Category: Memphis Grizzlies Blog

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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.

Grizzlies sign Ja Morant to contract extension

The Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, July 6 signed guard Ja Morant to a multi-year contract extension.

Morant (6-2 ½, 174) averaged 27.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.16 steals in 33.1 minutes in 57 games (all starts) last season and helped guide the Grizzlies to the second-best record in the NBA during the regular season (56-26), which tied the single-season franchise record, and the Southwest Division championship, the first division title in franchise history.

The 22-year-old was selected to the 2021-22 All-NBA Second Team and was named the 2021-22 NBA Most Improved Player following his third NBA season, during which he was voted by fans as a starter for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, his first All-Star appearance. He joined Marc Gasol as the only players in franchise history to receive at least All-NBA Second Team honors and Gasol as the only players to be named a starter in the All-Star Game.

Morant, who became the first guard to lead the NBA in points in the paint per game (16.6 points) since play-by-play data was first tracked in 1996-97, became the first player in franchise history to win consecutive Western Conference Player of the Week Awards, earning the first two weekly honors of his NBA career on Jan. 3 and Jan. 10 in the midst of a franchise-record 11-game winning streak (Dec. 26-Jan. 13).

The South Carolina native recorded a single-game franchise record with 52 points on Feb. 28 vs. San Antonio, one of his six performances with at least 40 points last season (a single-season franchise record).

During the 2022 Playoffs, Morant averaged 27.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 9.8 assists in 37.6 minutes to help lead Memphis to the Western Conference Semifinals for the first time since 2015.

Morant was named the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year and was selected to the 2019-20 NBA All-Rookie First Team after he was selected by Memphis with the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He has started all of his 187 appearances over three seasons with the Grizzlies and has averaged 21.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 32.2 minutes. He holds career postseason averages of 28.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 9.2 assists in 38.6 minutes.

Grizzlies re-sign Tyus Jones

The Memphis Grizzlies yesterday re-signed guard Tyus Jones to a multi-year contract extension.

Jones (6-0 ¼, 196) appeared in 73 games (23 starts) last season, his third with the Grizzlies, and averaged a career-high 8.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 21.2 minutes while shooting 45.1% from the field, a career-best 39.0% from 3-point range and 81.8% from the free throw line. Jones set single-season career highs for field goals made (249) and 3-pointers made (80).

The 26-year-old established a new NBA single-season record with a 7.04 assist-to-turnover ratio last season, eclipsing the previous league record (6.96) he set during the 2018-19 season. Jones has led all qualified players in this category for each of the last four seasons, tying Chris Paul (2012-16) for the longest such streak in NBA history.

A native of Minneapolis, Jones has competed in 208 games (38 starts) for Memphis and has averaged 7.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 19.2 minutes since signing with the Grizzlies as a free agent on July 7, 2019. He has helped guide Memphis to the NBA Playoffs in each of the past two seasons and helped the Grizzlies record the second-best record in the NBA (56-26), tying a franchise record, last season.

Selected with the 24th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Jones has competed in 455 games (72 starts) and has averaged 6.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 18.4 minutes with the Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves. He led Duke to the 2015 NCAA championship as a freshman.

Grizzlies sign rookie Kennedy Chandler

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed 2022 second round draft pick, guard Kennedy Chandler, to a multi-year contract.

A Memphis native, Chandler (6-0, 171) was acquired by the Grizzlies with the No. 38 overall pick pursuant to a draft-night trade with the San Antonio Spurs. The 19-year-old guided the Volunteers to the 2022 SEC Tournament championship last season and became the second player in program history to be named the SEC Tournament MVP, joining Allan Houston (1991).

Chandler started all 34 of his appearances for Tennessee and averaged 13.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.18 steals in 30.8 minutes while shooting 46.4% from the field and 38.3% from 3-point range. He ranked second in the SEC in steals. He was named to the All-SEC Second Team and SEC All-Freshman Team last season.

Grizzlies sign Vince Williams Jr. and Kenneth Lofton Jr. to two-way contracts

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed wing Vince Williams Jr. and forward/center Kenneth Lofton Jr. to two-way contracts.

Williams Jr. (6-6, 205), the No. 47 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, was selected to the 2021-22 All-Atlantic 10 First Team after averaging 14.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.60 steals and 1.07 blocks in 32.5 minutes while shooting 47.7% from the field and 38.7% from 3-point range during his senior year at VCU. The 21-year-old Ohio native averaged at least one steal per game in all four seasons with the Rams.

Lofton Jr. (6-8, 275) was named to the 2021-22 All-Conference USA First Team after averaging 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.15 steals in 27.0 minutes while shooting 53.9% from the field in 33 games during his sophomore year at Louisiana Tech. Unselected in the 2022 NBA Draft, the 19-year-old Texas native led Conference USA in rebounds per game, total rebounds (347), offensive rebounds (108), defensive rebounds (239) and double-doubles (17) last season.

Grizzlies sign rookies Jake LaRavia and David Roddy

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed 2022 first round draft picks, forwards Jake LaRavia and David Roddy, to multi-year contracts.

LaRavia (6-7, 235) was acquired by Memphis with the No. 19 overall pick pursuant to a draft-night trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 20-year-old California native was selected to the 2021-22 All-ACC Second Team after averaging 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.67 steals in 34.1 minutes while shooting 55.9% from the field and 38.4% from 3-point range in 33 games as a junior for Wake Forest.

Roddy (6-5, 255) was acquired by the Grizzlies with the No. 23 overall pick pursuant to a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers that was completed on June 24. The 21-year-old Minnesota native was named the 2021-22 Mountain West Player of the Year after averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.16 steals and 1.06 blocks while shooting a conference-best 57.1% from the field and 43.8% from 3-point range as a junior at Colorado State.