Nick Calathes

Grizzlies Acquire Nick Calathes From Mavs

The Grizzlies have officially acquired the rights to Nick Calathes from the Mavericks, Memphis announced today in a press release. ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported last night that the two sides were close to a deal.

According to the Grizzlies' press release, the 2016 second-round pick Memphis already owed the Mavs is now unprotected. It had previously been top-55 protected.

Calathes, a second-round pick in 2009, has spent the last several seasons playing overseas, most recently for Lokomotiv Kuban in Russia. The 24-year-old guard was named the 2012/13 EuroCup MVP after averaging 12.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 6.7 APG while shooting 52.1% in 17 contests during the EuroCup competition.

Stein's original story suggested that although Calathes is under contract with Lokomotiv Kazan for the coming season, he has an NBA out clause in his deal, and is hoping to make the jump to the Association sooner rather than later.

Grizzlies Close To Acquiring Nick Calathes

The Mavericks are in advanced discussions on a trade with the Grizzlies that would send former second-round pick Nick Calathes to Memphis for future draft considerations, sources with knowledge of the deal tell Marc Stein of ESPN.com.  Calathes, a 2009 second-round pick, has spent the last four seasons playing overseas

The Mavericks acknowledged in recent weeks that they were likely to deal the Florida product if they signed Israeli point guard Gal Mekel.  Sources say that Dallas has since been in discussions with multiple teams, but it now appears that the pass-first point guard is Memphis-bound.  The 24-year-old visited the Mavs in June to meet with team officials and audition for coach Rick Carlisle, but they apparently wanted Mekel more.  

Calathes is under contract to his European club, Lokomotiv Kazan, for next season but has an NBA out clause in the deal.

Odds & Ends: Barnes, Mavs, Rockets, Pistons

Only one contract agreement has been reached so far on the first night of the NBA's 2013 free agent period, but that doesn't mean we weren't treated to plenty of news and rumors. Here are a few more odds and ends from a busy Sunday night:

  • In addition to all the other players they reportedly contacted tonight, the Lakers reached out to Matt Barnes, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com (via Twitter).
  • Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com reports that the Mavericks have expressed interest in Jose Calderon and Mo Williams. Even though MacMahon's report came before news broke that Dallas had agreed to sign Gal Mekel, it makes sense that the team would continue to seek a veteran point guard to complement rookies Mekel and Shane Larkin.
  • MacMahon adds (via Twitter) that now that Mekel is under contract, the Mavs are likely to trade the rights to 2009 second-round pick Nick Calathes, something that GM Donnie Nelson has hinted at.
  • After an encouraging meeting with Dwight Howard in Los Angeles, the Rockets will target players to complement him rather than fall-back options, says Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. The team will meet with Corey Brewer and Mike Dunleavy next, according to Feigen (Twitter links).
  • Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press spoke to Pistons owner Tom Gores about the process of hiring head coach Maurice Cheeks, the team's long-term vs. short-term prospects, and free agency.
  • Several NBA teams have expressed interest in point guard Bobby Brown, who played for four clubs between 2008 and 2010, tweets Shelburne.
  • Since they weren't released on or before June 30th, the 2013/14 contracts for E'Twaun Moore (Magic), Chandler Parsons (Rockets), Jason Smith (Pelicans), and Rodney Stuckey (Pistons) have become fully guaranteed. Paul Pierce's contract also became fully guaranteed, so it can be used in the Nets/Celtics swap that will be finalized later this month.
  • ESPN.com's Marc Stein rounds up the latest on a few early free agency rumors. We've already heard about most of the stories Stein addresses, such as the Nets leading the race for Kyle Korver, the Pelicans pursuing Tyreke Evans, and the Timberwolves and Bucks targeting Kevin Martin. However, there are a few notable tidbits from Stein, including word that the Thunder's odds of retaining Martin are dwindling.

Odds & Ends: Marbury, Shaw, J.R. Smith, Calathes

Stephon Marbury hasn't played in the NBA since the 2008/09 season, and he's not interested in making a comeback, telling reporters Tuesday in China that he prefers to continue playing in the Chinese league. Jonas Terrado of Tempo has the details. With the draft now just hours away, there's plenty of news on guys who are and will be a part of the NBA, and here's the latest:

  • New Nuggets coach Brian Shaw has a three-year deal with an option for a fourth, and his annual salary will be around $2MM, reports Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post. It's not clear whether the option belongs to the Nuggets or to Shaw, though usually options in coaching contracts belong to the team.
  • The top priority for the Knicks this summer is retaining J.R. Smith, a source tells Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com, who passes along the note in an updated version of his story on the team's decision to extend a qualifying offer to Pablo Prigioni.
  • The Mavs own the rights to former second-round pick Nick Calathes, and there's mutual interest in bringing him to the NBA next season, reports Tim McMahon of ESPNDallas.com. Other NBA teams are interested, too, and the Mavs are willing to trade him if they can't fit him on their roster, McMahon writes. 
  • While noting that Luol Deng's camp is dismissing the idea that there's an extension in the works with the Bulls, as we heard yesterdayJoe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that the Bulls are calling around to see what they can get for Richard Hamilton
  • Pacers assistant Jim Boylen has an agreement in place with the Spurs to join Gregg Popovich's coaching staff in San Antonio, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Boylen is not to be confused with former Bucks coach Jim Boylan, whom the Cavs hired as an assistant coach earlier today.
  • Sixers insiders expect minority owner Dave Heller to take over Adam Aron's role as liaison between the team's basketball operations and principal owner Josh Harris, writes Bob Ford of the Philadelphia Inquirer

Mavericks Notes: Free Agency, West, Calathes

Much of this week's Mavericks-related discussions have stemmed from an appearance owner Mark Cuban made on ESPN Radio in Dallas last weekend. Cuban talked extensively about his team's two-year plan, the 13th pick in the draft, the expected pursuit of marquee free agents, and a handful of other topics. Cuban made another radio appearance this week, this time joining Ben & Skin on KRLD-FM 105.3, so let's check out the highlights from that interview, as well as the rest of the latest Mavs notes….

  • According to Cuban, the Mavericks will be "everywhere" when free agency opens on July 1st, though he cautions that it's not about which team talks to a player first, but rather which team presents the best pitch (link via Dallas Morning News).
  • Although Cuban is hopeful about landing one "big fish," he says the team probably isn't in a position this summer where it could add two big free agents (link via Dallas Morning News).
  • While David West has said he'd like to re-sign with the Pacers this offseason, Lang Greene of HoopsWorld writes that the Mavs are among the potential contenders with cap space who could make life difficult on Indiana by making a run at him. The Rockets and Hawks also fit the bill, says Greene.
  • When the Mavs make their pitch to Dwight Howard in July, they'll have to sell hope for the future, since a veteran roster that includes Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion, and Vince Carter isn't a long-term solution, says Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com.
  • Buddy Collings of the Orlando Sentinel wonders whether the Mavs will look into bringing 2009 second-round pick Nick Calathes stateside for next season.

Odds & Ends: Spoelstra, Lakers, Krstic, Marshall

The Heat are certainly in better position to advance to the NBA Finals than they were 24 hours ago, but they aren't out of the woods yet, with a Game 7 looming. Given the high expectations in Miami, ESPN.com's Chris Broussard (Twitter link) polled 27 NBA executives on 20 clubs on whether they'd fire Erik Spoelstra if the Heat lose the series to the Celtics — 17 said no, while 10 said yes. While we await tomorrow's winner-take-all matchup and prepare for a night without NBA action, let's check in on some other updates from around the Association….

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Odds & Ends: Calathes, Rockets, U.S. Select Team

The Thunder have an opportunity to make it four wins in a row tonight against the Spurs as the series heads back to Oklahoma City for Game 6.  A victory would send Kevin Durant and company to the NBA Finals and further validate general manager Sam Presti's experiment in which the team has generally been constructed through NBA lottery picks like Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Let's check in around the league to catch up on the latest news and stories making headlines on this Wednesday afternoon…

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