The Memphis Grizzlies have been known as The Grind City, the way they play defense and the physicality of their game became a trade mark of the team in the NBA. But after falling short year after year in the playoffs, it seems like they are ready to change their image while still maintaining most of their core line up this offseason. Here are updates on what team has done so far this offseason:
Dillon Brooks set to join Memphis
Per Shams Charania of The Vertical, Dillon Brooks and the Grizzlies have finalized a three-year deal this offseason. Brooks was drafted by the Houston Rockets a month ago in the 2017 NBA Draft with the 45th overall pick and was later on traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Dillon Brooks played for the Universtiy of Oregon during his three-year stay in college, and he averaged 14.8 points, 0.9 steals, 2.6 assists, and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 47.2% from the field and 36.2% from beyond the arc.
Grizzlies sign Rade Zagorac in three-year deal
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN has reported that Rade Zagorac has accepted a 3.9 million dollar deal for three years with the Memphis Grizzlies this offseason (2.6 million guaranteed). Zagorac is a 21-year-old Serbian professional basketball player, he was initially drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 2016 NBA Draft with the 35th overall pick in the second round, but his draft rights were then traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Sources: The Memphis Grizzlies have signed No. 45 overall pick Dillon Brooks of Oregon to a three-year rookie deal, w/ two years guaranteed.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 21, 2017
Carter and Randolph leaving Memphis
Vince Carter and Zach Randolph are two role players that played a huge part in the success of the Memphis Grizzlies last season, and now they say good bye to Memphis and say hello to Sacramento this offseason.
Adrian Wojnarowski of NBA ESPN reported a couple of weeks ago that Vince Carter and Zach Randolph are joining the Sacramento Kings next season along with veteran Geroge Hill.
This move will likely move the Memphis to a new direction as Randolph was one of the very core of the defensive and grinding style that Memphis loves to play.
With Randolph and Carter aging the Grizzlies are concentrating on building around Marc Gasol and Mike Conley next season in order to stay relevant with the West being so competitive this year.
Tyreke Evans comes back to Memphis
After losing small forward Vince Carter, the Memphis Grizzlies quickly replaced him with an athletic and dynamic scorer in Tyreke Evans. Adrian Wojnarowski of NBA ESPN has reported that he has agreed to a 3.3 million dollar deal for one year with the Grizzlies this offseason. Evans was once a dynamic and great scorer, but injury hampered him throughout his career. Now he takes a fresh start in Memphis and hopefully can be healthy and can help the Memphis to be better next season.
