A trip to the playoffs has been hard to come by for the Memphis Grizzlies in recent years. They have Rookie of the Year Ja Morant leading them into the 2021 season, but the franchise has made more adjustments to their roster to compete in the jam-packed Western Conference.
Memphis has never been an ideal destination for free-agents as they’ve hardly signed any top names in the past. Furthermore, they traded future picks to other teams in order to land two-more talents in this year’s draft along with the 40th overall pick they had in hand.
The Grizzlies selected Desmond Bane from TCU, Xavier Tillman from Michigan State, and then Robert Woodard II from Mississippi State to complete their draft business in 2020.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Memphis Grizzlies transactions: Players signed via trades and free agency
The Grizzlies weren’t too busy in the free-agent market this offseason. Of course, they made signings but not eye-catching ones. Moreover, Memphis signed talents who went undrafted in 2020, adding to their ever-growing young core.
They signed Butler University’s Sean McDermott on a two-way contract and followed it up with yet another addition. The team also brought in Gonzaga alum Killian Tillie on a similar contract and the terms of the deal remain undisclosed.
In addition to it, the team signed yet another free-agent in Jahlil Tripp who also went undrafted in 2020. Tripp was named WCC Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, and the Grizzlies offered him a contract on November 24.
The Grizzlies also acquired 6’8” Mario Hezonja from the Portland Trail Blazers as part of a three-team trade during the offseason.
Portland is acquiring Boston's Enes Kanter in a three-way deal with Memphis, sources tell ESPN. Memphis gets Mario Hezonjia and 30th pick (Desmond Bane) from draft night deal as part of trade too. Celtics get a future Memphis draft consideration.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 20, 2020
A list of athletes saw their contracts expire with the team during the offseason, and the franchise chose to retain a trio of these players, letting go of the others.
Jontay Porter became a restricted free-agent and the Grizzlies showed up first and brought him back on a three-year $6 million deal. They also retained 22-year-old guard De’Anthony Melton on a lucrative deal worth $35 million over four years.
Restricted free agent F Jontay Porter has agreed to a three-year, $6M deal to stay with the Memphis Grizzlies, agents Mark Bartelstein and Andy Shiffman of @PrioritySports tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 22, 2020
The franchise made one last player retainment by luring 6’5” guard John Konchar on a multi-year deal. The Chicago native will earn $9 million in four years as part of the contract.
Players Lost
The Grizzlies lost three free-agents and chose not to bring them back for various reasons. Yuta Watanabe, Anthony Tolliver, and 2017 Draft’s 4th overall pick Josh Jackson are the trio who got shipped out of the franchise in 2020.
Josh Jackson is reported to have signed with the Detriot Pistons, while Japanese international Yuta Watanabe has joined the Toronto Raptors.
2021 Memphis Grizzlies Roster
Backcourt
Ja Morant
Grayson Allen
Desmond Bane
Marko Guduric
Mario Hezonja
Dillon Brooks
Tyus Jones
John Konchar
De’Anthony Melton
Jahlil Tripp
Frontcourt
Jonas Valanciunas
Kyle Anderson
Brandon Clarke
Gorgui Dieng
Jaren Jackson Jr.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Sean McDermott
Jontay Porter
Killian Tillie
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Xavier Tillman Sr.
Justise Winslow
