Grizzlies Rumors

Knicks, Lakers Top Forbes’ NBA Franchise Valuations

The Knicks have been one of the NBA’s most dysfunctional teams this season. On the court, the team has gone just 23-33, with $72MM man Joakim Noah failing to make a significant impact, and Jeff Hornacek and Phil Jackson not always on the same page when it came to the use of the triangle. Off the court, things have been even worse, with Jackson criticizing star forward Carmelo Anthony, and owner James Dolan at odds with former Knicks star Charles Oakley.

On the west coast, the Lakers haven’t been much better, racking up a 19-38 record, good for the No. 14 seed in the West. The team hasn’t made as many off-court headlines, but the structure of the front office is currently up in the air, with new advisor Magic Johnson publicly declaring that he wants to be the one calling the shots on roster decisions.

Despite the problems in New York and Los Angeles, the Knicks and Lakers remain the NBA’s two most valuable franchises, according to a report from Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes. The Knicks and Lakers are the only teams valued at more than $3 billion by Forbes.

Team valuations are up around the league, with the Warriors leading the way among this year’s increases — according to Forbes, the Dubs are 37% more valuable that they were at this time in 2016. In total, 18 teams have a valuation exceeding $1 billion, which is up from 13 teams last year and just three teams in 2015. The average NBA franchise is now worth $1.36 billion, according to the report.

Here’s the full list of NBA franchise valuations, per Forbes:

  1. New York Knicks: $3.3 billion
  2. Los Angeles Lakers: $3 billion
  3. Golden State Warriors: $2.6 billion
  4. Chicago Bulls: $2.5 billion
  5. Boston Celtics: $2.2 billion
  6. Los Angeles Clippers; $2 billion
  7. Brooklyn Nets: $1.8 billion
  8. Houston Rockets: $1.65 billion
  9. Dallas Mavericks: $1.45 billion
  10. Miami Heat: $1.35 billion
  11. Cleveland Cavaliers: $1.2 billion
  12. San Antonio Spurs: $1.175 billion
  13. Toronto Raptors: $1.125 billion
  14. Phoenix Suns: $1.1 billion
  15. Sacramento Kings: $1.075 billion
  16. Portland Trail Blazers: $1.05 billion
  17. Oklahoma City Thunder: $1.025 billion
  18. Washington Wizards: $1 billion
  19. Orlando Magic: $920MM
  20. Utah Jazz: $910MM
  21. Detroit Pistons: $900MM
  22. Denver Nuggets: $890MM
  23. Atlanta Hawks: $885MM
  24. Indiana Pacers: $880MM
  25. Philadelphia 76ers: $800MM
  26. Memphis Grizzlies: $790MM
  27. Milwaukee Bucks: $785MM
  28. Charlotte Hornets: $780MM
  29. Minnesota Timberwolves: $770MM
  30. New Orleans Pelicans: $750MM

For comparison’s sake, Forbes’ 2016 valuations can be found right here.

Toney Douglas Likely To Stick With Grizzlies For Season

Toney Douglas‘ second 10-day contract with the Grizzlies is set to expire this weekend during the NBA’s All-Star break, so the team won’t have to make an immediate decision on whether or not to retain him. Nonetheless, all indications suggest that – barring a trade – Memphis intends to sign Douglas for the rest of the season when his current deal expires, according to Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com.

Many 10-day signees don’t see much playing time for their respective teams, but Douglas has been a regular part of the Grizzlies’ rotation since rejoining the club at the end of January. The veteran point guard, who turns 31 next month, has averaged 5.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG, and 2.2 APG in 13 games (16.8 MPG) this season, which includes a December stint with the team. Although Douglas’ numbers, including a career-worst .359 FG%, aren’t overly impressive, Memphis has played very well with him in the lineup — the club has a 11-2 record when Douglas sees the floor.

As Wallace notes, a few weeks ago, the Grizzlies were in need of a reliable backup point guard and an athletic rim protector off the bench. If Memphis were to make a deadline deal, it would likely to be address one of those two areas, but the team likes what it has seen recently from Douglas and Brandan Wright. If the club decides it’s comfortable moving forward with Douglas and Wright filling those roles, it will likely be a quiet trade deadline in Memphis.

Douglas, whose 10-day deals have cost the Grizzlies just under $58K apiece, would count for approximately $350K on a rest-of-season contract, depending on when he officially signs it.

Grizzlies Sign Toney Douglas To Second 10-Day Deal

The Grizzlies have re-signed Toney Douglas to a second 10-day contract after his original 10-day deal with the club expired last night, the team announced today in a press release. The new agreement will keep Douglas locked up through February 18.

After appearing in six games for the Grizzlies earlier this season, Douglas was cut in mid-December as the team started getting a little healthier. Memphis opted to bring back the veteran point guard in late January on a 10-day deal — since then, he has appeared in five more games for the team, including last night’s win over Phoenix, in which he scored 11 points in 25 minutes.

While Douglas’ overall numbers this season for the Grizzlies (5.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, .377 FG%) are modest, the club has played well when he has been in the lineup. In Douglas’ 11 games, the Grizzlies are 10-1, with the lone loss coming on the road in Cleveland in December.

Like Douglas’ previous 10-day contract, his new deal will count for $57,672 toward Memphis’ cap, though the FSU product will earn a salary worth a little more than $77K. When that contract expires, the Grizzlies will either have to let Douglas return to the free agent market or sign him to a rest-of-season contract, since teams can’t sign players to three 10-day contracts in the same year.

NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/6/17

Here are Monday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the league:

2:26pm:

12:06pm:

  • The Pistons have recalled rookies Henry Ellenson and Michael Gbinije from the D-League, according to a press release issued by the team. The duo played a significant role in Grand Rapids’ Saturday win over the Raptors 905, with Gbinije scoring a team-high 29 points, while Ellenson added 25.
  • Speaking of the Raptors, they’ve sent point guard Delon Wright to their D-League affiliate, the team announced today (via Twitter).
  • Rookie forward Georges Niang has been assigned to the D-League by the Pacers, the team announced in a press release. Niang, who has played sparingly in 21 games for Indiana, has averaged 17.8 PPG in four games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
  • With their D-League affiliate not in action until Wednesday, the Nets have recalled Chris McCullough, per a team release. It’s already the 17th time this season that Brooklyn has recalled McCullough from Long Island.

NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 1/31/17

Here are Tuesday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

6:59pm:

  • The Grizzlies have assigned Wade Baldwin to their D-League affiliate, the team announced via a press release on their official website. Baldwin has averaged 13.3 points and 5.7 assists in 26.5 minutes per game in 13 previous games for the Iowa Energy.
  • The Pistons have recalled Henry Ellenson, Darrun Hilliard and Michael Gbinije from their D-League affiliate, the team announced in a press release. In eight games with the Grand Rapids Drive this season, the rookie big man has averaged 18.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

1:33pm:

  • The Rockets have assigned rookie forward Kyle Wiltjer to the D-League, the team announced today (via Twitter). Wiltjer had been with the NBA club for the last two and a half weeks, but has been inactive in each of Houston’s games, so he should get a chance to play with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
  • Joel Bolomboy has been sent back to the Salt Lake City Stars by the Jazz, the team said today in a press release. Bolomboy’s assignments this season generally haven’t lasted long, so the rookie will likely return to the Jazz soon.
  • The Nets have assigned Chris McCullough to the D-League, according to a press release from the team. McCullough has played sparingly for Brooklyn this season, but has been one of Long Island’s standout contributors, averaging 19.0 PPG and 8.0 RPG in 25 games.

Grizzlies Re-Sign Toney Douglas, Waive Troy Williams

JANUARY 30: The Grizzlies have officially re-signed Douglas to a 10-day deal, announcing in a press release that they’ve waived Williams to create a roster spot.

JANUARY 29: The Grizzlies are finalizing a deal to bring Toney Douglas back on a 10-day contract, tweets Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com. The team waived the 30-year-old point guard on December 15 after a six-game stint.

Initially signed by the Grizzlies in early December via a hardship exception, Douglas will hit the ground running at least somewhat familiar with the systems in place in Memphis. He averaged 5.8 points per game during his first stint there and the club went 5-1.

The Grizzlies are expected to release Troy Williams to make room on their roster. After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, Williams caught on with Memphis and saw action in 22 games. Though briefly featured heavily in early December — he played 30-plus minutes six times between November 26 and December 13 — the 22-year-old last took the court for the Grizzlies on December 18.

Wright Could Return Monday; Randolph Used More Frequently

The Grizzlies are expecting injured power forward Brandan Wright back on Monday, tweets ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. Wright has been sidelined recovering from an ankle issue that ultimately required surgery. He hasn’t played at all in 2016/17.

The 29-year-old hasn’t done much since signing a three-year contract with Memphis during the summer of 2015, playing in only 12 games for the Grizzlies during the 2015/16 campaign on account of a knee injury.

After emerging as an intriguing reserve with the Mavericks between 2011 and 2014, Wright bounced around with the Suns and Celtics in 2014/15. With the Grizzlies, however, Wright could establish himself as a reliable source of frontcourt help heading into the final stretch.

  • Though the plan was to reduce his workload, the Grizzlies have turned to veteran big man Zach Randolph more and more often of late. Randolph is averaging 27.9 minutes per game in January, writes MacMahon in an article for ESPN, compared to his season average of 24.2. The forward has filled a sixth-man role for the club but has been as efficient with his minutes as ever.

Pre-Game Routine Helps Carter Stay In The League

  • A three-hour preparation routine has helped the GrizzliesVince Carter remain in the league at age 40, relays Michael Lee of the Vertical. Before each game, Carter goes through a lengthy routine that includes shooting, an ice bath, treatment and taping. “I’m still standing,” Carter said. “I’m still competing, playing at this level, doing what I need to do to still be here. I still have a burning desire to compete and be around.”

NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 1/26/17

Here are Thursday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

7:49 PM

  • The Grizzlies assigned rookie forward Troy Williams to the Iowa Energy, the team posted on its website. Williams has appeared in nine games over two previous assignments with the Energy, averaging 15.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG and 1.3 APG in 21.5 minutes. He has appeared in 24 games for the Grizzlies, averaging 5.3 PPG, 1.8 RPG and 1.0 SPG in 17.4 minutes.
  • The Jazz recalled rookie forward Joel Bolomboy from the Salt Lake City Stars after assigning him to the D-League earlier in the day, the club announced in a press release. Although he has barely played for Utah this season, Bolomboy has been a double-double machine during his time in the D-League, averaging 15.2 PPG and 12.8 RPG in 13 games.

1:15 PM

  • The Thunder have assigned guard Semaj Christon and forward Josh Huestis to the D-League, the club announced today in a press release. Although Christon had a rotation role for Oklahoma City earlier this season, he has seen his NBA role reduced since Cameron Payne returned to the lineup.
  • The Mavericks have recalled A.J. Hammons from the D-League, according to a press release from the team. Hammons had eight points, five boards, and four blocks for the Texas Legends on Wednesday.
  • The Nets have sent Chris McCullough back to the D-League, the team announced today in a press release. McCullough has spent a good chunk of the season with the Long Island Nets, averaging 19.0 PPG and 8.0 RPG in 25 contests for the club.

NBA D-League Assignment/Recalls 1/25/17

Here are Wednesday’s D-League transactions:

  • The Raptors have assigned Bruno Caboclo and Delon Wright to their D-League affiliate, the Raptors 905, according to the team’s Twitter feed. Coboclo has played in 16 D-League contests this season and he’s averaging 8.8 points per game. Wright has only played in one game and he scored 10 points.
  • The Clippers have recalled Diamond Stone from the Salt Lake City Stars, according to the team’s website. Stone appeared in six games during his latest assignment and he scored 15.5 points and 10.8 rebound per game.
  • The Grizzlies have recalled Troy Williams from the Iowa Energy, per the team’s website. Memphis currently doesn’t have its own D-League affiliate, but that won’t be the case starting next season.
  • The Nets have recalled Chris McCullough from their affiliate, the Long Island Nets, according to a team press release. McCullough has played in 25 games for Long Island and he’s averaging 19.0 points per contest.