Memphis Grizzlies Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Batum, Green, Ilyasova Returning From Injuries

November 15th, 2017 at 12:05pm CST by Luke Adams

A trio of players who have been sidelined for most or all of the 2017/18 season due to injuries are set to return to action for their respective clubs on Wednesday night, per various reports. JaMychal Green will play for the Grizzlies, Ersan Ilyasova will return for the Hawks, and Nicolas Batum will make his season debut for the Hornets.

Batum’s return may be the most notable of the three, as he has been sidelined since early in the preseason with a torn ligament in his elbow. Reports on Batum’s injury initially suggested he’d be out for eight to 12 weeks, with the Hornets confirming that they expected the veteran swingman to miss at least six weeks. Thursday will mark six weeks since the team made that announcement, so Batum made a speedy recovery. He’ll start tonight against the Cavs, according to the Hornets (Twitter link).

Green, the Grizzlies’ primary power forward, will return to action tonight after missing all but one game this season with an ankle injury, writes Ronald Tillery of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Jarell Martin, who appeared to be on the verge of losing his roster spot in training camp, stepped into Memphis’ starting lineup in Green’s absence. Martin figures to return to the bench tonight against the Pacers, while Green looks to begin making good on the two-year contract he signed with Memphis in September.

As for Ilyasova, the Hawks’ power forward, who signed a new two-year deal of his own in the offseason, has been on the shelf since October 27 with a bone bruise in his knee. However, after participating in today’s shootaround, he said he’s ready to go, per Michael Cunningham of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ilyasova opened the season in the starting lineup, but will come off the bench against the Kings tonight, according to head coach Mike Budenholzer.

Rade Zagorac Expected To Sign With Serbian Team

November 14th, 2017 at 8:59am CST by Luke Adams

Former NBA second-round pick Rade Zagorac is expected to continue his career in his home country of Serbia, according to international basketball journalist David Pick, who reports (via Twitter) that Zagorac is committing to a new deal with KK Partizan Belgrade.

Zagorac, 22, was the 35th overall pick in the 2016 draft, and after spending one final season overseas, he appeared poised to join the Grizzlies this year. However, despite signing a contract that was fully guaranteed for two seasons, the 6’9″ forward was unable to earn a spot on Memphis’ regular season roster. The club waived him along with fellow 2016 draftee Wade Baldwin at the end of the preseason.

Assuming Zagorac finalizes an agreement with KK Partizan Belgrade, it will represent a homecoming for the Serbian, who spent several seasons playing for Mega Leks before making the leap to the NBA. Zagorac is on track to team up with Jazz draft-and-stash prospect Nigel Williams-Goss, who struck a deal with Partizan Belgrade earlier this year.

As for the Grizzlies, they’ll carry $950K in dead money on their 2017/18 cap for Zagorac, plus about $1.38MM for 2018/19. However, the club hasn’t given up on the idea of eventually trying to bring the young forward back to Memphis, as Ronald Tillery of The Memphis Commercial Appeal noted last month.

Injuries Not New To Grizzlies

November 12th, 2017 at 6:14pm CST by Austin Kent

The Grizzlies have drawn from last year to effectively navigate through a plague of injuries, Ronald Tillery of The Memphis Commercial Appeal writes. “We had our moments last year when we were down to nine guys. So, you have to figure out how to use them and put them in a position to succeed,” head coach David Fizdale said.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/11/17

November 11th, 2017 at 11:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

Here are the G League transactions for today:

The Knicks recalled guards Ron Baker and Damyean Dotson from their Westchester affiliate, according to a tweet from the team.
The Grizzlies recalled Wayne Selden and Deyonta Davis from the Memphis Hustle, the team announced (Twitter link).

Ben McLemore Makes Season Debut For Grizzlies

November 11th, 2017 at 8:40pm CST by Arthur Hill

Ben McLemore saw his first action for the Grizzlies tonight after signing with the team in July. McLemore had to undergo surgery in August after suffering a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metatarsal on his right foot during a summer pick-up game. He is expected to add more scoring punch to an already deep Memphis team after averaging 9.4 points per game during four seasons in Sacramento. “I’ve been working really hard on rehab and things like that to get back into game shape and being able to play my first game this season, so I’m excited,” McLemore said in an interview tweeted by the team.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/10/17

November 10th, 2017 at 10:58pm CST by Austin Kent

Here are the G League moves from around the basketball world today:

The Timberwolves have recalled Marcus Georges-Hunt from their G League affiliate in Iowa, Jerry Zgoda of The Star Tribune tweets. The forward scored 34 points in his lone game on assignment.
The Grizzlies have assigned three players to the Memphis Hustle, their G League affiliate, a press release on the team’s official site says. Assigned are Ivan Rabb, Deyonta Davis and Wayne Selden.
The Knicks have assigned Ron Baker and Damyean Dotson to their G League affiliate in Westchester, the team’s public relations department tweets.
Per Scott Bordrow of The Arizona Republic, the Suns have recalled Derrick Jones Jr. from the Northern Arizona Suns, their G League affiliate. The high flyer scored 11 points in his one and only game with the G League squad thus far.

Chandler Parsons Finds Role Off Bench

November 10th, 2017 at 7:59pm CST by Austin Kent

The Grizzlies have a welcomed dilemma on their hands with Chandler Parsons. The forward’s long road to recovery from knee injuries has tainted his tenure with the Memphis franchise but, as Michael Wallace of Grind City Media writes, he’s finding a niche and helping the team win.

In nine games with the Grizzlies this season, Parsons – now suiting up at the four – has averaged 7.7 points per game. His ability to connect from beyond the arc to the tune of .484 has made the team’s second unit more dangerous.

It won’t be long before Wayne Selden makes his season debut for the Grizzlies. As Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal writes, the guard who has dealt with a quad injury will suit up for the team’s G League affiliate in a rehab start tonight.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/9/17

November 9th, 2017 at 6:32pm CST by Austin Kent

Here are the G League transactions for Thursday:

The Grizzlies have recalled offseason signee Ben McLemore from their G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, the team announced on its website. McLemore recorded eight points in a rehab start for the squad on Sunday. The team has also recalled rookie Ivan Rabb.
The Kings have assigned second-year center Georgios Papagiannis to their G League affiliate, James Ham of NBC Sports California tweets. The 20-year-old has seen action in just two games with the big league club this season.
The Jazz have recalled rookies Tony Bradley and Royce O’Neale from the SLC Stars, their G League affiliate, the team announced over Twitter.
The Magic have assigned Khem Birch and Wesley Iwundu to their G League affiliate in Lakeland, the team announced on Twitter.
The Rockets have recalled Zhou Qi from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Qi averaged 12.5 points through two games with the G League affiliate.
The Timberwolves have assigned guard Marcus Georges-Hunt to their G League affiliate in Iowa, the team’s public relations Twitter account announced.

Grizzlies’ Ben McLemore To Return This Weekend

November 9th, 2017 at 8:52am CST by Luke Adams

One of the Grizzlies’ most noteworthy offseason additions, Ben McLemore, is set to make his debut with the team this Saturday in Houston, writes Ronald Tillery of The Memphis Commerical Appeal. As Tillery notes, Ben’s brother Kevin McLemore confirmed the news on Twitter.

McLemore, who signed a two-year, $10.66MM contract with the Grizzlies in July, injured his right foot during a pick-up game in Los Angeles over the summer. The 24-year-old was diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metatarsal and underwent surgery in early August, at which point the team announced he’d be out for about 12 weeks.

With McLemore set to return, it will be interesting to see how head coach David Fizdale juggles minutes and manages Memphis’ rotation. Other offseason acquisitions, such as Tyreke Evans and Dillon Brooks, may see their roles impacted by McLemore’s return, though Fizdale was noncommittal when asked whether the former seventh overall pick will start or come off the bench.

“He’s coming off a broken foot. We’ll get his feet wet. We’ll see what works and take it day by day,” Fizdale said, per Tillery.

The Grizzlies assigned McLemore to the G League last week as part of his rehab process, and he played 16 minutes for the Memphis Hustle on Sunday, scoring eight points and picking up a couple steals. The 24-year-old will need to be officially recalled in order for the Grizz to activate him for Saturday’s game against the Rockets.

Tyreke Evans' Resurgence Gives Grizzlies Good Problem

November 7th, 2017 at 10:32pm CST by marksuleymanov

Tyreke Evans‘ resurgence has put him in the Sixth Man of the Year discussions through the first portion of the season. Once Ben McLemore and JaMychal Green return from injury, the Grizzlies are going to have a tough decision on their hands when it comes to balancing playing time, Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal writes.