Sometimes, story “breaking” in sports can be overrated, and former University of Florida guard Nick Calathes proved that on Friday afternoon… by doing it himself.
RT @Nick_Calathes15: Excited to start the new year w/Grizz Nation. Thanks everybody for the support. Thank you Loko as well for a great year
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 9, 2013
Subsequently, ESPN’s Marc Stein took over, reporting that his sources have locked Calathes into a 2-year deal:
Hearing that Nick Calathes' deal with Memphis is a two-year pact at just under $2 million
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 9, 2013
Earlier in the summer, the Dallas Mavericks (who have held the guard’s rights for 4 years) traded him to Memphis, which apparently paved the way for a deal. Calathes was selected in the 2nd round of the 2009 draft by Minnesota despite having already signed a contract abroad, and his skills are in high demand.
He is a “pure” point guard at 6-foot-6, which makes NBA scouts drool, and he was an across-the-board contributor at Florida, averaging over 5 rebounds and 6 assists per game to go along with 15+ points for his career. He has continued to show that kind of versatility professionally, and for the cash-strapped Grizzlies, this is a perfect “flier” move (especially with a 2nd-year team option) for the future with a very talented player.
It remains to be seen whether Calathes can contribute on an NBA court, but I love his game, and at age 24, this is a very low-risk, high-upside move.