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Via ESPN.com:
Memphis Grizzlies All-NBA guard Ja Morant has agreed to a five-year designated rookie extension that’ll likely be worth $231 million, his agent, Jim Tanner of Tandem/YouFirst Sports, told ESPN.
Morant, who made All-NBA Second Team, is guaranteed $193 million and will trigger supermax escalators to take the deal to $231 million upon again landing on one of the league’s three All-NBA teams.
The deal also includes a 15% trade kicker, Tanner said.
In major NBA injury news, Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. underwent surgery yesterday to address a stress fracture in his right foot.
Jackson Jr. will be sidelined approximately 4-6 months and is expected to make a full recovery.
Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has acquired De’Anthony Melton in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies.
In the trade, Philadelphia sent draft rights to the No. 23 selection in the 2022 NBA Draft (David Roddy) and Danny Green to Memphis.
“First and foremost, I want to thank Danny Green for everything he gave the Sixers organization over the last two seasons. He was a veteran leader, consummate professional on and off the court, and made us all better. I wish him continued success in his recovery and look forward to seeing him back on the court.
Heading into the draft, we had a goal of strengthening our rotation and believe we accomplished that by acquiring De’Anthony Melton. He is a young, tough and talented two-way player who can impact the game on multiple levels. We think he will thrive here and we’re excited to add him to our roster,” Morey said following the trade.
Last season with Memphis, Melton averaged career highs across the board with 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals in 22.7 minutes per game. His average of 1.4 takeaways per contest led the NBA among players who played in 25-or-fewer minutes per game and also ranked within the league’s top-15 overall. Over the past two seasons, Melton has raised his three-point shooting percentage to .388, a significant jump from the .294 mark he posted in his first two career campaigns.
Melton has seen action in 235 career games with Memphis and Phoenix, averaging 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 20.7 minutes per contest. Since his NBA debut in 2018-19, Melton has 309 steals, making him one of two players with at least 300 steals in fewer than 6,000 minutes over that span.
Originally selected by Houston with the No. 46 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Melton was traded to Phoenix prior to the start of the 2018-19 season. He spent his lone collegiate season in his home state with the University of Southern California and posted 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.9 steals in 27.0 minutes per game. The Trojans posted a 26-10 regular season record in Melton’s time with the program, earning an appearance in the 2017 NCAA Tournament and reaching the second round.
Roddy (6-5, 255) was named the 2021-22 Mountain West Player of the Year and USBWA District VIII Player of the Year after averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.16 steals and 1.06 blocks in 31 games while shooting a conference-best 57.1% from the field and 43.8% from 3-point range during his junior year at Colorado State. The 21-year-old Minneapolis native helped lead the Rams to its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2013 and the highest seed (No. 6) in program history.
Green (6-6, 220) has competed in 819 regular season games (709 starts) and has averaged 8.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 25.3 minutes while shooting 42.1% from the field and 39.9% from 3-point range in his 13-year NBA career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers. The 34-year-old has won NBA championships with the Spurs (2014), Raptors (2019) and Lakers (2020) since he was selected with the No. 46 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft out of North Carolina.
The Memphis Grizzlies have signed head coach Taylor Jenkins to a multi-year contract extension.
“Taylor has done an outstanding job leading our team and this extension is well-deserved,” said Grizzlies EVP of Basketball Operations and General Manager Zachary Z. Kleiman. “The year-over-year progress under Taylor speaks for itself, but his growth-oriented, selfless and competitive approach has been a driving force in the establishment of a sustainable culture. We have full confidence that Taylor will steer us to Memphis’ first championship.”
Last season, his third season as head coach, Jenkins guided the Grizzlies to a 56-26 record, the second-best record in the NBA and tied for the best single-season record in franchise history. Memphis earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference Playoffs, a franchise best, and advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals for the first time since 2015. The Grizzlies also captured the Southwest Division championship during the regular season, the first division title in franchise history.
Per the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “the Grizzlies had the second youngest roster in the NBA and have already taking steps to keeping their core in tact. Jaren Jackson Jr. signed a contract extension in October 2021, and all signs point to Ja Morant joining him in July.
Jenkins finished second in the voting for the 2021-22 NBA Coach of the Year award and received Western Conference Coach of the Month honors for December 2021. The Grizzlies were one of two NBA teams (Phoenix Suns) to rank inside the Top 6 in both offensive rating (114.3) and defensive rating (108.9) during the season, accomplishing the feat with the second-youngest roster in the league.
More from the Commercial Appeal: “Jenkins has brought an up-tempo style of basketball to Memphis with a focus on the defensive tenacity that fans have seen since the Grit and Grind days. The Grizzlies led the NBA in steals, blocks, rebounding and transition points this season.”
Memphis also led the NBA last season in rebounds (49.2), offensive rebounds (14.1), steals (9.8), blocks (6.5), points in the paint (57.6), second chance points (18.7) and fast break points (17.7), setting franchise records in every category except blocks. The Grizzlies became the first team to lead the NBA in rebounds, steals and blocks since steals and blocks became official statistics in 1973-74.
In addition, the Grizzlies won a franchise-record 11 consecutive games from Dec. 26-Jan. 13 and set franchise records for road wins (26), Western Conference wins (36) and Southwest Division wins (11) last season.
Hired as head coach on June 11, 2019, Jenkins has compiled a career regular season record of 128-99 (.564) and has guided Memphis to the NBA Playoffs in each of the last two seasons. The Grizzlies have established a new franchise record for scoring average in each of Jenkins’ three seasons on the sidelines, averaging 115.6 points in 2021-22.
Here’s the Memphis Commercial Appeal on the Grizzlies heading into the 2022 NBA Draft, which is now less than one month away:
The Memphis Grizzlies are loaded with one of the best young rosters in the NBA, and they have the potential to add more in the 2022 NBA Draft.
The Grizzlies have three picks, including the 22nd and 29th overall selections in the first round. Picks at the back end of the first round are less likely to be home runs, but the Grizzlies have recently struck gold. They selected Desmond Bane with the 30th overall pick in 2020 and Brandon Clarke 21st in 2019.
Tyus Jones and Kyle Anderson are headed for free agency. If they’re not in the franchise’s future plans, Memphis could draft their replacements or it can bolster depth at other spots.
Either way, the 2022 NBA Draft on June 23 figures to be one in which the Grizzlies can maneuver around the board, be creative or stay put and strengthen the young core.
Memphis Grizzlies EVP of Basketball Operations and General Manager Zachary Z. Kleiman has been selected as the winner of the 2021-22 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year, the NBA announced today.
“This is an organizational honor,” said Kleiman. “I wouldn’t be in this position without Robert (Pera)’s vision and support, and I’m grateful to be pursuing NBA championships in Memphis with such a driven and competitive group of players and staff. Thank you to my peers for this recognition.”
Kleiman received 16 of the 29 first-place votes and 85 total points from a voting panel of team executives across the NBA. Executives were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote. Kleiman, 33, is the youngest recipient of the NBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award, which has been presented annually since the 1972-73 season. He also becomes the second person to earn the honor with the Grizzlies, joining Jerry West (2003-04).
In Kleiman’s third season leading the team’s Basketball Operations, Memphis recorded the second-best record in the NBA (56-26) and tied the 2012-13 franchise record for winning percentage (.683). The Grizzlies earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference Playoffs (a franchise record) and captured the Southwest Division championship, the first division title in franchise history.
Under Kleiman, the Grizzlies assembled a roster that set a franchise record for scoring average with 115.6 points per game (second in the NBA) as the second-youngest team in the NBA. All 9,480 of the Grizzlies’ points this season were scored by players under the age of 30. Memphis led the league in rebounds (49.2), offensive rebounds (14.1), steals (9.8), blocks (6.5), points in the paint (57.6), second chance points (18.7) and fast break points (17.7), setting single-season franchise records in every category except blocks (which ranked second in club history). The Grizzlies became the first team to lead the NBA in rebounds, steals and blocks since steals and blocks became official statistics in 1973-74.
This is the first NBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award for Kleiman, who has served seven seasons with the Grizzlies and three in his current role.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant exited during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals on May 7 at Golden State with right knee soreness. Morant underwent an MRI, and subsequent evaluation has revealed a bone bruise in his right knee.
Morant is doubtful for the remainder of the postseason but is expected to make a full recovery.
Memphis Grizzlies guard-forward Dillon Brooks has been suspended one game without pay for having made unnecessary and excessive contact against Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II, resulting in substantial injury to Payton, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations.
The incident, for which Brooks was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected, occurred with 9:08 remaining in the first quarter of the Grizzlies’ 106-101 win over the Warriors in Game 2 of their conference semifinals playoff series May 3 at FedEx Forum.
Brooks will serve his suspension Saturday, May 7 when the Grizzlies visit the Warriors for Game 3 at Chase Center.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is the recipient of the 2021-22 NBA Most Improved Player Award, the NBA announced today.
The first player in franchise history to receive the NBA Most Improved Player Award, Morant received 221 points (38 first-place votes) from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray finished in second place with 183 points (20 first-place votes). Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland finished in third place with 178 points (11 first-place votes). Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.
Morant averaged 27.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.16 steals in 33.1 minutes in 57 appearances (all starts) this season and helped guide the Grizzlies to a 56-26 record, the second-best in the NBA during the regular season. Memphis tied its 2012-13 franchise record for wins and captured the Southwest Division championship, the first division title in franchise history.
In his third NBA season, Morant set career highs for scoring average, rebounds per game, steals per game, field goal percentage (.493) and 3-point percentage (.344). Compared to the 2020-21 season, he raised his field goal percentage by 4.4%, while increasing his shot attempts by 5.4 per game, and upped his 3-point percentage by 4.1% on an additional 0.7 attempts per game.
The 22-year-old was selected as a starter for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, becoming the second All-Star starter in franchise history and the youngest Grizzlies player to participate in the event.
Morant led all NBA players in points in the paint per game (16.6), becoming the first guard to do so in 25 seasons since data was first tracked, and ranked second in fast break points per game (4.4), helping the Grizzlies lead the NBA in both categories. He set a single-game franchise record with 52 points on Feb. 28 vs. San Antonio, the first 50-point performance in Grizzlies history.
In addition, Morant became the sixth player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in his age-22 season, joining Oscar Robertson (1960-61), Kobe Bryant (2000-01), Tracy McGrady (2001-02), LeBron James (2016-17) and Luka Dončić (2021-22).
Morant has started all of his 187 regular season appearances and has averaged 21.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 32.2 minutes through his first three NBA seasons. He was named the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year after being second overall in the 2019 NBA Draft following his sophomore year at Murray State University.
The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Shaquille Harrison to a 10-day contract under the NBA’s COVID-related hardship exception.
Harrison (6-4, 195) has appeared in 175 career games (23 starts) over five NBA seasons with Phoenix, Chicago, Utah, Denver and Brooklyn and has averaged 5.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists and 15.2 minutes. He totaled four points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 23 minutes in two games for the Nets earlier this season.
The 28-year-old has started all 10 of his appearances with the NBA G League’s Delaware Blue Coats this season and has averaged 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.90 steals. He has played two additional seasons in the NBA G League with the Northern Arizona Suns. A native of Kansas City, Mo., Harrison went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at the University of Tulsa, where he ranks second in program history in assists (461) and steals (244).