The Grizzlies have re-signed 26-year old center Hamed Haddadi to a 1-year deal.  Haddadi played in 31 games (0 starts) for the Grizzlies last year and he averaged 5.4 minutes, 2.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.  He has now played in 86 games (0 starts) in his first three years with the Grizzlies and he is averaging 6.1 minutes, 2.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  The Grizzlies were hurting with depth up front, so it was smart to bring Haddadi back for the 2011-12 season.

The Grizzlies shot 56.3% from the floor and they outrebounded the Rockets 42-33 which helps explain the scoreboard last night.  Zach Randolph (23 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals) and Marc Gasol (20 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals and 5 blocked shots led the way for the Grizzlies in this game.  Jeremy Pargo (14 points, 2 rebounds and 5 assists in 22 minutes on the floor) and Quincy Pondexter (13 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal) also had solid games for the Grizzlies.  Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo pitched in with 10 points apiece in this game.  The Grizzlies are now 1-2 on the year.

The Grizzlies have waived 35-year old power forward Brian Skinner.  Skinner played in 1 game for the Grizzlies this year working 4 minutes and not recording any other stats.  Skinner has now played in 608 games (197 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 17.9 minutes, 4.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  This isn’t much of a loss for the Grizzlies as they have pretty solid depth up front.

The Grizzlies only shot 39.1% from the floor last night and it really hurt them in this game.  Zach Randolph (24 points, 12 rebounds and 1 blocked shot) and Rudy Gay (19 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot) led the way for the Grizzlies last night.  Marc Gasol (16 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocked shots) and Jeremy Pargo (15 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocked shots) also pitched in for the Grizzlies last night.  The Grizzlies are now 0-2 on the year.

The Grizzlies played solid defense in holding the Spurs to 39.8% shooting from the floor, but they just couldn’t muster any offense.  Rudy Gay led the way for the Grizzlies in this game with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot.  Marc Gasol also filled up the stat sheet with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot.  Mike Conley (11 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals) and Zach Randolph (10 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal) also pitched in for the Grizzlies.  The Grizzlies are now 0-1 on the year.

The Grizzlies have acquired 23-year old small forward Quincy Pondexter from the Hornets for 24-year old point guard Greivis Vasquez.  Pondexter played in 66 games (6 starts) as a rookie for the Hornets last year and he averaged 11.1 minutes, 2.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  Pondexter will likely be the Grizzlies’ #3 small forward in 2011-12, behind Rudy Gay and Sam Young.  Greivis Vasquez played in 70 games (1 start) for the Grizzlies last year and he averaged 12.3 minutes, 3.6 points, 1.0 rebound and 2.2 assists per game.  I like this deal for both teams, as Pondexter has a higher upside than Vasquez, but Vasquez fills a need for the Hornets.

The Grizzlies have signed 24-year old power forward Dante Cunningham to a 3-year, $6.3 million bucks.  Cunningham played in 78 games (18 starts) for the Trailblazers & Bobcats last year and he averaged 21.0 minutes, 6.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  He has now played in 141 games (20 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he has averaged 16.6 minutes, 5.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  This was a nice signing for the Grizzlies as Cunningham will back-up Zach Randolph.

The Grizzlies have lost 23-year old power forward Darrell Arthur for the rest of the season due to a torn Achilles tendon.  Arthur played in 80 games (9 starts) for the Grizzlies last year and he averaged 20.1 minutes, 9.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.  He has now played in 188 games (73 starts) in his first three years with the Grizzlies and he is averaging 18.8 minutes, 6.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  The Grizzlies are now in the market for another big man as they are suddenly a tad thin in the frontcourt.

The Grizzlies have waived 23-year old point guard Ishmael Smith.  Smith played in 15 games (0 starts) for the Grizzlies last year and he averaged 7.5 minutes, 1.8 points, 0.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.  He played in 43 games (3 starts) overall for the Rockets & Grizzlies as a rookie last year and he averaged 10.3 minutes, 2.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.  The Grizzlies won’t miss Smith too much in 2011-12, as they are set at point guard with Mike Conley and Greivis Vasquez.

The Grizzlies have re-signed 26-year old center Marc Gasol to a 4-year, $58 million dollar contract.  Gasol played in 81 games (all starts) for the Grizzlies last year and he averaged 31.9 minutes, 11.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 blocked shots per game.  He has now played in 232 games (225 starts) in his first three years with the Grizzlies and he is averaging 32.7 minutes, 12.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game.  The Grizzlies might have overpaid for Gasol a little bit, but that’s o.k., as they are ready to be a legit contender in the Western Conference this year and beyond.