Grizzlies sign Jeremy Richardson
The Memphis Grizzlies today signed free agent guard/forward Jeremy Richardson, the top scorer in the NBA Development League.
Richardson, a 6-7, 195-pound swingman, was averaging a league-high 28.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.63 steals in 41.5 minutes in eight games this season for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the NBA D-League.
“We are pleased to call Jeremy Richardson up from the NBA Development League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants,†said Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace. “He is an exciting young talent whose career is on a real upswing. Jeremy can shoot the three-pointer, is very good at coming off screens and is blessed with impressive length and size for a perimeter player.
“Jeremy has received excellent coaching and an opportunity to develop his game against strong competition in an NBA-like setting over his time in the D-League. The D-League is an invaluable training ground for talented young players such as Jeremy who need to transition into professional basketball.â€
Richardson is the fourth GATORADE Call-Up from the D-League this season, joining Miami’s Luke Jackson, Denver’s Jelani McCoy and New Jersey’s Eddie Gill. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native was also named the D-League Performer of the Week on December 3 after scoring a D-League season-high 40 points vs. the Iowa Energy on November 29.
The Delta State alum (Cleveland, Mississippi) had two call-ups to the NBA last season with the Atlanta Hawks and Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 1.3 points in six games in limited playing time. The 23-year-old spent the majority of the 2006-07 season with the Forth Worth Flyers in the D-League. Recently, Richardson was one of the Miami Heat’s final cuts on October 29.
The current roster stands at 14 players. Richardson will wear No. 3.
Grizzlies waive Tarence Kinsey
The Memphis Grizzlies announced today that they have requested waivers on guard Tarence Kinsey.
Kinsey, a 6-6, 189-pound guard, was averaging 3.6 points and 1.1 rebounds in 8.7 minutes in 11 appearances this season. An undrafted free agent out of South Carolina, he averaged 7.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in his rookie season with the Grizzlies in 2006-07. Kinsey came on strong late in the season when he was named the NBA’s Western Conference Rookie of the Month after averaging 18.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.63 steals last April.
The current roster stands at 13 players.
Pau Gasol out with jammed right big toe
The Memphis Grizzlies announced today that forward/center Pau Gasol will be out indefinitely due to a jammed right big toe.
Gasol, who originally suffered the injury in yesterday’s practice, was placed on the team’s inactive list prior to tonight’s contest vs. the Los Angeles Clippers. In his place, the club activated forward Andre Brown.
The 7-0, 260-pound forward/center leads the club in rebounds (7.7, T-31st in NBA) and double-doubles (seven, T-27th), and is second in scoring (17.3, 44th) in 21 games played this season. The seven-year NBA veteran has scored in double figures in 79 consecutive games, which is the third-longest active streak in the NBA behind only Denver’s Carmelo Anthony (152) and Boston’s Ray Allen (118).
Andy Dolich, President of Business Operations of the Grizzlies has announced his resignation effective December 31 2007. Dolich has been responsible for the overall day to day functioning of the business and marketing side of the Grizzlies and FedExForum which he was appointed to by team owner Michael Heisley in May of 2000.
SI.com’s Ian Thompson reports: Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies — He ranks second among NBA sophomores in scoring with 18.1 points, a mark that leads the Grizzlies and represents a big hike over the 10.8 points he averaged as a rookie. Memphis has amped up the tempo to 103.8 points (sixth highest in the league) and the 6-9 Gay is their arrowhead, a versatile athlete who is improving his decision-making with the ball. “He’s picking up the whole idea of seeing what are they giving me,” coach Marc Iavaroni said. “If the defense says you should be going to the basket, then you should be going to the basket. If they give you a shot, then it’s your duty to take that shot.”


