Memphis Grizzlies’ Nick Calathes Lists ‘First Priority’

May 13, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Nick Calathes (12) dribbles the basketball during the fourth quarter in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 98-78. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Memphis Grizzlies’ free-agent combo-guard, Nick Calathes, speaks on his upcoming free-agent status and what his future plans may entail.

Per an initial Spanish report in which HoopsHype has conveniently translated, the Memphis Grizzlies’ Nick Calathes has apparently already come to a realization about his impending free-agency.

A portion of the story plus some additional info about Calathes and his next basketball deal, as told by HoopsHype‘s Jorge Sierra, read:

"Grizzlies guard Nick Calathes tells HoopsHype that the Spanish report stating that he wants out of the NBA and has been offered to FC Barcelona is “not true at all.”“The NBA is my first priority,” Calathes said.The 6-foot-6 guard, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, averaged 4.2 ppg and 2.5 apg with Memphis this season. Prior to signing with the Grizzlies in 2013, Calathes spent four years in Europe, where he won one Euroleague title with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos."

As I had stated in a previous article last week, Calathes appears to be the odd man out in the Memphis Grizzlies’ roster. The promise and rise in the youthful Grizz backcourt looks to have dried up the chances of seeing Nick wearing a #12 Memphis Grizzlies’ uniform.

Apr 27, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives past Memphis Grizzlies guard Nick Calathes (12) during the second quarter in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

While it is looking more and more likely that we will not see Calathes on Memphis’ roster in training camp, I am sure that there will be several NBA teams that would gladly take him into their camps. Will it become a money issue? It definitely could being as NC had a solid run overseas in Greece. He definitely does not mind being there, plus his family’s roots run deep in Greece. It certainly would not be a bad option from Nick’s perspective.

Nick Calathes’ defensive statistics plus postseason shooting percentages will be the main reasons as to why NBA teams will attempt to lure him away from heading back to Europe. He averaged 2.7 assists per 36 minutes and he posted a defensive rating of 92.2 in the regular season. The rating earned him the top spot in the entire league in the category for 2014-15. He shot 46.2% from three-point range in the 2015 NBA Playoffs.

Keep posted with the latest offseason news regarding Nick Calathes and the Memphis Grizzlies by checking Beale Street Bears daily!

Go Grizz!

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