Free agent forward Matthew Hurt, who appeared in eight games last season with the Grizzlies, has signed a one-year contract with the South East Melbourne Phoenix of Australia’s National Basketball League, sources tell Olgun Uluc of ESPN (Twitter link).
Hurt, 24, went undrafted in 2021 after playing his college ball at Duke and has played almost exclusively for the Memphis Hustle in the G League since then. In 2023/24, the 6’9″ forward averaged 19.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 32.6 minutes per game across 28 NBAGL outings for Memphis’ G League team, posting an excellent shooting line of .507/.400/.786.
Hurt’s strong play for the Hustle earned him a pair of 10-day contracts with the Grizzlies in January and February. He saw a little playing time for the injury-plagued club, but struggled to make an impact at the NBA level, recording 4.0 PPG and 2.0 RPG in 14.1 MPG on .353/.250/1.000 shooting. The Grizzlies didn’t re-sign him after his second 10-day contract expired in March.
Hurt is the third former NBA player who has joined the Phoenix since the 2024 offseason began. The club also added guard Derrick Walton, who played for the Heat, Clippers, and Pistons from 2017-22, and former Spurs and Raptors forward Joe Wieskamp.
NBA needs more expansion teams or better paying more opportunity g league teams to accommodate for all this talent across the world in basketball.
Why?
Expansion teams dilute the talent pool. More spots doesn’t mean more interest from International players to come to the NBA. Maybe it keeps the American born fringe NBA players around, but that’s the dilution of the pool I am referring to.
Not all Japanese baseball players are interested in coming to the MLB just like not all Russian players want to suit up in the NHL.
There would not be dilution if they added 36 spots lol. There are 100% 36 players that are either playing overseas or in the g-league rn that would 1) have the talent to be in the NBA, and 2) want to be in the NBA
Correct….way the nba structures contracts assures so many good euros stay at home. Taking a paycut on a rookie scale deal for three or four yrs @ 29yrs old is just lunacy.
I’m not really sure why all of the fringe NBA talent needs to be concentrated in the US. The NBL has proven to be an excellent proving ground for guys to develop in an environment where winning a championship is a goal, as opposed to one where guys are just trying to get noticed so they can maybe get a contract.
The NBA does plan to add 2 NBA teams at some point in the neat future. There is clearly enough talent available to warrant expansion. That said the 36 players chosen will undoubtedly have a few that represent dilution of talent. We are unlikely to draw the 36 best players out there not on NBA contracts. Most likely about half will be above replacement level. And 3 or 4 on each team will benefit from extra playing time they probably wouldn’t get on an established team and become average or better players. Perhaps an All Star on each team. Though that is unlikely in the first 2 seasons . They may not Make it while still playing with those teams.