 65 career games with the HEAT (three starts) and averaged 4.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 16.3 minutes while shooting 40.9 percent from the field, 32.6 percent from three-point range and 84 percent from the foul line.

Report: Mario Chalmers to Grizzlies

Here’s the Miami Herald reporting on the Heat, who will soon send guard Mario Chalmers to Memphis:

Report: Mario Chalmers to Grizzlies

The Miami Heat has agreed to trade veteran backup guard Mario Chalmers and 2013 second round pick James Ennis to the Memphis Grizzlies for 33-year-old backup guard Beno Udrih and 6-9, 263-pound backup power forward Jarnell Stokes.

The league has yet to confirm the trade first reported by Yahoo! Sports, but an independent source told the Miami Herald that the trade has been agreed to and the players are being informed.

The move would save the Heat, who have the fourth-highest payroll in the NBA at $93.3 million, about $2 million in roster space and help trim the luxury tax by roughly $6 million at the end of the year. Chalmers, 29, is making $4.3 million this season and Ennis is making $845K. Udrih is making $2.17 million and Stokes is making $980K.

Grizzlies exercise option on Jordan Adams

Grizzlies exercise option on Jordan Adams

The Memphis Grizzlies today exercised the third-year contract option on guard Jordan Adams. Adams is now signed through the 2016-17 season.

Adams hasn’t really solidified himself in the NBA just yet. And while it was likely that the Grizzlies were going to make this move, it wasn’t an absolute lock.

Selected by Memphis with the 22nd overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft after his sophomore season at UCLA, Adams (6-5, 209) posted 3.1 points and 0.9 rebounds in 8.3 minutes in 30 games (zero starts) during his rookie campaign last season. The 21-year-old also recorded 18.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 31.9 minutes in 11 appearances (three starts) over five assignments with the Grizzlies’ NBA Development League affiliate, the Iowa Energy.

Adams notably averaged 16.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.25 steals in 32.4 minutes in four games (all starts) in helping the Grizzlies register an undefeated record and capture the championship at the 2015 Orlando Pro Summer League this past July.

In two collegiate seasons at UCLA (2012-14), the Atlanta native tallied 16.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and a school-record 2.43 steals in 30.2 minutes in 69 games (63 starts), leading the Bruins to consecutive NCAA Tournaments and the 2014 NCAA Sweet 16. He left Westwood with the seventh-most career steals in school history (168) and established the program’s single-season steals record in his second and final season (95 in 2013-14).

Grizzlies waive Ryan Hollins

Grizzlies waive Ryan Hollins

The Memphis Grizzlies have waived center Ryan Hollins.

Hollins (7-0, 230) appeared in seven preseason games for the Grizzlies, posting 5.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 11.5 minutes. The 31-year-old originally was signed by Memphis on Sept. 28.

It would not be surprising to see Hollins land on another roster soon.

The Grizzlies’ roster currently stands at 15 players.

Grizzlies waive Sampson Carter, Yakhouba Diawara, Lazeric Jones, Alex Stepheson

The Memphis Grizzlies waived forward Sampson Carter, guard/forward Yakhouba Diawara, guard Lazeric Jones and forward/center Alex Stepheson, the team announced today.

Carter (6-8, 220) played six preseason games for the Grizzlies, averaging 1.0 points and 0.8 rebounds in 6.0 minutes. The 25-year-old originally was signed by Memphis on Oct. 6.

Diawara (6-7, 225) made six preseason appearances for Memphis, recording 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 16.0 minutes. The 33-year-old originally was signed by the Grizzlies on Sept. 28.

Jones (6-0, 187) played six preseason contests for Memphis, tallying 5.8 points and 1.7 assists in 14.3 minutes. The 25-year-old originally was signed by the Grizzlies on Sept. 28.

Stepheson (6-10, 270) logged three preseason appearances for the Grizzlies, registering 2.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in 9.2 minutes. The 28-year-old originally was signed by Memphis on Oct. 7.

The Grizzlies’ roster currently stands at 16 players.

Grizzlies sign Alex Stepheson

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team has signed free agent forward/center Alex Stepheson. The contract is likely non-guaranteed and just for preseason.

Stepheson (6-10, 270) has played professionally in Greece, Slovenia and Turkey since finishing his collegiate career at the University of Southern California. The 28-year-old averaged 12.3 points and a league-leading 9.2 rebounds in 26.8 minutes while shooting 56.3 percent from the field, in 29 games (21 starts) last season for Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi.

Unselected in the 2011 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles native also made three appearances for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2015 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

The Grizzlies’ roster stands at 20 players.

Grizzlies waive Michael Holyfield

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team has waived center Michael Holyfield.

Holyfield (6-11, 270) signed with Memphis as a free agent on Sept. 28 and played eight minutes in the Grizzlies’ preseason opener last night against the Houston Rockets. Unselected in the 2015 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at Sam Houston State University, the 22-year-old Albuquerque, N.M. native appeared in five games for Memphis during the 2015 Orlando Pro Summer League.

The Grizzlies’ roster stands at 19 players.

Grizzlies sign Sampson Carter

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team has signed free agent forward Sampson Carter.

The signing is probably just a non-guaranteed contract.

Carter (6-8, 220) joins the Grizzlies after playing professionally last season in Slovakia, Portugal and the Dominican Republic. Undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft, the 25-year-old averaged 7.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 21.8 minutes in 135 games (88 starts) over five seasons (2009-14) at the University of Massachusetts. The Baton Rouge, La. native attended Ridgeway High School in Memphis before beginning his collegiate career.

The Grizzlies’ roster stands at 20 players.