Summer league: Grizzlies wrap it up with a look at G League players
Olivier Sarr (30), seen here playing for Kentucky in February, scored in double digits in the final three games of the Grizzlies’ summer league schedule. (Mark Humphrey/AP file)
The Grizzlies’ final summer league game was about getting a look.
Not a look at the drafted rookies, Ziaire Williams and Santi Aldama, who rested in the fifth and last game Monday night.
Not a look at the veteran players, including Desmond Bane, Xavier Tillman Sr., Killian Tillie, Sean McDermott and John Konchar — they all rested, too.
Memphis got a look at the rest of the group, mostly G League players and undrafted rookies who could find themselves in Southaven with the Memphis Hustle this season.
The limited roster was enough to dominate the Clippers, 104-95.
Undrafted Kentucky big man Olivier Sarr was the star of the first half with 14 points and seven rebounds. He finished the game with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Sarr scored in double digits in the final three games of the Grizzlies’ summer league schedule as the team opted to rest veteran players. He was on a mission to prove that he belongs on an NBA roster somewhere.
“For me it was about having no regrets,” he said. “I played hard out there. That’s what I want to do every night. Summer league was fun. I loved it, and I got lucky to be with three of my old high school teammates from France. We had a lot of fun.”
Other Grizzlies with notable performances on Monday included Hustle player Shaq Buchanan, a college teammate of Ja Morant, and Sam Merrill, whom the team acquired from the Bucks in the Grayson Allen trade on Aug. 6.
Buchanan, who averaged 12.9 points for the Hustle last season, scored a game-high 21 points to go with two rebounds. He had the highlight of the night with a dunk and a technical foul that followed.
“I’m known for dunking,” Buchanan said. “I had played two summer leagues and I hadn’t had a dunk yet. I finally got one, so I had to get the tech for it.”
Merrill, his backcourt counterpart, dropped in 20 points, including three 3-point makes.
Yves Pons, whom the Grizzlies signed to an Exhibit 10 contract ahead of the summer league, had two points and two blocks.
That’s a wrap for Memphis, which was trying to repeat as the Las Vegas champion. News of another trade — Eric Bledsoe to the Clippers in exchange for Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu — stole the show in the final days.
“I saw the trade went down today,” Grizzlies summer league coach Darko Rajakovic said. “Me as a coach, I speak for the whole organization when I say we have complete trust in what Zach (Kleiman) and the front office are doing. We know they are going to put us in the best possible situation to develop our team. We are excited about the future.”
Next up: Training camp next month.
Topics
Grizzlies Memphis Grizzlies Los Angeles Clippers Summer League NBADrew Hill
Drew Hill covers the Memphis Grizzlies and is a top-10 APSE winner. He has worked throughout the South writing about college athletics before landing in Memphis.
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