Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies got a player who could end up being one of the steals of the draft, signing Gonzaga forward Killian Tillie to a two-way contract Wednesday, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Tillie surprisingly went undrafted but found himself with an opportunity to join a contender in the Western Conference. 

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Killian Tillie

Position: PF

Height: 6'10"

Weight: 220

Pro Comparison: Nemanja Bjelica

Scouting Report: An injury history has helped turn Killian Tillie into one of the draft's biggest sleepers. It's rare anyone shoots at least 40 percent from three every season throughout college, and Tillie did so at 6'10". But he also possesses enough post and passing skills to be used as more than just a stretch, spot-up big.

            

Here is a look at what the Grizzlies' depth chart looks like following the pick:

Grizzlies Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

Gorgui Dieng, C: $15.7M (2021)

Jonas Valanciunas, C: $15M (2022)

Justise Winslow, SF: $13M (2022)

Dillon Brooks, SF: $11.7M (2023)

Kyle Anderson, SF: $9.3M (2022)

Ja Morant, PG: $8.9M (2023)

Tyus Jones, PG: $8.8M (2022)

Jaren Jackson Jr., PF: $6.7M (2022)

Marko Guduric, SG: $2.7M (2021)

Brandon Clarke, PF: $2.5M (2023)

Grayson Allen, SG: $2.3M (2022)

Desmond Bane, SG: Rookie scale contract (2024)

Xavier Tillman, C

Killian Tillie, PF

       

Free Agents

Josh Jackson, SF: UFA

De'Anthony Melton, PG: RFA

Jontay Porter, PF: Team option

Shaq Buchanan, G: RFA

Yuta Watanabe, F: RFA

John Konchar, G: RFA

Anthony Tolliver, PF: UFA

Killian brings a lot to the table. He averaged 13.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steal per game in his senior season, shooting 53.5 percent from the field. There's a lot to like about his game, as The Athletic's Sam Vecenie outlined in late April:

"Tillie's feel for the game is probably tops in this class among guys over 6'7". He thinks [about] the game at an incredibly high level, and his skill level is top notch. He was Mark Few's problem solver for four years in Spokane, and they used him in just about every role imaginable, even as a press breaker. He's an elite shooter, having hit 44.4 percent from three over his career. He makes every right read as a passer. Defensively, he moves well and is a bigger impediment at the rim than you'd think due to his technical work. I'm a big-time believer in the skill set."

Killian Tillie shot 49.0% (24-49) on 'Pick and Pop 3s' over his four years at Gonzaga

Over those four years, he was a career 44.4% (106-239) 3-point shooter pic.twitter.com/1EvVVogtiv

— Zach Milner (@ZachMilner13) March 22, 2020

But he isn't without his concerns. A long list of injury issues limited him at Gonzaga, and his age undoubtedly hurt his draft stock. At 22, he's one of the older prospects in the draft, and teams often prioritize the raw upside of younger players. And while he's a solid team defender, he won't offer much in the way of rim protection. 

Still, Tillie is a very skilled offensive player who can both stretch the floor with his shooting and provide secondary or tertiary playmaking. Defensively, he isn't a slouch, even on the perimeter, though he'll likely be more of a stretch-4 than a center. 

https://twitter.com/SKPearlman/status/1244061890516574209

If Tillie's injury history wasn't so pronounced, he likely would have been a first-round pick. As it stands, he has a chance to be an excellent role player for Memphis immediately and could end up being one of the best value plays on draft night.

Michigan State big man Xavier Tillman Sr. is headed for Memphis after going 35th overall to the Grizzlies following a trade with the Sacramento Kings in the 2020 NBA draft Wednesday. 

       

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Xavier Tillman

Position: PF/C

Height: 6'8"

Weight: 245

Pro Comparison: Grant Williams

Scouting Report: Tillman's defensive IQ could earn him nice NBA paychecks and a lengthy career. He'll make his mark and living guarding with toughness, quality rotations and switches. But that IQ also shows up offensively on passes and cuts. If he can just become a threatening catch-and-shoot option, he'll emerge as one of the steals of the 2020 draft.

      

Grizzlies Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

Gorgui Dieng, C: $15.7M (2021)

Jonas Valanciunas, C: $15M (2022)

Justise Winslow, SF: $13M (2022)

Dillon Brooks, SF: $11.7M (2023)

Kyle Anderson, SF: $9.3M (2022)

Ja Morant, PG: $8.9M (2023)

Tyus Jones, PG: $8.8M (2022)

Jaren Jackson Jr., PF: $6.7M (2022)

Marko Guduric, SG: $2.7M (2021)

Brandon Clarke, PF: $2.5M (2023)

Grayson Allen, SG: $2.3M (2022)

Desmond Bane, SG: Rookie scale contract (2024)

Xavier Tillman, C

          

Free Agents

Josh Jackson, SF: UFA

De'Anthony Melton, PG: RFA

Jontay Porter, PF: Team option

Shaq Buchanan, G: RFA

Yuta Watanabe, F: RFA

John Konchar, G: RFA

Anthony Tolliver, PF: UFA

      

The Memphis Grizzlies nearly made the playoffs last season in what was expected to be a rebuilding year, causing the team to look for players who can help immediately.

First-round pick Desmond Bane provides a shooting upgrade, while Tillman should help immediately with his defense. The big man will instantly join the rotation alongside fellow Michigan State product Jaren Jackson Jr. and provide plenty of help for the interior defense.

TCU guard Desmond Bane is now a member of the Memphis Grizzlies after they selected him 30th overall in the 2020 NBA draft following a trade with the Boston Celtics.

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Desmond Bane

Position: SG

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 215

Pro Comparison: Joe Harris

Scouting Report: Desmond Bane will try to make his case as the best shooter in the draft, but he can also add more to a team with his passing and defensive IQ. Every team should be drawn to his versatility and easy fit. He's a good bet to emerge as a valuable role player.

        

Here is how he fits in his new team's roster:

   

Grizzlies Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

Desmond Bane, SG: Rookie scale contract (2024)

Gorgui Dieng, C: $15.7M (2021)

Jonas Valanciunas, C: $15M (2022)

Justise Winslow, SF: $13M (2022)

Dillon Brooks, SF: $11.7M (2023)

Kyle Anderson, SF: $9.3M (2022)

Ja Morant, PG: $8.9M (2023)

Tyus Jones, PG: $8.8M (2022)

Jaren Jackson Jr., PF: $6.7M (2022)

Marko Guduric, SG: $2.7M (2021)

Brandon Clarke, PF: $2.5M (2023)

Grayson Allen, SG: $2.3M (2022)

     

Free Agents

Josh Jackson, SF: UFA

De'Anthony Melton, PG: RFA

Jontay Porter, PF: Team option

Shaq Buchanan, G: RFA

Yuta Watanabe, F: RFA

John Konchar, G: RFA

Anthony Tolliver, PF: UFA

        

Memphis is an up-and-coming franchise largely because of the presence of Rookie of the Year Ja Morant.

Surrounding him with shooters will help the Grizzlies compete in the Western Conference considering how much defensive attention he attracts, and Bane is someone who can take advantage of the resultant space as he plays his way into the rotation as a rookie.

When the NBA announced Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant as the Rookie of the Year for the 2019-20 season on Sept. 3, the league noted he received 99 of 100 first-place votes.

Now it's been revealed Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times was the only voter who didn't rank Morant No. 1, instead opting to place the New Orleans Pelicans' Zion Williamson atop his ballot.

Morant took to Twitter on Saturday afternoon to seek Cowley's reasoning:

appreciate you 🤝 i’m not gonna do too much , ima let everybody else do dat . i just wanna know why lol 🤔👂🏽

— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) September 19, 2020

The 21-year-old Murray State product appeared to turn the revelation into motivation:

“ prove em wrong !! make em feel stupid for ever doubting you . “
heard u . to work i go 💯✌🏽

— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) September 19, 2020

Although there's no doubting Williamson's impact on the Pelicans upon his return from knee surgery in January, Morant built the more complete Rookie of the Year case while playing 43 additional games.

He was immediately thrust into a marquee role for Memphis, leading the team in both points (17.8) and assists (7.3) while also grading out as a plus-defender in ESPN's Real Plus-Minus.

It was a lot of responsibility for a first-year player, and not only did he excel, but he also did enough to help the Grizzlies earn a berth in the play-in game in the loaded Western Conference. They came up short against the more experienced Portland Trail Blazers, but it still set the stage for a bright future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eXUXgp7-wk

Williamson and Morant, the first two picks in the 2019 NBA draft, will forever be linked, and their careers are each off to promising starts.

The Grizzlies' rising star was the rightful winner of the league's top rookie honor, however, and he's clearly taking names of those who disagree.

MIT women's head basketball coach Sonia Raman has been hired as an assistant coach on Taylor Jenkins' staff with the Memphis Grizzlies. 

The team announced the move in a press release issued Friday:

Grizzlies have hired MIT women’s basketball coach Sonia Raman as an assistant coach. pic.twitter.com/nD4GiipMGl

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) September 11, 2020

Raman becomes the 14th woman hired as an assistant coach on an NBA team. 

She is the sixth woman to be hired by an NBA team since the start of the 2019-20 season. Kara Lawson (Boston Celtics), Brittni Donaldson (Toronto Raptors), Lindsay Gottlieb (Cleveland Cavaliers), Lindsey Harding (Sacramento Kings), Niele Ivey (Memphis Grizzlies) and Teresa Weatherspoon (New Orleans Pelicans) are the others. 

Lawson and Ivey have since returned to the college ranks to take over as head coach at their respective alma maters, Duke and Notre Dame. 

Per her official bio on MIT's athletic website, Raman is the school's all-time leader in wins and has coached 69 players who were named to the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference team. 

Raman has spent 12 years at MIT, winning New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2016 and 2017. 

  

Memphis Grizzlies rookie point guard Ja Morant revealed he played with a fractured thumb during his team's final four games in the Walt Disney World resort near Orlando, Florida, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

The Grizzlies' season ended Saturday with a 126-122 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA's play-in tournament for the eighth Western Conference playoff spot. Morant posted 35 points and eight assists.

The 21-year-old has been as good as advertised since he was selected No. 2 overall in the 2019 NBA draft, averaging 17.8 points and 7.3 assists per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 33.5 percent from three entering Saturday. He put himself firmly in the Rookie of the Year conversation and will likely take home the award.

He's certainly provided his fair share of highlights: 

He almost ended Cleveland Cavaliers big man Kevin Love's career:

Alongside second-year big man Jaren Jackson Jr., Morant is a centerpiece of the team's rebuilding efforts. The future is bright in Memphis, which has to be thrilled with the inside-outside combination it added in the past two drafts.

The Memphis Grizzlies have clinched a spot in the Western Conference play-in series thanks to a 119-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.

The team had struggled during the restarted season in the bubble with six losses in the first seven games, but Ja Morant and company stepped up in the final seeding game to help the Grizzlies clinch at least the No. 9 seed. Morant and Jonas Valanciunas each finished with triple-doubles, while Dillon Brooks led all scorers with 31.

Memphis will earn the No. 8 seed if the Portland Trail Blazers lose to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.

Milwaukee was playing without MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was suspended for the game after headbutting Washington Wizards center Moritz Wagner. Khris Middleton and the other regular starters were in the lineup, but most of the minutes went to the bench as the team prepares for the postseason.

   

Notable Performances

Ja Morant, G, MEM: 12 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists

Jonas Valanciunas, C, MEM: 26 points, 19 rebounds, 12 assists

Dillon Brooks, G, MEM: 31 points, 2 rebounds

Brook Lopez, C, MIL: 19 points, 9 rebounds, 1 block

Khris Middleton, G, MIL: 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists

Frank Mason, G, MIL: 18 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists

     

Dillon Brooks Puts the Grizzlies on His Back

Ja Morant is the big name on Memphis, but Dillon Brooks has been invaluable in Orlando and was arguably the best offensive player in this one:

Dillon Brooks scores the game's first 7 points!@memgrizz clinch a Play-In berth with a W. pic.twitter.com/B6IZcekBHo

— NBA (@NBA) August 13, 2020

Dillon Brooks, ya hear me???????? 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/QfAkXEzQXi

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) August 13, 2020

He was extremely efficient, shooting 12-of-18 from the field and 4-of-7 from three-point range while finishing a game-high plus-27 on the floor.

Though he can be inconsistent, Brooks' success has meant Grizzlies success this season:

Dillon Brooks makes such a massive difference when his shot is falling. And he has 20 points, so we know what that means

— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) August 13, 2020

Dillon Brooks over the 20-point barrier. Grizzlies are 85-2 this year when he scores at least 20 points. (approx.)

— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) August 13, 2020

He's also one of the few players on the team who have excelled during the restart, averaging 18.6 points per game entering Thursday. If he can keep it up, this team can remain a threat in the postseason.

Meanwhile, Jonas Valanciunas also stood out in this one by making plays all over the court:

Jonas Valanciunas (13 PTS, 11 REB, career-high 7 AST) fills the stat sheet in the 1st half! #WholeNewGame

The @memgrizz are up 60-50 and will clinch a Play-In berth with a W. pic.twitter.com/US3iuYta8Y

— NBA (@NBA) August 13, 2020

JV TRIPLE-DOUBLE!

📲💻: https://t.co/N7YH6TOnFD pic.twitter.com/wnFPUcSFLu

— NBA (@NBA) August 13, 2020

The eight-year veteran never had more than five assists in a game but was doing it all to help Memphis in the most important game of the season.

This type of effort was a welcome surprise and exactly what the Grizzlies needed to keep this magical year alive.

     

Depth On Display with Giannis Out

Losing Antetokounmpo for one game wasn't a big deal as the Bucks had already clinched the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. In reality, there is a chance he would've sat out the game anyway to keep him fresh for the postseason.

However, the Bucks will need significant contributions from more than just one player to win a championship.

The remaining players were in action Thursday, and it resulted in some good but a few major question marks.

Brook Lopez was dominant at times, showcasing the type of impact he can make in the middle:

“Nice feed, beautiful hammer” pic.twitter.com/NASOVn7TTw

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) August 13, 2020

Just like they drew it up. pic.twitter.com/THXdKU5tlz

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) August 13, 2020

Khris Middleton poured in 14 points, while Donte DiVincenzo played well off the bench:

Stir the sauce. pic.twitter.com/EUeKiHaaxI

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) August 13, 2020

3Vincenzo.

Seeing DiVincenzo find his rhythm would be a welcome sight for the Bucks.

— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) August 13, 2020

Though he's been inconsistent since returning to the team, DiVincenzo could give the squad a much-needed boost off the bench. Adding in the production from Frank Mason, there were several positives in the loss.

On the other hand, Eric Bledsoe has been off in the bubble and finished 1-of-8 in 20 minutes against Memphis. The defense was also disappointing for a team ranked No. 1 in defensive efficiency this season, though obviously it was a meaningless game for Milwaukee. 

The non-Giannis players will have to carry their weight when the playoffs start next week.

     

What's Next?

The Grizzlies will now await their opponent for the play-in series, which starts Saturday. The winner will face the No. 1-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.

The Bucks have already clinched the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed and will prepare for the first round of the playoffs against the No. 8-seeded Orlando Magic.

Memphis Grizzlies rookie guard Ja Morant said Friday he struggled with the emotion of being in the NBA's Orlando bubble while his daughter, Kaari Jaidyn Morant, celebrated her first birthday back home.

Morant explained he called his parents before recording 19 points, nine assists and four rebounds in the Grizzlies' 121-92 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"I wasn't in a good mood at all," he told reporters. "[I] told them it was probably one of the toughest days of my life."

The Rookie of the Year contender said the victory was a bright spot in an otherwise difficult day.

"Kind of tough, but the thing I gave her today was a win," Morant said. "So hopefully she's thankful for that and all the gifts she's got back at the house."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysxhrghJkRM

It marked Memphis' first win at the Disney World complex in Orlando, Florida, after four straight losses to open the restarted 2019-20 season amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Grizzlies still own the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 33-37 record, one game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers and two clear of the San Antonio Spurs. A play-in tournament, which is triggered if the No. 8 team is fewer than 4.5 games ahead of No. 9, is all but assured, though.

Morant, who's averaged 17.8 points, 7.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds through 64 appearances in his debut campaign, will play a crucial role in determining whether the Grizz claim that last berth.

Memphis returns to action Sunday with a 2 p.m. ET tip against the reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors.  

Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. will miss the remainder of the 2019-20 season with a meniscus tear in his left knee, the team announced Tuesday:

The @memgrizz today provided the following medical update on Jaren Jackson Jr.: pic.twitter.com/MR3CfuqGIH

— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) August 4, 2020

The 20-year-old played 31 minutes on Monday, scoring 22 points in a 109-99 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

God knows I like challenges, we just talked

— JJJ (@jarenjacksonjr) August 4, 2020

Jackson was near the end of a stellar second NBA campaign prior to the announcement. He averaged 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for the year and was on fire during the NBA's restart with 25.3 points per game over Memphis' first three contests on the NBA's Disney World campus near Orlando, Florida.

The Grizzlies entered seeding games in the No. 8 seed and have gone 0-3 during the restart. They still have the edge on at least making a potential play-in tournament to determine the final Western Conference playoff spot, which will consist of the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds playing for the final postseason berth.

However, they are only two games ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs with five remaining, and now they have to forge ahead without Jackson, which will hurt their hopes of making the playoffs.

The Grizz do have a stellar backup big man in Brandon Clarke, who has scored 12.1 points on 62.4 percent shooting with 5.8 rebounds off the bench.

He figures to step in for Jackson in the starting lineup alongside center Jonas Valanciunas, with forward Anthony Tolliver potentially seeing more minutes off the bench.

The Memphis Grizzlies head into the NBA's restart as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, with a 3.5-game lead over the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans.

And rookie phenom Ja Morant doesn't believe it's fair that even if the team maintains that cushion after eight more regular-season games, it'll be forced to participate in a play-in game, as he said on ESPN's The Jump on Thursday. 

"But, you know, we can't control that," he added. "Only thing we can control is how, you know, we go out and attack each of these games before that decision is made."

Teams may head into the postseason having played a different number of games because the coronavirus halted the season March 11, and the NBA settled on an eight-game regular season for this week's restart and a standard playoff format. 

The one difference is that if the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds finish within four games of each other, they'll face off in a play-in matchup. That could hurt a team like Memphis, which is in the driver's seat to lock down the No. 8 seed. 

But Morant is using it as motivation. 

"I just feel like it's an extra chip," he said. "You know—more fuel to the fire, more motivation for us."

The 20-year-old Morant is a deserving front-runner to be named Rookie of the Year—depending on where voters fall on Zion Williamson's injury-shortened campaign—and has injected life into a Grizzlies team that came into the season with fairly low expectations. 

"Coming into the season, I think we were projected to be 29th, and look at us now," Morant said. "So we just use that as fuel, continue to work. We're all very hungry. We know what we're capable of. Just go out and play."

Morant is averaging 17.6 points, 6.9 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game, shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three. He's also a nightly highlight waiting to happen, given his explosive athleticism.

Alongside Jaren Jackson Jr., he's given the Grizzlies an exciting young one-two punch. That combination was expected to revitalize the franchise in the years to come. Instead, it's a bit ahead of schedule and looking to secure a playoff berth.