This is a STEAL for the Grizzlies…

This is a STEAL for the Grizzlies…

This is a steal for the Grizzlies. As the Memphis Grizzlies organization and the city of Memphis still heartbroken by Jiren Jackson Jr.’s injury, there’s now a question as to what the Grizzlies should do next. There are plenty of big fish out there, but one name that we’ll go over in particular that I think would be an absolute slam dunk for the Memphis Grizzlies. We’ll go over that in just a moment, but what’s going on everybody? Jared Altor here for another episode of Grizzlies Digest for your Fourth of July holiday weekend. Hope you’re having fun, but also being safe out there. I don’t want to hear about any firework related injuries come next week. So, hope you all are being safe out there. Before we get into the content, just want to remind you that 89% of you, you watch these videos, you’re engaging, but you’re just not subscribing to the channel. What’s going on? Uh, but 11% of you that do, uh, thank you so much. We’re so close to reaching our 1K subscriber goal. And that’s just so we can expand for more fan engaging content, expanding on Oliver social media, maybe some live streams once we get into the preseason regular season. We’ll see about that once we get closer to that. But so much to expand upon for Grizzlies Digest. Uh one of the the best channels for Grizzlies content out there on YouTube. So, thank you. Thank you so much to all the OGs and to everyone else joining the Grizzlies Digest family. uh your sport does not go unnoticed. And we’ll get into the content right now. And that’s why Nick Richards, it’s about Nick Richards, who is kind of in a awkward situation right now because the Suns, they drafted Malawatch from Duke, but they also got another guy um on draft. Now, that was Mark Williams. So, the Suns and Nick Richards are kind of in a awkward place right now. and the Suns making decisions on draft night that just really didn’t make sense to me. I mean, it’s fine that I get you want to draft a Malawash. I think that’s a great addition. I think he he could be a great shot blocker. I think he’s going to grow in this league. I think there’s some potential for him. And for Mark Williams, I mean, he failed a physical. That’s why that he couldn’t uh trade he couldn’t get traded to the Lakers, excuse me, for Dalton Connect. So that is a bit interesting. So we’ll see kind of what the argument is for Memphis getting him and then for Phoenix Suns keeping him. But I just think the Phoenix Suns are in a very very awkward situation right now. But this is from uh Abis Boary. Excuse me if I just botched that up. But that’s from the Grizzlies fan side of page. The Bill Street Bears. They say the Grizzlies will need to add more depth to their front court before the start of the season. and they go into Richards and kind of what he’s done this past season with the Hornets and Suns because he was traded in the middle of the year. Richards averaged 9.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and nearly one assist per game on a solid 63.4 true shooting percentage. Richards proved to be an efficient scorer inside the arc as he shot 59.4% on twos and 74.4% from the free throw line. Although Richards has deficiencies as a shot creator and playmaker, he’s still a solid finisher, as a cutter and a rollman, making him a big fit for Tomaso’s offense. And that’s where Ed’s presence is missed. I think on the offensive end, Edy could he is a pick and roll slasher. I I think he’s a perfect pick and roll slasher just for his 7 foot4 frame. I also think Richards is a more athletic guy that can do more in the air than a guy like Edy. Of course, Edy, his defensive presence is very well noticed. I mean, you don’t want to I I compare Richards to Edy, but you have a guy like Richards who can shoot the ball, you know, in the paint whenever he needs to and he can knock it down in a pretty good clip. Uh that’s something Edy doesn’t do a whole lot. most of his buckets are going to come from right underneath the basket. So, I I think Richards can add like a little bit more inside paint shooting, but I also think that Richards can be a threat from a slasher, a cutter, a roll man. And that’s here, Nick Richards recorded a negative or minus 1.3 defensive BPM this season and a minus.7 defensive BPM for his career. However, it’s reasonable to expect Richards to improve a little bit defensively around a more reliable set of perimeter defenders in Memphis compared to his previous teams. Richards is also a reliable defensive rebounder and also adds defensive playmaking upside through shot blocking and drawing charges. And for Richards, I mean, I think he could be a phenomenal addition, especially to what we’re dealing with now. For Santi Alama, he’s going to have to step into that starting four role. And I know y’all don’t feel comfortable about starting Jay Huff or Marvin Baggley or Brandon Clark for that matter. Who knows whenever he’s going to get back. I think he’ll be fine for the regular season, but we still don’t really know what the future look like future looks like with BC because there’s a lot of trade talks with involving BC and Kchar and Vince Williams. Like what’s the future for those three guys? Could they be involved in such a trade for uh Nick Richards or for someone else soon? because the Grizzlies badly need a big man right now. And as much as I like DeAndre Aton about how he he could have been a phenomenal addition to Memphis, I thought, but it wouldn’t have made sense just because the Memphis Grizzlies are just looking for someone to hold the fort down for the first two and a half months of the regular season. And I think by that time you should see one of Jiren Jackson Jr. or Zack Edy come back. So we got So what are we thinking about? So season starting in late October then you got you late November. So then mid January. Yeah. You think one of those guys has to be back by then. And then Nick Richards who’s playing some of the best ball of his career scoring rebounding the basketball. I think he did a phenomenal job this year. I think he’s reaching his peak right now. I But I think a guy like Richards knows his role. He knows that he is he can start in a bunch of games, but he can also start on the bench for plenty of games. I think he knows his role and I think that’s why he’s a perfect fit for Memphis. I think other names that people are throwing out there. Go Betatate could be like one of those threats that could help Memphis for at least the first couple months of the regular season. And and he knows again a guy like Goa Bat knows his role. He’s mostly been a backup big guy his whole career. And that’s all we’re asking for the first two two and a half months, maybe three of the regular season, just someone to hold that fourth down at the five spot because you don’t feel good about Baggley doing it or Huff doing it at least in a starting role. I I don’t mind if if BC or Bagley or Huff stay, but it’s just a matter of if they can really take on those starting minutes, and that’s what I think is a big concern for Memphis. So, finishing up the article here, Nick Richards has one more one year remaining on his current deal and is set to make $5 million for the upcoming season. The Grizzlies could easily build a trade package centered around future second round picks or players such as Vince Williams Jr. John Kchar like we just talked about. Although Richards does not project is a long-term starter in Memphis, he would be reliable re reliable depth, excuse me, and a good emergency option while Jackson Jr. and Edy are able to recover. I think that hits the nail right on the head there. And a bit more about Richardson and his stats. And you could see he’s been growing pretty much every year. Uh drafted in 2020. Didn’t play that much in the 2020 uh and slash2021 season. And then you go into this 2022 2023 season and he starts to get a little bit more action playing more games. And then since 2023, the beginning of the 2023 24 season, he’s been playing regularly on the court. And for Phoenix, I thought he did a phenomenal job. And with Charlotte, I thought he did a great job as a role man, a role man or a cutter. And we’ll take a look at some of those highlights right now. As you see him right there, a threat to jam the basketball off a lob. You see it right there with a one hand finish up high coming down hard. The nice finish there getting the feed from LaMelo Ball. He’ll throw it down again. And again, this is kind of what you’re expecting. You’re not really expecting Well, that that was a pretty athletic play. You’re not really expecting too much flashiness from him or really any glitz or glamour. You’re just looking for him to be an average def. He don’t even need to be like a whole superstar defender. Just be a nice cutting man. It’s kind of weird how I said that, but just be a an available solid cutter for John Mor. I mean, he can get you the ball. He can get you the ball. If you cut off a pick and roll, he’s going to get you the ball. And just like what I think we’re going to see from Zach Editi unleashed in his second year and third year and fourth year, I I think he’s going to be a beast from here on out just by being that pick and roll man that he was at Purdue. And I think that Toumas is going to unleash Edi in a way that no one is expecting. The rest of the NBA, they’re not expecting it. And for Richards, I think that he can be that similar role set. Obviously, Richard’s a lot shorter. He’s not going to be the defensive not going to be the same defensive guy that Edy will be. But as long as Richards is able to contribute just a a little bit on the court in score scoring wise, I think the Grizzlies could be in a good spot for at least the next or for the first couple months of the regular season. So that’s a little bit more about Richards. This is John Gambodoro, a longtime sports radio host in the Phoenix area. He says the Suns have gotten calls on Nick Richards from several teams. Not sure if they would move him. They do like him and he would be a good insurance for Mark Williams should they keep him. So obviously I think that there’s a move to be made for Memphis. Don’t know if it’s going to be Nick Richards. I think it’d be a home run move if they do sign Richards. But for the Suns they are in a really awkward spot right now with Malawatch Williams and then Nick Richards. I don’t know how that’s going to work out. I mean, the the Phoenix Suns, they and I don’t want to turn this into Suns Digest, but they really did screw up their future with that whole Kevin Durant trade they made over two years ago. And now they got to move things around. You know, Kevin Durant now with Houston. Bradley Beal, I mean, he played some of the worst basketball I’ve I’ve seen him play this year. He looked completely unplayable at times. I don’t know what’s going on with Phoenix, but they need to solve some things soon. But maybe we can reach out and say, “Hey, let’s let’s give you a couple of second rounds, maybe a couple of guys here or there.” We’ll see what happens. But that’s going to do it for this video. Jared Alour for Grizzlies Digest. Thank you so much for watching today. If you like this video, can like this video, comment on this video, share this video, leave a comment down below what you think about Nick Richards and his fit potentially with the Memphis Grizzlies. Hope you have a good Fourth of July weekend. We’ll see you in the next video and thanks for watching.

INDEX:
0:00 – Grizzlies Free Agency News
2:37 – Nick Richards Overview
4:41 – Thoughts on Grizzlies Depth Chart
7:20 – Why Richards Could Fit With MEM
7:55 – Richards Career Stats
10:24 – Teams Contacting Suns for Richards

The Memphis Grizzlies need to make a move for an emergency fix to combat the injuries of Zach Edey and Jaren Jackson Jr. Who could that possibly be? Jared A’Latorre has more.

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Grizzlies Digest is a YouTube channel dedicated to covering all the latest news, trades, reports, and rumors about the Memphis Grizzlies. We provide in-depth coverage of game highlights, player performances, and analysis of team strategies. Our channel features discussions on key players like Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, and Zach Edey, along with insights from Head Coach Tuomas Iisalo and General Manager Zach Kleiman. Stay tuned for all the exciting updates and engaging content on everything Grizzlies!