Memphis Grizzlies sign MarShon Brooks to 10-day deal

Marshon Brooks will make his return to the NBA, as the Memphis Grizzlies are signing him to a 10-day contract.

After a four-year hiatus,  Marshon Brooks will be back in the NBA, at least for 10 days anyways. At the end of a miserable season, the Grizzlies have publicly announced they’re focusing on developing their younger players and taking a look at what they have for next year.

After signing and releasing Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Briante Weber (again), the front office seems to be taking a look at an off ball wing. Andrew Harrison is healthy, Tyreke is playing, and Marquis Teague is on a 10-Day deal as well, so they don’t need a ball handler.

Instead of having to trot out Chandler Parsons at the 2, Interim Coach JB Bickerstaff has a new piece to play with in his wing rotation. While Marshon may not be considered a young talent being developed, he’s certainly worth a look for the upcoming season.

Taken 25th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2011 NBA Draft and having his draft rights traded to then New Jersey Nets, Marshon Brooks averaged 12.6 ppg, while starting 47 games in his rookie season.  After two seasons in New Jersey/Brooklyn, Brooks was shipped to Boston in the massive heist by Danny Ainge, sending Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Nets.

The Celtics kept Brooks for half a season before sending him to Golden State, where he spent most of his time in the G-League. After being traded for the fourth time in his short career to the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooks found himself out of the league.

That was 2014. It has been four years.

What Brooks offers to Grizz

So what does Marshon Brooks offer the Memphis Grizzlies in a lost season? Something that Memphis has been desperate for for years. He’s a wing that can flat out score. Brooks owns the third highest scoring average in the Chinese CBA this season at 36.6 ppg.

Grizzlies fans witnessed first hand what a player coming over from China can do when Brandon Jennings (re)debuted for the Bucks in Memphis. Brooks is coming over with staggering numbers in the same league. Outside of putting up an absurd 36.6 ppg, he did it while shooting 51 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3 — making four of them a night. On top of the efficient scoring, Brooks averaged seven rebounds, six assists and two steals a game.

Next: Grizz need to shore up wing depth

A front office with a poor track record, just took a risk that might pay off in a big way. Only time will tell if Brooks can translate those kind of numbers back to the superior play of the NBA, but it’s certainly worth the risk for the Memphis Grizzlies.