Grizzlies Rumors

Knicks Sign Ivan Rabb To Two-Way Deal

1:53pm: The Knicks have officially signed Rabb to a two-way contract, the team announced today in a press release.

10:15am: The Knicks, one of a small handful of teams with a two-way contract slot available, will fill that opening by signing Ivan Rabb, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Sources tell Charania that New York is finalizing a two-way contract with the former Grizzlies forward, who will reunite with his former head coach David Fizdale.

Rabb, 22, was the 35th overall pick in the 2017 draft and spent his first two professional seasons in Memphis, but didn’t really develop into a reliable, consistent rotation player. In 2018/19, he averaged 5.8 PPG and 4.2 RPG in 49 games (14.7 MPG). The former Cal standout was released by the Grizzlies in advance of this season’s roster cutdown deadline, and cleared waivers on Monday.

While Rabb’s new two-way deal will make him eligible to spend up to 45 days with the Knicks, the team infamously stocked up on power forwards during the summer, so there may not be minutes available in a rotation that already includes Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson, and Marcus Morris. Rabb figures to see far more action with the Westchester Knicks, New York’s G League affiliate.

Once the signing is official, the Knicks will have a full 17-man roster, with two-way players Rabb and Kadeem Allen joining the 15 players on guaranteed standard contracts.

Grizzlies To Decline Josh Jackson’s Option

The Grizzlies are declining Josh Jackson‘s fourth-year option, which will make him an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian tweets.

Jackson, who will make a little over $7MM this season, was due to receive $8.93MM in 2020/21 if Memphis had chosen to pick up the option.

Jackson was a huge disappointment in his two seasons with the Suns, who selected him with the No. 4 overall pick in 2017. He averaged 12.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG and 1.9 APG in 156 games with Phoenix. He only started 29 of 79 games last year for one of the league’s worst teams.

His unspectacular play, coupled with some troubling incidents off the court, convinced Phoenix to ship him to Memphis this offseason in what was essentially a salary dump.

He will start this season in the G League after skipping training camp. However, if Jackson can turn his career around, the Grizzlies might still be interested in re-signing him, Herrington adds.

Grizzlies Exercise Contract Options On Jackson Jr., Allen

The Grizzlies have exercised their 2020/21 contract options on big man Jaren Jackson Jr. and guard Grayson Allen, according to a team press release.

Jackson, the fourth pick in the 2018 draft, averaged 13.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 1.4 BPG during his rookie campaign. He’ll now make a guaranteed $7,257,360 next season after collecting approximately $6.93MM during his second season. The option was a mere formality for Memphis, which is building around Jackson and 2019 lottery pick Ja Morant.

Allen was selected with the No. 21 overall pick last year by the Jazz. He averaged 5.6 PPG in 10.9 MPG over 38 appearances with Utah.

Allen was part of the package Memphis received in the Mike Conley blockbuster. Allen, who is making approximately $2.43MM this season, will receive $2,545,320 in 2020/21. Allen is competing for minutes at shooting guard with Dillon Brooks and European import Marko Guduric.

Grizzlies Waive Ivan Rabb, Miles Plumlee

1:17pm: The Grizzlies have issued a press release confirming that Rabb and Plumlee have been waived. The team has also cut Bennie Boatwright, according to the announcement.

1:05pm: The Grizzlies will set their regular season roster by parting ways with Ivan Rabb and Miles Plumlee, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Memphis had 17 players with full or partial guarantees and could only retain 15, so Rabb and Plumlee are the odd men out.

Rabb, 22, was the 35th overall pick in the 2017 draft and has spent his first two professional seasons in Memphis, but hadn’t developed into a reliable, consistent rotation piece. In 2018/19, he averaged 5.8 PPG and 4.2 RPG in 49 games (14.7 MPG). His deal included a partial guarantee of $371,758, which the Grizzlies will have to pay.

As for Plumlee, he was one of the two players acquired by Atlanta earlier this summer in the Grizzlies’ Chandler Parsons trade. Memphis had hoped that Plumlee and Solomon Hill, who each have expiring contracts in the $12-13MM range, would be easier to use as salary-matching pieces in subsequent trades than Parsons. However, the Grizzlies won’t get a chance to flip Plumlee in another deal and will be on the hook for his $12.5MM cap charge.

By releasing Rabb and Plumlee, the Grizzlies are in position to retain Andre Iguodala, Josh Jackson, and Bruno Caboclo. Iguodala and Jackson have guaranteed contracts, but aren’t expected to be with the team to begin the season — Iguodala reached an agreement not to report to the Grizz as they consider trade options, while Jackson is joining the Memphis Hustle in the G League.

Caboclo, meanwhile, never seemed in danger of being cut, but only has a $300K partial guarantee at this point.

Grizzlies Have Tough Roster Decisions To Make

  • Ivan Rabb‘s 2019/20 salary will become fully guaranteed if he’s not waived today, so the Grizzlies have a decision to make. The team has 17 candidates for its regular-season roster with only 15 spots available, so veterans like Rabb and/or Miles Plumlee could be released, Marks notes.

    [SOURCE LINK]

Grizzlies Sign Bennie Boatwright, Waive Shaq Buchanan

For a fourth consecutive day, the Grizzlies have waived a player 24 hours after signing him. Shaq Buchanan, who signed with Memphis on Thursday, is headed to waivers today, according to the club, which announced in a press release that Buchanan has been replaced on the roster by Bennie Boatwright.

Boatwright, a 6’10” forward, spent the last four years at USC before going undrafted this spring. As a senior in 2018/19, he averaged 18.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 2.5 APG with a .474/.429/.702 shooting line in 31 games (33.5 MPG).

On Monday, the Grizzlies signed Dusty Hannahs to replace Matt Mooney. The team subsequently replaced Hannahs with Ahmad Caver on Tuesday, Caver with Jarrod Uthoff on Wednesday, and Uthoff with Buchanan on Thursday.

All six of those players, including Boatwright, appear likely to ultimately end up with the Memphis Hustle, the Grizzlies’ G League affiliate.

Rockets Reluctant To Trade For Iguodala; Grizzlies Eyeing Shumpert

  • With Gerald Green potentially out for the season due to a foot injury, the Rockets are “scouring the market” for help on the wing, says Charania. Houston discussed some Andre Iguodala trade scenarios with the Grizzlies, but is reluctant to go way into luxury-tax territory by trading for Iguodala, Charania adds.
  • Free agent swingman Iman Shumpert has spoken to a few teams, including the Bulls and Grizzlies, Charania reports.

    [SOURCE LINK]

2019/20 Over/Unders: Southwest Division

The 2019/20 NBA regular season will get underway in just four days, which means it’s time to get serious about predictions for the upcoming campaign.

With the help of the lines from a handful of sports betting sites, including Bovada and BetOnline, we’re running through the predicted win totals for each of the NBA’s 30 teams, by division. In a series of team-by-team polls, you’ll get the chance to weigh in on whether you think those forecasts are too optimistic or too pessimistic.

Having already looked at the other five divisions, we’re moving onto the Southwest today…


Houston Rockets

Trade Rumors app users, click here for Rockets poll.


San Antonio Spurs

Trade Rumors app users, click here for Spurs poll.


Dallas Mavericks

Trade Rumors app users, click here for Mavericks poll.


New Orleans Pelicans

Trade Rumors app users, click here for Pelicans poll.


Memphis Grizzlies

Trade Rumors app users, click here for Grizzlies poll.


Previous voting results:

Atlantic:

  • Philadelphia 76ers (54.5 wins): Over (54.9%)
  • Boston Celtics (49.5 wins): Under (57.0%)
  • Toronto Raptors (46.5 wins): Under (59.1%)
  • Brooklyn Nets (43.5 wins): Over (58.3%)
  • New York Knicks (27.5 wins): Under (54.9%)

Central:

  • Milwaukee Bucks (57.5 wins): Over (63.5%)
  • Indiana Pacers (46.5 wins): Over (56.6%)
  • Detroit Pistons (37.5 wins): Over (69.8%)
  • Chicago Bulls (33.5 wins): Under (56.2%)
  • Cleveland Cavaliers (24.5 wins): Under (70.0%)

Southeast:

  • Miami Heat (43.5 wins): Over (61.8%)
  • Orlando Magic (41.5 wins): Over (52.0%)
  • Atlanta Hawks (33.5 wins): Over (60.2%)
  • Washington Wizards (26.5 wins): Under (65.5%)
  • Charlotte Hornets (23.5 wins): Under (71.2%)

Northwest:

  • Denver Nuggets (53.5 wins): Over (51.8%)
  • Utah Jazz (53.5 wins): Under (50.8%)
  • Portland Trail Blazers (46.5 wins): Over (78.7%)
  • Minnesota Timberwolves (35.5 wins): Under (57.5%)
  • Oklahoma City Thunder (32.5 wins): Under (55.1%)

Pacific:

  • Los Angeles Clippers (54.5 wins): Over (53.9%)
  • Los Angeles Lakers (51.5 wins): Over (50.3%)
  • Golden State Warriors (48.5 wins): Over (54.3%)
  • Sacramento Kings (38.5 wins): Over (66.2%)
  • Phoenix Suns (29.5 wins): Under (61.8%)

Shaq Buchanan Signs With Grizzlies

Memphis has signed former Murray State guard Shaq Buchanan, tweets Adam Johnson of 2 Ways and 10 Days. Buchanan will receive an Exhibit 10 deal and will be claimed as an affiliate player, taking his name out of the Oct. 26 G League draft.

The Grizzlies confirmed the signing in a tweet, adding that Jarrod Uthoff has been waived to make room on the roster.  The team has been making minor roster adjustments all week to help stock its G League affiliate.

Buchanan played two seasons for the Racers, averaging 13.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore. He joins his former backcourt partner, Ja Morant, who was taken second overall by the Grizzlies in this year’s draft.

Grizzlies Sign Jarrod Uthoff, Waive Ahmad Caver

The Grizzlies continue to shuffle players on and off their 20-man preseason roster, announcing today in a press release that they’ve signed forward Jarrod Uthoff and waived guard Ahmad Caver.

It’s the third consecutive day that the Grizzlies have made a pair of minor roster moves — the club signed Dusty Hannahs to replace Matt Mooney on Monday, then signed Caver and released Hannahs on Tuesday. Those signings are being made for G League purposes, with the Grizzlies either securing affiliate rights or ensuring that returning-rights players will receive Exhibit 10 bonuses.

Uthoff, who went undrafted out of Iowa in 2016, appeared in nine games for the Mavericks in his rookie season but has mostly played in the G League and international leagues since going pro. He spent the 2018/19 campaign with Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia.

The Memphis Hustle – the Grizzlies’ NBAGL affiliate – acquired Uthoff’s returning rights in a trade a year ago, so if he signs a G League contract, he’d be assigned to the Hustle. By inking a contract with the Grizzlies today, Uthoff should also be in line for an Exhibit 10 bonus worth up to $50K if he spends at least 60 days with the Hustle.