Among other things, the Memphis Grizzlies had to make a business decision in regards to Grayson Allen this offseason. While most fans grew to love the former Duke basketball star, the general consensus was that it was time for him to move on from this team.
With an extension necessary, the Grizzlies didn’t have the available resources to make that happen. Even though he was a great fit and one of the most underrated players in the league, Memphis shipped him off to the Milwaukee Bucks for a pair of future second-round picks.
And thus far, it’s paying off for both sides.
Former Memphis Grizzlies G Grayson Allen has been thriving in every way with the Milwaukee Bucks
Already, the Milwaukee Bucks have given Grayson Allen what the Grizzlies wouldn’t have been able to — a reasonable contract extension. This game in the form of a two-year, $20 million deal that was signed by the former Grizzly guard this past Monday.
Allen earned this contract from his last season with Memphis, where he was the team’s top volume shooter, knocking down over 39% of his deep-range shots and averaging 10.6 points, starting in 38 of the 51 games that he appeared in.
Allen also added a defensive dimension to his game while he played on Beale Street, averaging 0.9 steals per contest with the Grizzlies. The Bucks will hope that he can continue this in 2021.
Thus far, they’ll be happy to see that Allen has been as advertised. In his first game with the Bucks, Allen scored ten points, knocking down three three-pointers. Defensively, he recorded two steals and recorded a (+/-) of +23 while he was on the court. That was second among all active players in the game to just Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Allen also showed off a part of his game that we didn’t see much with the Grizzlies — his passing. The Bucks’ new guard tossed out six assists in his debut with the team, a sign of good things to come with a team that doesn’t have a true playmaker.
For Grizzlies fans, you can only have a smile on your face to see Grayson Allen succeed.