Grizzlies Season Grades: Quincy Pondexter.

(This is the tenth part of an ongoing series where we will grade the Memphis Grizzlies team and franchise for the 2011-2012 season. The first nine parts can be found here: Lionel Hollins, Mike Conley Jr, Tony Allen, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, O.J. Mayo,Marreese Speights and Dante Cunningham.)

The Memphis Grizzlies did quite a bit of roster shuffling before the 2011-2012 regular season started, more than they intended on doing for sure.

We’ve talked about how the Grizzlies had to find the best available Darrell Arthur clone and settled on Dante Cunningham. They signed Cunningham as a free agent from Charlotte and were basically pleased with his results.

The Grizzlies’ second order of business was shipping off back-up point guard Greivis Vasquez to New Orleans for young swingman Quincy Pondexter.

It was a head-scratching move because Vasquez had really grown into his role as Memphis’  back-up point guard and had the rare combination of size and smarts that you don’t see in most modern points.

Beyond that, what were we to make of Pondexter? He played for the Hornets a little bit the previous season, but hadn’t left a huge mark or anything on their team. The Grizzlies were also expecting Rudy Gay to return to the line-up and it seems like there are always swingmen available on the open market, so why trade a valuable asset like Vasquez for an unknown commodity like Pondexter?

Once the Grizzlies got Pondexter integrated into the system and figured out his strengths and weaknesses, he became a very productive bench player. He had the ability to come off the bench at the 2 or the 3 and shot a solid percentage from the field for a perimeter player.

Pondexter’s biggest strength was the corner three as he led the league in that specific shot for a few weeks during the season. He also had a few big moments for the team in the playoffs when the Grizzlies really needed a timely bucket.

Still, the Grizzlies’ biggest need all season long was a reliable back-up point guard and Vasquez was perfect in that role, until he was traded. Some say it was because Hollins had some sort of vendetta against him and he was mad that he left James Harden open for a wide open three during game 4 of the 2011 second round.

If that seems like a long time to hold a grudge and cripple your team in the process, I agree with you, but Hollins was steamed about that play even after Vasquez left town. When a reporter went to ask him about Vasquez the day after game 7, Hollins said that he wouldn’t field any questions whatsoever about the former Memphis reserve.

That said, Pondexter is a guy that you want on your team. When he wasn’t playing much early on, he remained invested, practiced hard and did all of the right things. When Sam Young was traded to Philadelphia in March, Pondexter stepped into his role and never looked back.

Pondexter is also an underrated defender and his size (6’6) gives him an advantage over most shooting guards in the league. By all accounts, he’s a Hollins type of player which is good for him because that’s the guy who decides if he gets to play or not.

The other good news for the Grizzlies that they still have a Team Option for Pondexter for the next two years before they have to worry about having to extend him or not.

Best Game:

Pondexter had 11 points on 4-5 shooting in the Grizzlies game 3 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs.

2011-2012 Final Grade: C+