Category: Memphis Grizzlies Blog

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Grizzlies guard Ja Morant fined by NBA

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been fined $35,000 for confronting and directing inappropriate language toward a game official and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.

Morant was assessed a technical foul and ejected with 1:22 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Grizzlies’ 109-101 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 30 at Target Center.

Per the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “Morant is currently tied for ninth in the NBA with four technical fouls this season.”

Ja Morant may return sooner than expected for Grizzlies

Via the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

Ja Morant may be healing at a faster rate than anticipated.

The Memphis Grizzlies updated Morant to questionable ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Sacramento Kings. Morant was initially listed as doubtful on Monday.

He’ll undergo testing ahead of the game to determine if he will be able to play.

Morant injured his left ankle on Friday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team announced that he suffered a grade 1 ankle sprain and would be evaluated week-to-week.

FULL ARTICLE

Desmond Bane scoring big for Grizzlies so far this season

Desmond Bane is putting up 24.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game for the Grizzlies this season. Here’s the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

The barrage started with one of those 3-pointers only the best shooters make look easy, the type of 3-pointer that helped introduce Desmond Bane to Memphis Grizzlies fans when he first arrived two years ago.

He curled around a Steven Adams screen, caught a pass from John Konchar, turned over his right shoulder to square his body to the basket, set his feet on the left wing, and drilled a shot from three feet beyond the arc.

Bane, as it turned out, was only beginning, and the implications of that go well beyond a Wednesday night in Portland during the opening weeks of the season.

There has been no more important development for these Grizzlies through eight games than Bane’s latest evolution. It’s how they beat Portland, and how they closed out their first West Coast road trip with a 2-2 record. It’s how they’ve survived their early spate of injuries and ailments, maybe even more than those extraordinary Ja Morant performances.

We knew to expect that from Morant. We didn’t know yet how much better his sidekick would be.

FULL ARTICLE

Grizzlies sign Brandon Clarke to contract extension

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward/center Brandon Clarke to a multi-year contract extension.

Clarke’s Grizzlies deal is reportedly a four-year, $52 million contract extension.

Per the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “Clarke’s deal lines up to recent rookie scale extensions for comparable big men. Boston Celtics center Robert Williams recently signed a four-year deal worth $54 million, and Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter four-year deal for $50 million in 2021.”

Clarke (6-7 ¾, 210) appeared in 64 games (one start) and averaged 10.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and a career-high 1.06 blocks in 19.5 minutes while shooting 64.4 percent from the field last season, his third with Memphis since he was acquired by the Grizzlies from the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The 26-year-old increased his averages to 12.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.7 minutes in 12 games during the 2022 NBA Playoffs.

Memphis registered the second-best record in the NBA during the 2021-22 regular season at 56-26, which tied the franchise record and earned the Grizzlies the Southwest Division championship, the first division title in franchise history. Clarke helped the Grizzlies’ bench lead all NBA second units last season in rebounds and blocks.

A native of Vancouver who finished his collegiate career at Gonzaga University, Clarke has played 181 career games (21 starts) and has averaged 10.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.9 minutes for the Grizzlies. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in field goal percentage (.613).

Grizzlies waive Killian Tillie and Dakota Mathias

The Memphis Grizzlies have waived forward/center Killian Tillie and wing Dakota Mathias to finalize their opening night roster for the 2022-23 regular season.

The Grizzlies will tip-off the 2022-23 regular season against the New York Knicks at 6:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at FedExForum. The regular season opener will be televised regionally on Bally Sports Southeast and nationally on ESPN.

Tillie (6-10, 220) appeared in 54 games (four starts) in two seasons with the Grizzlies and averaged 3.2 points and 1.6 rebounds in 11.9 minutes. Unselected in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga University, the 24-year-old native of France originally was signed by the Grizzlies on a two-way contract and was converted to a standard NBA contract on Jan. 1, 2022.

Mathias (6-4, 200), signed by Memphis on Oct. 14, has appeared in 14 games (six starts) in two seasons with the Grizzlies and Philadelphia 76ers and has averaged 3.9 points and 1.0 assists in 9.9 minutes. Undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Purdue University, the 27-year-old Ohio native also has competed professionally for the NBA G League’s Texas Legends and in Spain for the ACB’s Joventut Badalona.

Grizzlies exercise contract options on Desmond Bane, Ziaire Williams and Santi Aldama

The Memphis Grizzlies have exercised 2023-24 rookie scale contract options on wings Desmond Bane and Ziaire Williams and forward Santi Aldama.

Bane (6-6, 215) has appeared in 144 games (93 starts) and has averaged 14.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 26.3 minutes since he was acquired by Memphis with the 30th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of TCU. Last season, the 23-year-old Indiana native increased his scoring average to 18.2 points per game in his second NBA campaign and set single-season franchise records for 3-point field goals made (228) and free throw percentage (.903). He ranked second in the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage (.436) last season after placing 11th as a rookie in 2020-21 (.432).

Williams (6-8 ¼, 185) competed in 62 games (31 starts) as a rookie last season and averaged 8.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 21.7 minutes after he was drafted 10th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft following his freshman year at Stanford University. The 21-year-old shot 49.8 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from 3-point range over his final 29 regular season games last season and saw action in 10 postseason games (one start) to help the Grizzlies advance to the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals.

Aldama (6-11, 224) appeared in 32 games off the bench as a rookie last season and averaged 4.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 11.3 minutes after he was selected 30th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Loyola University Maryland. The 21-year-old native of Spain averaged 12.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.20 blocks in 25.2 minutes while shooting 57.5 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from 3-point range while starting all five games during the 2022 preseason.

Grizzlies sign Dakota Mathias, waive EJ Onu and Romeo Weems

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed wing Dakota Mathias.

Also today, the Grizzlies waived forward/center EJ Onu and forward Romeo Weems.

Mathias (6-4, 200) has appeared in 14 games (two starts) for the Grizzlies and Philadelphia 76ers and has averaged 3.9 points and 1.0 assists in 10.0 minutes in two seasons (2020-22). Unselected in the 2018 NBA Draft following his collegiate career at Purdue University, the 27-year-old Ohio native also has played for the NBA G League’s Texas Legends and in Spain for the ACB’s Joventut Badalona.

Onu (6-11, 240), who was signed on Oct. 13, competed in 25 games (six starts) for the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle last season and averaged 6.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.20 blocks in 17.4 minutes. Unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Shawnee State University, the 23-year-old Cleveland native also has played for the Legends and the Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.

Weems (6-7, 210), who also was signed on Oct. 13, appeared in three games for the Hustle during the 2021 NBA G League Showcase Cup. The 21-year-old Detroit native was selected in the 2021 NBA Draft following his sophomore year at DePaul University.

Grizzlies sign EJ Onu and Romeo Weems, waive Matthew Hurt and Sean McDermott

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward/center EJ Onu and forward Romeo Weems.

Also today, the Grizzlies waived forward Matthew Hurt and wing Sean McDermott.

Onu (6-11, 240) appeared in 25 games (six starts) for the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle last season and averaged 6.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.20 blocks in 17.4 minutes. The 23-year-old Cleveland native also played for the NBA G League’s Texas Legends and the Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Onu went unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft after leading Shawnee State University to the 2021 NAIA national championship.

Weems (6-7, 210) made three appearances for the Hustle during the 2021 NBA G League Showcase Cup. The 21-year-old Detroit native, who played for the Grizzlies last preseason, went unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at DePaul University.

Hurt (6-9, 235), who was signed by the Grizzlies on Oct. 10, competed in eight games for the Hustle during the 2021 NBA G League Showcase Cup. The 22-year-old Minnesota native went unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft after he was named to the All-ACC First Team as a sophomore at Duke University.

McDermott (6-6, 195), who also was signed by the Grizzlies on Oct. 10, has played 18 games for the Grizzlies and 17 games for the Hustle over the past two seasons. The 25-year-old Indiana native went unselected in the 2020 NBA Draft after a four-year collegiate career at Butler University.

Grizzlies sign Matthew Hurt and Sean McDermott, waive Justin Bean and Jacob Gilyard

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward Matthew Hurt and wing Sean McDermott.

In addition, the Grizzlies waived forward Justin Bean and guard Jacob Gilyard.

Hurt (6-9, 235) was named to the All-ACC First Team and was recognized as the ACC Most Improved Player after averaging 18.3 points while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from 3-point range during his sophomore year (2020-21) at Duke University. Unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft, the 22-year-old Minnesota native was a member of the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle last season but did not appear in a regular season game due to injury.

McDermott (6-6, 195) has appeared in 18 games for the Grizzlies (2020-21) and 17 games for the Hustle (2020-22) since he went unselected in the 2020 NBA Draft. The 25-year-old Indiana native played four seasons at Butler University (2016-20), where he averaged 7.8 points and shot 40.3 percent from 3-point range.

Bean (6-7, 210) recorded three points and two rebounds in six minutes in one preseason appearance after he was signed by the Grizzlies on Sept. 23. The 25-year-old Oklahoma native went unselected in the 2022 NBA Draft after playing four seasons at Utah State University, where he was named to the All-Mountain West Second Team unanimously twice (2021, 2022) and to the Mountain West All-Defensive Team twice (2020, 2022).

Gilyard (5-9, 160) registered two rebounds and one assist in 18 minutes in one preseason game after he was signed by Memphis on Sept. 23. The 24-year-old Missouri native went unselected in the 2022 NBA Draft following a five-year collegiate career at Richmond University, where he set an NCAA Division I record with 466 total steals and was named the 2019-20 Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year.

Grizzlies sign Steven Adams to contract extension

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed center Steven Adams to a multi-year contract extension.

The extension is reportedly for two years, $25.2 million.

Per ESPN.com, “Adams, 29, was entering the final year of his deal, and now is under contract for three years and $43.1 million for a Grizzlies franchise trying to take the next step to championship contention.”

Adams (6-11, 265) averaged 6.9 points and set career highs with averages of 10.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists over 76 games (75 starts) last season, his first with the Grizzlies following a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans. Memphis posted the second-best record in the NBA during the 2021-22 regular season at 56-26, which tied the franchise record and earned the Grizzlies the Southwest Division championship, the first division title in franchise history.

Per the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “retaining Adams likely temporarily ends the discussion of Jaren Jackson Jr. moving to center. The Grizzlies view Adams as a key component to the team’s championship goals. His rebounding and screen-setting were big parts of the Grizzlies’ identity last season. Many players in the NBA also call him one of the league’s strongest players.”

The 29-year-old led the NBA last season with 349 total offensive rebounds and 4.6 offensive rebounds per game, breaking the single-season franchise records previously set by Zach Randolph during the 2009-10 season. He helped Memphis top the league with 18.6 second chance points per game, the highest mark by any NBA team since the league began tracking the stat in the 1996-97 season.

A native of New Zealand who played collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh, Adams was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 12th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft and has played 664 career games (599 starts) over a nine-year career with Oklahoma City, New Orleans and Memphis. He owns NBA career averages of 9.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 26.8 minutes and holds the eighth-highest field goal percentage (.587) in NBA history.