Category: Memphis Grizzlies Blog

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team has waived guard Daniel Nwaelele (wah-LAY-lay).

Nwaelele (6-5, 205) was signed by Memphis as a free agent on Sept. 28. Undrafted in the 2007 NBA Draft, the 31-year-old Air Force product has played two seasons with the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA Development League (2012-14).

The Grizzlies’ roster stands at 19 players.

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team has signed free agents Yakhouba Diawara (ya-KOO-ba dee-a-WA-ra), Ryan Hollins, Michael Holyfield, Lazeric Jones and Daniel Nwaelele (wah-LAY-lay).

Diawara (6-7, 225) comes to Memphis after spending last season with Cimberio Varese in the Italian SerieA league. The 33-year-old spent four seasons in the NBA (2006-10) and holds career averages of 3.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 14.0 minutes in 187 games (56 starts) with the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat. Undrafted in the 2005 NBA Draft after finishing his collegiate career at Pepperdine University, he has played six of his 10 professional seasons, including the last five, in Italy and his home country of France. The Paris native is a member of the French National Team and represented France in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Hollins (7-0, 230), a nine-year NBA veteran (2006-15), owns career averages of 3.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 11.8 minutes in 481 games (64 starts) for the Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings. Drafted by Charlotte in the second round (50th overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft, the 30-year-old Pasadena, Calif. native enjoyed a four-year collegiate career at UCLA, leading the Bruins to the 2006 NCAA Championship Game as a senior.

Holyfield (6-11, 270) helped guide Memphis to an undefeated record and the championship at the 2015 Orlando Pro Summer League, averaging 6.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 14.3 minutes in five games (two starts). Undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft after a four-year collegiate career at Sam Houston State University, the 22-year-old Albuquerque, N.M. native was named the 2015 Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year and selected to the 2015 All-Southland Second Team after setting the school’s single-season record for blocks (86) as a senior.

Jones (6-0, 187) joins the Grizzlies after playing last season in Hungary, guiding Szolnoki Olaj to the Hungarian League Championship with averages of 11.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.7 steals in 29.1 minutes in 11 games (all starts). Undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft, the 25-year-old Chicago native has competed in Israel (2012-13) and Greece (2013-14) and participated in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas for the Sacramento Kings (2012), Chicago Bulls (2014) and New Orleans Pelicans (2015) following his four-year collegiate career at UCLA.

Nwaelele (6-5, 205) comes to Memphis after competing most recently with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, where he averaged 10.4 points, 3.6 points and 1.7 assists in 26.0 minutes in 76 games (43 starts) over two seasons (2012-14). Undrafted in the 2007 NBA Draft, the 31-year-old also played professionally in Israel during the 2010-11 season. A native of Bothell, Wash., Nwaelele lettered all four years at the United States Air Force Academy, finishing his collegiate career ranked second in program history in three-point field goal percentage (.451). He spent five years in the Air Force, including two overseas deployments to Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia during his years of service.

The Grizzlies roster stands at 20 players entering training camp.

The Memphis Grizzlies announced that rookie forward Jarell Martin sustained a fractured left foot today following a collision with another player during a workout. He will undergo surgery tomorrow, Sept. 3, which will be performed by team physicians Dr. Fred Azar and Dr. Drew Murphy at the Campbell Clinic. There is no timetable for his return. Further updates will be provided when available.

The 21-year-old was selected by the Grizzlies with the 25th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft. A native of Baton Rouge, La., Martin played two seasons at Louisiana State University and finished his collegiate career with averages of 13.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 30.7 minutes in 65 games (57 starts) for the Tigers.