2:28pm: It’s expected to be a one-year deal, Spears adds in a full story. That means the Grizzlies will only be responsible for $947,276 of the $1,362,897 Hollins would make if he sticks for the season, with the league covering the rest.
2:20pm: The contract will be non-guaranteed, a source tells Chris Herrington of The Commercial Appeal (Twitter link).
1:32pm: The Grizzlies and Ryan Hollins have agreed to a deal, reports Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). The Warriors, Clippers and Kings reportedly spoke with the center’s representatives last month, but apparently it’s Memphis instead where he’ll end up, with training camp set to begin this coming Tuesday. An overseas deal for fellow Todd Ramasar client Chris Singleton, who had reportedly been in touch with the Clippers around the same time L.A’s Hollins talks took place, provided a hint earlier today that a Hollins signing might be forthcoming. It’s not immediately clear whether the Grizzlies are including any guaranteed money in the pact, though it’s certain that the contract will be for the minimum salary, since that’s all Memphis can give.
Hollins, who turns 31 next month, has found consistent work as a backup center over his nine-year NBA career, and he spent last season with Sacramento. The Pelicans and Mavericks were reportedly interested in him earlier this summer. The Grizzlies spend plenty of time with two big men on the floor, and with combo forward Jarell Martin, this year’s 25th overall pick, out indefinitely with a broken foot, Hollins reinforces the team’s depth behind Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and mid-level signee Brandan Wright.
Memphis has 14 fully guaranteed pacts, a partial guarantee for power forward JaMychal Green, and three non-guaranteed deals, as our roster count shows. Point guard Andrew Harrison, whom the Grizzlies picked 44th overall, remains unsigned, as former Nets executive Bobby Marks points out (on Twitter).
Do you think Hollins will help the Grizzlies this year? Leave a comment to share your thoughts.
Hollins has made a good living as the 14th or 15th man on the roster. He’s a No. 3 center that can play limited minutes but becomes a liability if he’s needed on a nightly basis.
Good signing, a strong backcourt we have again, unfortunately that iisn’t enough