Category: Memphis Grizzlies Blog

The Memphis Grizzlies signed point guard Mike Conley to a multi-year contract extension, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the deal, which was completed minutes before the deadline last night, were not disclosed. Several reports said the contract is for five years and somewhere between $40-45 million.

“We are excited about completing a contract extension with our starting point guard Mike Conley,” Wallace said. “Mike has improved significantly during his brief time in the league, and we are optimistic that the best is yet to come for him.  With the signing of Rudy Gay last summer and now Mike, the organization has shown that it is serious about keeping the Grizzlies’ core together into the future.”

Conley, who is posting career highs in scoring (15.0 points), assists (8.3, T-9th in the NBA) and steals (an NBA-high 3.67) through three games this season, has steadily increased those averages in all of his four professional seasons.  The 6-1, 185-pound guard is also grabbing a career-best 5.7 rebounds this season, making him one of only four NBA players (Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Brandon Jennings) to average at least 15 points, eight assists and five rebounds in 2010-11.

The 23-year-old, who tied a career-high with 11 assists and matched his own franchise record with seven steals in Memphis’ first home win this season on Oct. 30 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, has led the Grizzlies in assists every season since entering the league.

Currently ranked sixth in franchise history in assists (1,026) and eighth in three-point percentage (.383), Conley holds career averages of 11.0 points, 4.7 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.17 steals in 30.1 minutes in 218 games (190 starts) with Memphis.

The Fayetteville, Ark. native was drafted fourth overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Grizzlies after helping lead Ohio State University to the NCAA National Championship Game as a freshman alongside current Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden.

The Memphis Grizzlies exercised the fourth-year contract options on guard O.J. Mayo and forward Darrell Arthur and the third-year option on center Hasheem Thabeet, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.  All three players are now guaranteed through the 2011-12 season.

Mayo, the third overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, holds career averages of 17.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 38.0 minutes in 165 games (all starts).  The 6-4, 210-pound guard posted 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 37.9 minutes last season, and was the only Grizzlies player to start and play in every game.  The 22-year-old, who has yet to miss a game in his NBA career, entered the 2010-11 season with more minutes logged (6,234) than any other NBA player in the last two seasons aside from Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala.

Arthur, who missed most of his sophomore season due to right pectoralis surgery, bounced back this preseason to average 11.1 points (4th on the team) and 6.3 rebounds (2nd) in 24.9 minutes in eight games.  The 6-9, 235-pound forward, who stepped into the starting lineup last night and scored a career-high 19 points in the Grizzlies’ regular season opener vs. Atlanta, has posted 5.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 17.9 minutes in 109 games (66 starts) with the Grizzlies, who acquired his draft rights (27th overall) during the 2008 NBA Draft.  A key member of the 2008 NCAA Champion Kansas Jayhawks, the 22-year-old recorded 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 14.3 minutes in 32 games last season.

Thabeet, the second overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, ranked second among rookies in blocks (1.31) while averaging 3.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in 13.0 minutes in 68 games (13 starts) last season.  The 7-3, 267-pound center led all NBA players (min. 60 games) in blocks per 48 minutes (4.84).  The 23-year-old, who was named the 2009 Co-Big East Player of the Year (along with current San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair) in his third and final season at Connecticut, is the first Tanzanian-born player to play in the NBA.

The Grizzlies (0-1) will look to bounce back from last night’s opening night defeat, as they travel to Dallas to play the Mavericks at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night at the American Airlines Center.  The game will be televised locally on SportSouth HD.

Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports:

Grizzlies starting center Marc Gasol left practice Sunday afternoon with a high left ankle sprain.

The 7-foot Spaniard landed awkwardly on backup center Hasheem Thabeet’s foot. and Gasol’s ankle was quickly wrapped in ice. The severity of Gasol’s injury won’t be known until today, when the Grizzlies’ medical staff reviews X-ray and MRI results.

The Memphis Grizzlies waived Josh Davis and Damien Wilkins, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

Davis, a 6-8, 235-pound forward, averaged 3.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 9.0 minutes in five preseason games after originally signing with the team as a free agent on Sept. 29.  The 30-year-old holds career averages of 2.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 52 games (six starts) over three NBA seasons (2003-06) with the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns.

Wilkins, a 6-6, 225-pound guard/forward, averaged 2.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 8.5 minutes in two preseason games after originally signing with the team as a free agent on Sept. 28.  The 30-year-old holds career averages of 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 390 games (126 starts) over six NBA seasons (2004-10) with the Timberwolves and Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder.

Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports:

Grizzlies center Hamed Haddadi has finally arrived at his second home.

The 7-footer, who was detained in his native country of Iran because of a legal issue, arrived in Memphis earlier today after missing the first three weeks of training camp.

Haddadi immediately underwent a team physical and will rejoin his teammates Saturday during shoot-around before the Griz host the Milwaukee Bucks during preseason action in FedExForum.

The Memphis Grizzlies waived Luke Jackson, Tre Kelley and Kenny Thomas, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.  All three players appeared in one preseason game each after originally signing with the team on Sept. 28.

Jackson, a 6-7, 215-pound guard/forward, recorded three rebounds in four minutes on Oct. 9 at New Orleans.  The 29-year old holds career averages of 3.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 73 games (three starts) over four NBA seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat.

Kelley, a 6-0, 188-pound guard, posted six points and three rebounds in six minutes on Oct. 9 at New Orleans.  The 25-year-old NBA rookie helped guide the South Carolina Gamecocks to consecutive National Invitation Tournament (NIT) titles in 2005 and 2006 before playing professionally in China, Israel, Greece and, most recently, Lebanon.

Thomas, a 6-7, 235-pound forward, scored two points in 13 minutes on Oct. 7 at Atlanta.  The 33-year-old holds career averages of 9.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 632 games (406 starts) over 11 NBA seasons with the Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings.

The Memphis Grizzlies added free agents Luke Jackson, Tre Kelley, Kenny Thomas and Damien Wilkins, who collectively add 21 years of NBA experience to their 2010 training camp roster, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Jackson, a 6-7, 215-pound guard/forward, joins the team after spending last season with Carife Ferrara in Italy, where the 29-year-old averaged 15.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 30 games.  The Eugene, Ore. native was selected 10th overall in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers after being named a finalist for the John R. Wooden and Naismith College Player of the Year Awards as a senior at the University of Oregon.  Jackson holds career averages of 3.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 73 games (three starts) over four seasons (2004-08) with the Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat.

Kelley, a 6-0, 188-pound guard, spent last season with Club Sagesse in the Lebanese Basketball League.  The 25-year-old also has played professionally in China, Israel and Greece following a four-year career at the University of South Carolina (2003-07).  The Washington, D.C. native left the Gamecocks ranked ninth all-time on the school’s scoring list (1,488 points), second in games played (134) and third in assists (510), winning National Invitation Tournament (NIT) titles in 2005 and 2006.

Thomas, a 6-7, 261-pound forward, comes to Memphis after playing the last five-and-a-half seasons with the Sacramento Kings.  The 33-year-old University of New Mexico product holds career averages of 9.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 632 games (406 starts) over an 11-year NBA career with the Kings, Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers.  The Atlanta, Ga. native’s most productive season came with Philadelphia in 2003-04, when he was one of 11 players to average double figures in points (13.6) and rebounds (career-high 10.1).

Wilkins, a 6-6, 225-pound guard/forward, joins the Grizzlies after spending the 2009-10 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he averaged 5.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 80 games (31 starts).  The 30-year-old University of Georgia product holds career averages of 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 390 games (126 starts) over six NBA seasons (2004-10) with the Timberwolves and Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder.  The Washington, N.C. native is the nephew of NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins and son of former Vancouver Grizzlies guard/forward Gerald Wilkins.

The Memphis Grizzlies signed first round picks Xavier Henry (ZAH-vee-ay) and Greivis Vasquez (GRAY-vess VASS-kez) to multi-year contracts, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“It’s great to have both Xavier and Greivis signed and in the fold now,” Wallace said. “They’re both very bright young men from tremendous college programs. We think they can definitely help our team.

“Xavier has an advantage in that he has an NBA body. He can make shots. That’s his main strength right now. He’s also a very mature, heady young man from a terrific basketball family.

“Greivis is a player coming off a fantastic senior year at Maryland, where he won the Bob Cousy Award as the top playmaker in the country and the ACC Player of the Year. He was an across-the-board player in college. He scored, rebounded, assisted, and got steals. He just needs to come in and play that all-around game, and also show the passion that was his trademark in college.”

Henry, a 6-6, 220-pound guard, was selected 12th overall by the Grizzlies in the 2010 NBA Draft after earning 2009-10 Big 12 All-Freshman honors in his lone season at the University of Kansas.  The southpaw placed second on the Jayhawks in scoring (13.4 points) while averaging 4.4 rebounds and 1.50 steals per game.

The 19-year-old marksman, who shot 41.8 percent from three-point range (69-of-165 3FG) in college, will add perimeter shooting to a Grizzlies squad that finished 30th in the NBA in three-point field goals made (344) and attempted (1020) and 26th in three-point field goal percentage (.337) last season.  Born in Gent, Belgium and raised in Oklahoma City, Henry is the first player in Jayhawks history to leave for the NBA following his freshman season.

Vasquez, a 6-6, 200-pound guard, was selected 28th overall by the Grizzlies in the 2010 NBA Draft.  The reigning ACC Player of the Year and the winner of the 2009-10 Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s best point guard, Vasquez is the only player in ACC history to record at least 2,000 points (2,171), 750 assists (772) and 600 rebounds (647) in a career.  The 23-year-old posted 19.6 points, 6.3 assists (5th in NCAA) and 4.6 rebounds as a senior at the University of Maryland.

A native of Caracas, Venezuela, Vasquez averaged 7.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and a team-high 4.0 assists in five games (three starts) in the 2010 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.