Grizzlies Rumors

Grizzlies Sign Myke Henry To Two-Way Deal; Waive Vince Hunter

12:57pm: The Grizzlies have also waived Vince Hunter, per an official release from the team. The release also officially confirms the signing of Henry.

11:19am: The Grizzlies will sign forward Myke Henry from the G-League’s Oklahoma City Blue to a two-way contract, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical.

Henry, 25, has appeared in 25 games for the Blue this season, averaging 15.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 2.1 APG. The DePaul University product appeared in 39 games for the Blue last season. Following the 2016/17 season, Henry latched on with the Rayos de Hermosillo in Northern Mexico before returning to the G League.

Memphis will need to clear a roster spot for Henry as the team’s 15-man roster is full along with a pair of two-way players in Vince Hunter and Kobi Simmons.

Grizzlies Gauging Market For McLemore, Ennis

The Grizzlies are gauging trade interest in swingmen Ben McLemore and James Ennis, Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders writes.

The Grizzlies signed McLemore over the offseason to a two-year, $10.7MM deal, presumably hoping that they would be able to tap into something in the former Kansas product that the Kings hoped to find when they drafted him seventh overall in 2013.

Scotto adds that the Grizzlies are also dangling Ennis and his expiring $3MM deal, hoping to yield at least one second-round pick.

  • Offseason Grizzlies addition Tyreke Evans has thrived this season, proving that, for now at least, he’s healthy and capable of being a prominent producer. As a result, his name has been floated as a possible trade piece, including in a recent media scrum with Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal.

Grizzlies Notes: Conley, Season Outlook, Evans

The Grizzlies currently have one of the NBA’s worst records, with their 12-27 mark putting them in a tie for last place in the Western Conference. Still, in a recent interview with Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, injured point guard Mike Conley expressed optimism that the team can still turn things around and make a run at a playoff spot this season.

“I know we are near the bottom right now, but we definitely have enough time,” Conley said. “We have enough time if we are able to put everything together in a short period of time and put enough wins together to make a run. Health is the key. Health is the No. 1 thing. Not try to rush everything. Just make that push by making sure everything is in order, like myself and the rest of the guys that are banged up.”

Speaking to Spears, Conley also addressed David Fizdale‘s ouster, his nagging Achilles injury, his contract, and the state of the Grizzlies — on that last point, Conley acknowledged that the team’s outlook has undergone “a 180” since the start of the season, but reiterated that he still believes the ship can be righted.

Here’s more out of Memphis:

  • The club would be better off waving the white flag on this season and pointing toward a more realistic playoff push next season, Chris Herrington of the Memphis Commercial Appeal opines. The franchise could make a quick turnaround by bringing in a high draft pick to go along with its veteran core, Herrington continues. That means reducing the minutes of Marc Gasol and Chandler Parsons and allowing Mike Conley’s sore Achilles to fully heal. They should also move the expiring contracts of Tyreke Evans and Brandan Wright before the trade deadline, Herrington adds.
  • Evans can only be offered the mid-level exception, so the team would be wise to trade him now and perhaps make another run at him in the summer, as Herrington explains in a separate piece. Herrington proposes potential trades involving Evans to the Spurs, Wizards, Pelicans, Pistons and Raptors, mostly involving a player or two and a first-round pick.
  • Earlier today, we passed along an update from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on the Grizzlies’ potential asking price for Evans and the team’s unwillingness to consider moving Marc Gasol.

Dana Gauruder contributed to this post.

Grizzlies Want To Land First-Round Pick For Evans

As one of the NBA’s worst teams through the first half, the Grizzlies are positioned to be sellers at next month’s trade deadline, and Tyreke Evans figures to be their top trade chip. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Memphis wants to land a first-round pick in exchange for Evans.

Evans has enjoyed a career year so far in his return to Memphis, where he played his college ball. The 28-year-old has bounced back from a forgettable 2016/17 campaign to post 19.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.7 APG, and a .471/.416/.787 shooting line in 38 games (19 starts) this season.

Despite those numbers, Wojnarowski is skeptical that the Grizzlies will be able to secure a first-round pick for Evans, noting that he’d be a rental — the former fourth overall pick will be eligible for unrestricted free agency six months from now. Still, Evans’s affordable salary ($3.29MM) and his impressive production make him an intriguing target for contenders, so perhaps there will be a team willing to part with a protected first-rounder, especially if Memphis is willing to take on a modest unwanted contract (like the Nets did in last season’s Bojan Bogdanovic swap with the Wizards).

Of course, even if the Grizzlies were able to acquire a first-round pick for Evans, there are some doubts about the front office’s ability to get value out of that selection. Memphis’ first-round picks from 2012 (Tony Wroten), 2014 (Jordan Adams), and 2016 (Wade Baldwin) don’t currently have NBA contracts, and the team also waived Rade Zagorac, the 35th overall pick from 2016, this past fall.

In addition to Evans, Marc Gasol would represent a significant trade piece for the Grizzlies as the deadline approaches, but the club continues to say it plans to keep the standout center, according to Wojnarowski.

Grizzlies Call Up Ivan Rabb From Hustle

  • The Grizzlies made the call to bring Ivan Rabb back to the big league club, the team has announced on its website. The 20-year-old rookie has averaged 15.2 points and 9.4 rebounds through 18 games with the affiliate Hustle.

New Coach, New Rotation, Same Results

  • While interim Grizzlies head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has embraced some of the team’s young players, the results on the court aren’t all that different than what previous coach David Fizdale was producing. Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal writes that the new bench boss remains committed to the team’s process.

Kyler: Franchise-Altering Move Unlikely For Grizzlies

  • The Grizzlies are unlikely to make any franchise-altering moves before next month’s trade deadline, which means Marc Gasol probably isn’t going anywhere. Still, they’re a team worth watching, according to Kyler, who points to Tyreke Evans as a potential Memphis trade candidate.

    [SOURCE LINK]

Wayne Selden's Return Excites Grizzlies

  • Wayne Selden has played sparingly this season due to injury but his recent return for the Grizzlies has the team excited, Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal writes. “(Selden) brings an athleticism and speed to the game,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “You keep watching how the game is evolving, and that’s where it’s evolving. He also brings a bit of playmaking for you.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/2/2018

Here are Tuesday’s G League assignments and recalls from across the NBA:

9:33pm:

  • The Jazz have recalled Tony Bradley from the team’s G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, the team announced (via Twitter). Bradley, 19, has appeared in eight games with Utah, averaging 1.0 PPG.
  • The Grizzlies assigned forward Ivan Rabb to the team’s G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, per a press release. In four games for the Grizzlies this season, Rabb has averaged 1.5 PPG and 1.0 RPG. In 16 games for the Hustle, Rabb has posted 15.9 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 2.1 APG.
  • The Bucks assigned forward D.J. Wilson to their G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, according to a press release.  This is the third G League assignment for Wilson, who has appeared in 11 games with Milwaukee and two games for the Herd.

3:21pm:

  • Former Celtics first-rounder Ante Zizic won’t be in attendance on Wednesday when the Cavaliers play the team that drafted him. The Cavs announced today that Zizic has been sent to the Canton Charge, adding that he’ll be available for tomorrow’s game against the Wisconsin Herd.

1:45pm:

  • A day after being assigned to the G League, Jabari Parker has been recalled by the Bucks, the team announced today (via Twitter). Parker, who continues to rehab his ACL injury and remains on track for a February return, practiced with the Wisconsin Herd on Monday.
  • The Rockets have re-assigned rookie big man Zhou Qi to the G League, tweets Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Zhou figures to suit up for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers when they host the Northern Arizona Suns on Tuesday night.
  • Rookie guard Derrick White is headed back to the G League, according to the Spurs, who announced today in a press release that they’ve re-assigned him to Austin. San Antonio’s affiliate is scheduled to visit the Long Island Nets on Tuesday night.

Conley Making Progress, Hopes To Return Soon

Mike Conley is traveling with the Grizzlies on their road trip and is hoping to return to action soon, according to Ronald Tillery of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Conley, who has missed 23 games with an aching left Achilles and heel, appears to have made significant progress in his rehab program, Tillery notes after watching his pre-game workouts.

Conley and the Grizzlies haven’t commented on a possible return date. The team issued its last medical update December 18, saying Conley would be out at least two more weeks. Tillery expects further news to be announced Monday or Tuesday. After a strong start to the season, Memphis has collapsed without Conley, going 4-19 to tumble into the Western Conference basement.