Shortly after the NBA Free Agency period began, the Memphis Grizzlies reached one verbal agreement to assist with their bench depth.
Less than one hour after NBA Free Agency 2018 opened, the Memphis Grizzlies had landed a verbal agreement. They were not landing one of Free Agency’s biggest names. It was not in accordance with their coveted Tyreke Evans. It was a minor move, but regardless, it shows the Grizzlies are being a little more active on the phones than in seasons’ pasts.
At 12:54 AM, ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report an agreement being reached between the Memphis Grizzlies and combo forward Omri Casspi.
Free agent forward Omri Casspi has agreed to a one-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
NBA teams cannot officially have players sign new contracts until the moratorium period has ended. This summer, contracts can be signed and become official as soon as July 6th. For now, this remains a verbal agreement between the Memphis Grizzlies and Omri Casspi.
Standing at 6’9″ and 225 pounds, the 30-year-old Casspi operates as either a small forward or power forward. He will be entering the 2018-19 season — his 10th in the NBA — with career averages of 8.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists on 45.1% field goal shooting (36.9% from outside the arc) in 20.7 minutes per game. In 2017-18, the former 23rd overall Draft pick (2009) appeared in 53 games (seven starts) for the eventual NBA World Champion, the Golden State Warriors. Omri adds to the Grizzlies’ bench options and brings an outside shooting touch.
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This offseason, the Grizzlies’ Front Office has preached defense. However, it has gotten to the point to where fans should be concerned about offense and where points will be generated. Omri Casspi will not be a volume scorer, but he is an offensive piece. His presence will enable the floor to be stretched.
It is hard to imagine Casspi having a huge role with Memphis next season, especially considering the team’s push to play their younger guys for quick development. However, it is an addition of a veteran player that can serve as insurance at multiple positions. He is likely being had for cheap, too.
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This is not the first time Memphis Grizzlies have become interested in the services of Omri Casspi. This is another former member of the Sacramento Kings that has caught the Grizzlies’ eye. In the 2016-17 season, where Casspi played for three different NBA franchises, Memphis was mentioned amongst the potential suitors upon his departure from Sacramento. Approximately one year later, the forward is on track to become a Grizzly via NBA Free Agency.
Though exact terms and numbers behind this reported agreement will not be released anytime soon, this is likely a veteran’s minimum signing. If that is the case and it is a fully-guaranteed contract, expect Omri Casspi to receive somewhere between $2 million and $2.5 million from the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2018-19 season.
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Go Grizz!