The Memphis Grizzlies shook off their opening game loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2022 Las Vegas Summer League opener to win on Sunday (7/10) in Cox Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Final: Memphis Grizzlies 70 Minnesota Timberwolves 63
Santi Aldama finally broke out for his best performance of the 2022 Summer League scoring 22 points with 6 steals and 2 blocks. Aldama played 29 minutes and was +13 for the outing. Fan favorite Kenneth Lofton Jr. started for Memphis and scored just 4 points while collecting 10 rebounds. The other bright spots for Memphis were Kennedy Chandler (consistent play with 9 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals in 28 minutes), Tremont Waters ("walking bucket" nicknamed by announcers scoring 16 points while pushing the pace), and rookie David Roddy collecting 10 points and 9 rebounds (+12 in 29 minutes of action).
For the Timberwolves, former Josh Minott scored 7 points with 5 rebounds in 29 minutes and definitely looks the part of an NBA future rotation. Kevon Harris led the Wolves with 17 points.
But it was the presence of new Grizzly Danny Green right next to Ja Morant, Tyus Jones, Coach Taylor Jenkins, and his new Memphis Grizzlies "teammates" that got many fans excited as they look to the future of this organization. Green arrived last month from Philadelphia as part of the trade for DeAnthony Melton, while the Grizzlies also received the #23 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft (selecting David Roddy).
The problem is Green tore his ACL and LCL in his left knee during the 76ers playoff run. The speculation was that Green may never even play for the Memphis Grizzlies, sitting out as ancillary material. But Jake Fischer of the Bleacher Report reported the Grizzlies likely would guarantee Green's $10-million deal for 2022-23. Maybe the Grizzlies simply use Green as Cap/Trade material? Maybe a future roster component? Either way Green looked right at home on the sidelines with his Grizzlies teammates in Las Vegas and could presumably become a future component of a playoff Grizzlies squad.
Full Memphis Grizzlies coverage on Monday (7/11) live on 92.9 FM ESPN, Memphis' Grizzlies Flagship Radio Home. Memphis returns to the court in Las Vegas on Tuesday (7/12) taking on the Brooklyn Nets at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
