Memphis Grizzlies Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Caboclo Gets Second 10-Day Contract With Grizzlies

February 3rd, 2019 at 8:46am CST by Arthur Hill

The Grizzlies have given Bruno Caboclo another 10-day contract, the team announced on Twitter.

The 23-year-old forward is averaging 6.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in five games with Memphis while playing 23 minutes per night. The Grizzlies needed to add wing depth because of injuries to Chandler Parsons, Dillon Brooks, and Kyle Anderson.

Caboclo had been with the Rockets’ G League affiliate in Rio Grande Valley before receiving the 10-day contracts. Memphis will have to decide whether to waive him or sign him for the rest of the season when this deal expires on February 12.

For a complete list of this year’s 10-day contracts, including which deals remain active, check out our tracker.

Lowe’s Latest: Rockets, Prince, Blazers, Heat

February 2nd, 2019 at 3:52pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Rockets and Cavaliers had discussions about sending Brandon Knight to Cleveland along with a first-round pick in exchange for Alec Burks. However, Zach Lowe of ESPN.com hears that those talks have ceased. Houston has also spoken with the Grizzlies about potential Knight deals.

Cleveland is selling Burks, Rodney Hood, and any other “indispensable asset” prior to the deadline, Lowe writes. The team is willing to take back future salary in exchange for picks.

Houston is expected to scour the market for deals leading up to the deadline with an eye on attaching a future first-rounder to Knight and Marquese Chriss. The Rockets would likely push for lottery protections on any picks that would convey past James Harden‘s prime.

Lowe’s latest piece contains trade nuggets from several teams in the league and we’ve already passed along news from the Grizzlies’ Mike Conley and Marc Gasol sweepstakes as well as the Magic’s pre-deadline plan. Here are the rest of the newsworthy notes from the ESPN piece:

The Hawks have made Taurean Prince available in trade talks, sources tell Lowe. Atlanta hasn’t received a ton of traction on Prince deals because of its asking price. The organization wants a young prospect and a pick in exchange for the small forward.
The Blazers have put their first-rounder on the table in trade talks, sources tell Lowe. Portland has reached out about Otto Porter Jr.‘s availability, though Wizards owner Ted Leonsis previously announced that the team would not be trading Porter before the deadline.
Porter has drawn interest from several teams. In addition to the Blazers, the Mavericks and Jazz have kept an eye on the situation. Dallas was interested in swapping Harrison Barnes for Porter prior to the Kristaps Porzingis trade.
Miami appears to be willing to move anyone but Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson and Bam Adebayo for cap relief. Lowe expects the Heat to try to get at least a second-round pick for Wayne Ellington.
Lowe confirms a previous report that JaMychal Green, Justin Holiday, and Garrett Temple are all available. Holiday, who was acquired from the Bulls earlier this year, cost the Grizzlies two second-round picks.
The Kings have approximately $11MM in cap space available and they want to use it to pick up an asset. Lowe writes that it could be a draft pick or a player who will help them win this season.
Sacramento is willing to engage in trade talks about Willie Cauley-Stein, who will be a restricted free agent this summer. The Kings may simply let the center walk should he receive too high of an offer this offseason.
The Bulls are expected to listen to offers for anyone but Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter. Lowe doesn’t expect Chicago to deal either Kris Dunn or Zach LaVine though, as the team’s asking price is anticipated to be too high.
The Nuggets own a pair of trade exceptions and have slightly less than $7MM in breathing room under the tax. They are open to taking on a salary dump if another team calls and has to shed a player in that price range.

Latest On Mike Conley, Marc Gasol Suitors

February 2nd, 2019 at 1:31pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Jazz and Grizzlies have explored a trade involving Mike Conley and Ricky Rubio, and Zach Lowe of ESPN.com hears that Utah’s interest in the former No. 4 overall pick is “very real.” The organization could feasibly build a package around Rubio and Derrick Favors, who are both on expiring deals, while peppering in a draft pick or two.

Utah is reportedly unimpressed with the 2019 draft class and their first-round pick is on the table in trade talks. It’s unclear if the Jazz would toss in a second first-round pick for Conley, though it would be a surprising development. Lowe speculates that Dante Exum could be in the mix as part of a package, adding that the Jazz could move on to more affordable targets, such as Nikola Mirotic, if the price for Conley remains too high.

The Conley sweepstakes are expected to heat up as we get closer to the deadline and surprise suitors could emerge. Lowe passes along more from Memphis regarding their two biggest stars:

Marc Gasol is hoping for a trade and teams are waiting to see if the Grizzlies lower the asking price for their long-time center, Lowe reports. As for a potential Pistons-Grizzlies deal, Memphis has not shown any interest in acquiring Andre Drummond yet and Lowe hears that Detroit may be saving its trade chips for someone else.
The Pistons and Grizzlies have talked about a Conley deal, though discussions did not get very far. Detroit would likely have to ship out Reggie Jackson is a trade for Conley.
While Conley would be a nice on-court fit for the Pacers, Indiana has stepped away from Conley talks, sources tell Lowe. Lowe speculates that the Grizzlies would likely ask for Domantas Sabonis is a Conley deal, something that wouldn’t appeal to the Pacers.
The Jazz would have interest in signing Tobias Harris this summer should they not trade for Conley or make a major move at the deadline that utilizes their future cap space. The Clippers have received calls for Harris, per Lowe, though rival teams get the sense that they have no interest in trading him. Lowe adds that Los Angeles would be happy to re-sign Harris in the offseason.
The Kings are not as interested in Gasol as reports and speculation might suggest. Sacramento doesn’t appear to be willing to hand over a future first-rounder in exchange for the big man, as the club owes its 2019 pick to Boston (Philadelphia gets the selection if it’s the No. 1 pick).

Rockets, Grizzlies Discuss Brandon Knight Trade

February 1st, 2019 at 9:46pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Rockets have discussed a trade with the Grizzlies involving guard Brandon Knight, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer tweets. Houston has been offering a first-round pick to sweeten the package, O’Connor adds.

Knight is making a guaranteed $14.6MM this season and another $15.63MM next season. Knight, 27, has only appeared in 12 games this season after missing all of last season with a knee injury. He hasn’t seen the court since January 11th.

It’s not clear which Grizzlies player(s) the Rockets would be targeting in return for Knight, but Memphis has gone into fire sale mode and is shopping veterans Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. Garrett Temple and JaMychal Green, both on expiring contracts, are among the Grizzlies’ lower-cost trade candidates who could help a contender like Houston.

The Grizzlies would likely try to buy out Knight if they acquired him.

Grizzlies’ Omri Casspi To Undergo Knee Surgery

February 1st, 2019 at 6:26pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Grizzlies forward Omri Casspi will undergo surgery next week to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee, according to a team press release.

An MRI on Friday revealed the injury. A timeline for his return will be determined following the procedure.

Casspi, who played for the Warriors last season, was signed to a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract in July and will be an unrestricted free agent once again this summer. The 30-year-old journeyman forward has appeared in 36 games this season, averaging 6.3 PPG and 3.2 RPG in 14.4 MPG off the bench.

Casspi has not played the last three games. His stint in Memphis hasn’t gone smoothly, including a scrap with teammate Garrett Temple early last month. However, he reached double figures in points in four of his last six appearances.

Jazz, Grizzlies Have Explored Trade Involving Conley, Rubio

February 1st, 2019 at 12:06pm CST by Luke Adams

12:06pm: Sources tell Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune (Twitter link) that the Jazz aren’t high on the 2019 draft, so they’re willing to move this year’s first-rounder. However, if the Grizzlies believe they could do better than Utah’s mid-to-late first-rounder for Conley, they could ask for a second pick, Larsen notes.

9:53am: The Jazz and Grizzlies have engaged in exploratory discussions on a potential trade that would be headlined by Mike Conley and Ricky Rubio, reports Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter links). As Stein observes, more pieces would need to be involved if talks get more serious and the two teams work toward a deal.

These aren’t the first rumblings we’ve heard linking Conley to the Jazz. Last week, a report indicated that Utah had interest in the Grizzlies point guard, and ESPN’s Zach Lowe wrote this morning that the two sides had engaged in talks. Sources told Lowe that those discussions could pick up steam as the weekend approaches, while Tony Jones of The Athletic suggests (via Twitter) that the two sides are already “fairly far down the road” on a potential trade.

While the Jazz’s interest in Conley is “undeniable,” per Stein (Twitter link), the bump up from Rubio’s salary ($14.975MM) to Conley’s ($30.521MM) would be substantial. At least one more sizable contract – perhaps Derrick Favors‘ pseudo-expiring $16.9MM deal – would need to be included for matching purposes, and Memphis is also believed to be seeking “prime” draft compensation in any swap involving Conley or Marc Gasol, according to Stein.

Rubio is on an expiring contract, while Conley remains under contract through the 2020/21 season, with increasing cap hits over the next two years. If the Jazz were to make a move for the veteran, they’d be acquiring a very good point guard who has played like a borderline All-Star this season, but they’d be significantly compromising their cap flexibility over the next couple years. Still, perhaps that’d be a good use of the team’s future cap space, since Utah isn’t considered a top destination for free agents.

The Jazz have reportedly been seeking a third impact player to slot in alongside Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, so it will be interesting to see just how serious they are about making Conley that player as next Thursday’s trade deadline approaches.

For his part, Conley has averaged 20.2 PPG, 6.3 APG, and 3.4 RPG with a .433/.359/.844 shooting line in 51 games this season.

Marc Gasol Comments On Being Traded For Brother

January 30th, 2019 at 8:42pm CST by Austin Kent

In 2008, the Grizzlies packaged up star big man Pau Gasol and sent him off to the Lakers in exchange for Marc Gasol and a pair of first-round picks. Over a decade later, the brothers could theoretically be swapped again. While Marc has established himself as a franchise staple, the soon-to-be rebuilding Grizz are said to be open to offers for him. “There’s a part of me that would like that,” Marc told David Cobb of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “He still has a place here.“

Kings, Pistons Show Interest In Marc Gasol

January 28th, 2019 at 9:38pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Kings and Pistons have expressed interest in Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, according to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, citing multiple sources.

The Grizzlies are trying to dump Chandler Parsons‘ contract in the deal. That complicates any potential transaction involving Gasol, since he has a player option for next season worth $25.6MM, O’Connor notes.

Gasol and Parsons are making a combined $48.2MM this season, so packaging them together and making the salaries match up with a trade partner would obviously be a challenging task. Parsons has another guaranteed $25MM remaining in the final year of his contract next season.

Memphis’ willingness to deal its two big-name veterans, Gasol and point guard Mike Conley, became public last week. The Grizzlies have fallen out of the playoff picture, putting them in a seller’s mode.

The motivation for the two suitors mentioned is unclear.

The Kings have been linked to Dallas forward Harrison Barnes as well as Atlanta guard Jeremy Lin in recent weeks. They also showed interest in Knicks center Enes Kanter before talks broke down. So the Kings are seemingly itching to make a move before the February 7th deadline.

How Gasol would fit into their immediate plans is a question mark, since Sacramento has a number of young bigs. It began Monday three games out of the final Western Conference playoff spot. Sacramento’s highest-paid players, Zach Randolph ($11.1MM) and Iman Shumpert ($11.0MM) have expiring contracts, as does Kosta Koufos ($8.74MM).

The Pistons’ interest in Gasol would be centered around dumping salary, so they’d probably have to sweeten the pot with a future first-rounder and a young player. Reggie Jackson, Jon Leuer and Langston Galloway fit the category of bad contracts that run through next season. Detroit is two games out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference despite a prolonged slide.

Alternatively, Detroit could go into full rebuild mode and put Andre Drummond in a deal involving Gasol in order to free up much-needed cap space. If the Pistons were to acquire Gasol without including Drummond in the trade, Gasol would have to come off the bench behind Drummond and Blake Griffin.

Western Notes: Holiday, Grizzlies, Kings

January 28th, 2019 at 10:05am CST by ChrisCrouse

Anthony Davis has requested a trade and it could have a domino effect on the rest of the Pelicans‘ roster. Jrue Holiday, who is gaining All-Star consideration this year, could be viewed as an attractive trade asset, Bobby Marks of ESPN.com writes.

Holiday, who signed a five-year deal with New Orleans in 2017, is making approximately $26MM this season and will take home the same amount over the next two campaigns. His deal contains a player option worth slightly under $26.9MM for the 2021/22 season.

Marks examines some other potential sellers at the trade deadline. Here are the highlights from the teams in the Western Conference:

The Grizzlies are open for business when it comes to trading Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. Conley has the most on-court value, Marks notes. Conley’s deal runs through the 2021/22 season and he’ll take home approximately $34.5MM in the final year of the deal. The point guard will turn 33 prior to that season and his age and length of the deal present risks for rival suitors.
Marks expects Garrett Temple, JaMychal Green and Justin Holiday to garner interest from teams in contention for the playoffs. It was previously reported that teams were calling Memphis about Green and Temple. Holiday, whom the Grizzlies recently traded for, can not be dealt in combination with any other player.
The Kings are outside the playoff picture and have little incentive to tank considering their first-rounder will go to either Philadelphia or Boston, Marks notes. The team possesses roughly $11MM in cap space, though it doesn’t have to utilize it by the trade deadline. The ability to use the cap space will expire on June 30, so Sacramento could make a deal closer to the NBA draft.

Conley And Gasol Preparing For End of Partnership

January 27th, 2019 at 9:13pm CST by Eric Spyropoulos

With the reports that the Grizzlies are willing to part ways with Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, Omari Sankofa II points out for The Athletic that the duo is cherishing the positive moments and victories they can get in the meantime.