Tag: Memphis Grizzlies

Former UConn star Cam Spencer shines for Memphis Grizzlies in Summer League

Former UConn Huskies guard Cam Spencer performed well for the Memphis Grizzlies in NBA Summer League on Tuesday.

It’s been a splashy week for Memphis Grizzlies rookies. First it was Zach Edey dominating in his NBA Summer League debut, posting a 14 point, 15 rebound double-double with the game-tying tip-in.

Then on Tuesday the headlines belonged to second round pick Jaylen Wells out of Washington State, who had a game-high 27 points including the game winning floater to secure a win for Memphis over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Wells may have had the bigger statline, but fellow second round pick Cam Spencer may have had the more impressive performance. Spencer, who helped bring a second straight national championship to UConn last season after playing the previous year at Rutgers, dropped 18 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in about 35 minutes of action.

He shot 7-14 from the field and 3-7 from deep, with one steal and just one turnover on the night.

Spencer signed a two-way deal with Memphis on Monday in a move that already looks promising for the Grizzlies – who used this draft to add NBA-ready talent to a team hoping to compete right away with a fully healthy Ja Morant in the mix.

Edey is expected to start at the center position, while Wells has the size and outside shooting ability to be a rotation player right away. Spencer is a lights out shooter who will get a chance to contribute as a rookie right away as well.

It’s not hard to imagine Spencer’s intensity, scoring ability, winning mentality and experience leading him to a role as a floor spacer and hard-nosed energy guy for this Grizzlies team in Year 1, potentially giving them a trio of contributors out of what was widely considered a weak draft class.

Grizzlies’ Jaylen Wells drops 27 points, sinks game-winner over 76ers in Utah

Jaylen Wells led all players in scoring and sank the game-winning shot on Tuesday to lead the Grizzlies over the 76ers.

Jaylen Wells led all players in scoring and sank the game-winning shot on Tuesday to lead the Memphis Grizzlies over the Philadelphia 76ers in the Salt Lake City Summer League.

Wells produced a game-high 27 points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal in the 87-85 victory at the Delta Center. He finished by shooting 9-of-23 from the field, including 3-of-7 from 3-point range, in 33 minutes of work in his second appearance.

The 39th pick sent the Grizzlies to the win after converting a one-handed floater as time expired. He was in the right place at the right moment after crashing the glass off the miss by Isaiah Miller to have the chance to make the shot.

Wells bounced back following a two-point performance in his debut on Monday, in which he went just 1-of-9 from the field in 24 minutes. He looked to shoot the ball better on Tuesday and was active on offense moving the ball around.

He has had a rapid rise to establish himself as a second-round pick after playing the first two years of his career in Division II. He proved to be a tremendous scorer and rebounder in college and will look to showcase those traits in summer league.

The Grizzlies will wrap up their stay in Utah on Wednesday and then play at least five games in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team will open with Sacramento on Friday.

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Grizzlies’ Zach Edey jumps ahead for Rookie of the Year after debut

Zach Edey turned in a dazzling performance in his debut with the Grizzlies, and found himself ahead in the Rookie of the Year race.

Zach Edey turned in a dazzling performance in his debut with the Memphis Grizzlies, and the ninth pick found himself ahead in the Rookie of the Year race, as a result.

Edey produced 14 points, 15 rebounds, four blocked shots and one assist in a 97-95 loss in overtime to the Utah Jazz in the Salt Lake City Summer League. He finished by shooting 7-of-12 from the field in 33 minutes of action.

The 7-footer had one of the highlights of the night after converting a game-tying tip in off an intentionally missed free throw as time expired to force overtime. The shot came after Edey missed a potential go-ahead dunk in the closing seconds.

Though the effort by Edey came in summer league, the former Purdue legend did the bulk of his work against Jazz center Walker Kessler and several of their roster players. He looked the part of a lottery pick and had some dominant stretches in the game.

Edey had plenty of people buzzing about his debut, including All-Star teammate Ja Morant, who gave his stamp of approval on X. With two more games in Utah, and at least five in Las Vegas, Edey should be must-watch television.

The sportsbooks have also noticed, too.

Following the game, FanDuel moved Edey ahead in the Rookie of the Year race, and he is now the very early favorite (plus-600) to win the award after one performance over the likes of Alex Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher and Dalton Knecht.

The race to become the next Rookie of the Year will undoubtedly fluctuate throughout the season. However, it will be worth watching to see if Edey can keep himself in the discussion for the annual award to start the season with the Grizzlies.

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Memphis Grizzlies get poor marks for their trade for Marcus Smart

This despite how well things worked out for the Boston Celtics on their side of the deal.

The Memphis Grizzlies got poor marks for their trade for veteran point guard Marcus Smart in a recent analysis. This despite how well things worked out for the Boston Celtics on their side of the deal that would ultimately move star Boston big man Kristaps porzingis to the Celtics from the Washington Wizards last offseason.

In a recent analysis put together by Bleacher Report NBA analyst Zach Buckley, the Griz got some very mediocre grades for the Smart swap. “Considering the Grizzlies’ greatest need for years had been a lanky, two-way wing, it seemed strange from the start to splurge on Smart, a 6-foot-3 combo guard who struggles to convert perimeter shots at a league-average rate,” writes Buckley.

“If everything broke just right, though, Smart could have helped the Grizzlies survive Ja Morant’s 25-game suspension, withstand the subtraction of wing stopper Dillon Brooks and check some boxes for secondary playmaking, postseason experience and defensive versatility.”

“Exactly none of that came to fruition,” however, writes the B/R analyst. “Injuries, which have quietly played a fairly significant role in Smart’s career, limited him to just 20 appearances, and even the games he played were choppy as heck.”

“The 30-year-old has time to bounce back, of course, but it wouldn’t be shocking if last season marked the start of his decline.” Final grade? For Memphis, an embarrassing C-.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Report: Grizzlies to sign 39th pick Jaylen Wells to 4-year contract

The Grizzlies have reportedly agreed to sign No. 39 overall pick Jaylen Wells to a four-year contract.

The Memphis Grizzlies have reportedly agreed to sign No. 39 overall pick Jaylen Wells to a four-year, $7.9 million contract, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

Wells was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention at Washington State after averaging 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists on 41.7% shooting from 3-point range. He scored in double figures 25 times, including a season-high 27 points on Feb. 22 against Arizona.

The 20-year-old played the first two years of his college career at Sonoma State University in Division II. He was an All-American and named the California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year in 2023 after averaging 22.1 points and 8.7 rebounds.

After establishing himself as a second-round pick, Wells will reportedly have the first two years of his contract guaranteed with the Grizzlies. He will likely spend time in the G League with the Memphis Hustle to begin the season and continue his development.

Wells is expected to play with the Grizzlies in summer league, beginning on Monday against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. The team will play three games there before starting a five-game run on July 12 versus Sacramento in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 20-year-old will be joined in summer league by fellow draft picks Zach Edey (No. 9) and Cam Spencer (No. 53), along with undrafted free agent DJ Jeffries, among others.

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Grizzlies’ Zach Edey will skip Olympics to focus on NBA Summer League

Grizzlies rookie Zach Edey has withdrawn from consideration for the Canadian men’s senior national team ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games.

Memphis Grizzlies rookie Zach Edey has withdrawn from consideration for the Canadian men’s senior national team ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Edey, who was born in Toronto, was among the 20 players named to Canada’s preliminary roster for training camp. He said last month that he had planned to join the senior team for training camp after the NBA draft and expected to suit up in the Games.

The 7-footer instead announced on Sunday that he would not be joining the team to focus on summer league with the Grizzlies, who begin play on July 8 in Salt Lake City. Edey called it a difficult decision to skip the Olympics, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.

Edey competed with Canada in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. He was the lone collegian on the roster that featured seven NBA players, averaging 3.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in five appearances as Canada claimed the bronze medal.

Following that appearance, Edey led Purdue to the national championship game this past season after averaging 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and two assists. He became the first player in over 50 years to be named Player of the Year unanimously in consecutive seasons.

The Grizzlies selected Edey with the ninth pick last week in the draft. He was one of three draft picks by the team, joining Jaylen Wells (39th pick) and Cam Spencer (53rd pick).

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247Sports’ Way Too Early 2025 NBA mock draft features five Duke basketball players

Duke places five first rounders in way-too-early mock draft from 247Sports.

With the first round of the 2024 NBA draft having come and gone, 247Sports and many other outlets are already turning their attention to next year. Many NBA franchises are also doing the same thing since the 2025 NBA draft is shaping to be one of the most star-studded drafts in recent memory.

Duke’s Jared McCain went 16th overall to Philadelphia on Wednesday night and ended up being Duke’s only first-round selection for the 2024 draft. Kyle Filipowski fell out of the first round entirely.

Even with one round left in this year’s draft, 247Sports believes Duke will have more than one first-rounder next year if their way-too-early 2025 mock draft is any indication.

There’s a plethora of legit franchise-changing options, and it has the potential to be one of the best crops of draft talent in many years. Where the 2024 draft lacked the high-end superstar type of talent, 2025 makes up for that abundance.

At number one to the Brooklyn Nets, [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] still stands tall. He’s as generational a prospect as Duke has had in the one-and-done era, and the hype will need to be realized this fall when Duke takes the court. His blend of size, athleticism, defensive prowess, and competitiveness has carried him through the prep ranks, but now he’ll have to show he can be the guy on college basketball’s biggest brand in an attempt to lead Duke to its sixth national title.

[autotag]Khaman Maluach[/autotag] is slated to go fifth overall to the Utah Jazz. The 7-footer’s blend of size, length, rim protection, and evolving offensive game, which sees him consistently shooting from a distance, makes him an incredibly enticing center prospect.

[autotag]Caleb Foster[/autotag] received major love in this mock draft. After not being on NBA radars last season as a freshman, there seems to be some major momentum to Foster’s stock, and some in the NBA community are taking notice. Foster has terrific size for a guard prospect, standing at 6-foot-5, and he can play on and off the ball while shooting 40% from 3-point range. His home at Duke this year will be more off the ball as a potent scoring option for Duke while Tyrese Proctor continues to handle the point guard role primarily.

He can shoot and handle the ball and showed how much of a slasher he can be with Duke. Because of the shooting they brought in during the offseason, they will likely spread the court much better, opening up driving lanes galore. This mock has him going to New Orleans with the 14th pick and joining former Blue Devils Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson.

[autotag]Isaiah Evans[/autotag] was picked to land with the Memphis Grizzlies at the 16th pick in this exercise. His length is a problem for defenders at 6-foot-7, and while many compare him to the previously mentioned Ingram, they only share an ability to score and similar collegiate body shapes. Duke has slim players who need to add mass, but Evans is as fiery as they come on the court. He’s a confident player with a dazzling offensive package. He will be asked to be a sparkplug off the bench for Jon Scheyer’s team this year.

The final first-rounder for Duke in this mock draft is [autotag]Kon Kneuppel[/autotag], and he may be the most unknown to Duke fans. While he probably won’t start this year, Knueppel feels like an important player off the bench for the Blue Devils. He is not the most athletic player Duke will play this year, but he’s tough, understands basketball at a high level, and does everything well, especially on the court. He can shoot at a high clip and pass, and at 6-foot-6, he has the size and physicality to bang down low and rebound, too. He was mocked to the current defending champion, Boston Celtics, with the 30th and final pick of the fist round and would play alongside [autotag]Jayson Tatum[/autotag].

Noticeably, Proctor was not named in this mock draft. Proctor’s stock has taken a hit since his freshman year. Still, there’s reason to believe that the Australian can resuscitate his draft stock with a Wendell Moore-like jump as a junior and potentially sneak himself back into consideration.

Report: Nets’ Day’Ron Sharpe receives ‘exploratory’ interest from Grizzlies

Per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Brooklyn Nets backup center Day’Ron Sharpe is receiving interest from the Memphis Grizzlies once again.

The Brooklyn Nets are in the midst of an offseason where they are thinking of every way to improve their team enough to make it back to the playoffs. Like Brooklyn, almost every team in the NBA is trying to do the same thing and one Western Conference team is trying to acquire some of Brooklyn’s depth.

Per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Memphis Grizzlies expressed ‘exploratory’ interest in trading for Nets backup center Day’Ron Sharpe ahead of the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday. The Nets already have a few players that opposing teams have been interested in and now, Sharpe can be added to that list.

“The Grizzlies also expressed exploratory interest in trading for Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe at the trade deadline this past season and have now circled back again, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote. With the Grizzlies looking for more center depth behind Jaren Jackson Jr., it makes sense that they’re in the market for a center to back him up.

Sharpe, 22, is coming off a 2023-24 season in which he averaged 6.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 57.1% from the field and 61.0% from the free-throw line. Sharpe has been primarily a backup since he came into the NBA as the 29th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of the University of North Carolina.

With Memphis being interested in Sharpe, it’s possible that they are willing to part with draft capital and/or young players for him, but the decision is not as easy for the Nets. Starting center Nic Claxton is an unrestricted free-agent this summer and if he leaves in free-agency, Brooklyn will need Sharpe on the roster to make up for the loss.

Either way, if the Nets are going to trade back into the Draft, they may have to part with someone like Sharpe to do it. If Brooklyn is able to get a first-round pick in this Draft, they could select a center as a way to navigate those losses.

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Most recent Notre Dame players to be NBA draft selections

All of these players did the Irish proud before making the jump.

Nobody on Notre Dame’s veteran-laden team from this past season will be selected in Thursday’s NBA draft. In fact, given the inexperience across the board on the upcoming season’s roster and under a new coach no less, it could be quite a while before we see another Notre Dame player drafted. On the bright side, that means no early departures except via the transfer portal. Then again, it sure would be nice to have NBA-ready talent in South Bend.

The only way to deal with a challenging present and short-term future is to look to the past. In this case, the way to go about that is to look at former players who heard their names called on draft night over the past several years. Of the 62 former Notre Dame players who have suited up in the NBA or ABA, 41 have entered professional basketball via the draft. Here are the most recent ones:

Report: Grizzlies, Hornets seeking trade with Rockets for No. 3 pick; Marcus Smart of interest

Memphis and Charlotte are interested in trading for the No. 3 draft pick, Kelly Iko reports, with veteran Marcus Smart of some interest to Houston.

Memphis and Charlotte are the teams most aggressively calling the Houston Rockets in pursuit of a trade for the No. 3 overall pick of the 2024 NBA draft, The Athletic’s Kelly Iko reports.

The Grizzlies and Hornets are currently slotted at No. 9 and No. 6 in the first-round order, so a trade could potentially include that pick and some form of further sweetener in exchange for the No. 3.

Iko writes:

The Grizzlies and Hornets, in particular, have been rather aggressive in their hopes of acquiring the No. 3 pick, sources said.

Both general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Ime Udoka are fans of veteran guard Marcus Smart, league sources said. Is there a possibility Memphis could entice Houston by offering Smart in addition to the No. 9 pick and future assets, to move up and grab [Donovan] Clingan if he isn’t already gone? Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht, who has fans within the Rockets organization, could be available if Houston were to move back.

Smart was a starter for Udoka’s 2021-22 Celtics, when they reached the 2022 NBA Finals and won the Eastern Conference. He won the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award for that season.

Now 30 years old, Smart should have at least a few prime playing years left. Because of that, Memphis isn’t likely to treat him as a throw-in to a potential deal. Thus, whether such a trade is possible could come down to what names are on the board at the No. 3 slot.

For example, Iko writes that Clingan — a strong, rim-protecting center out of Connecticut — could make sense for the Grizzlies. However, if Clingan is off the board, it’s unclear whether a proposal from Memphis would include an asset as desirable as Smart.

The first round takes place next Wednesday night, June 26.

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