The first day to be able to give out 10-day contracts in the NBA was on Tuesday, but so far, nobody has done it. It looks like the Memphis Grizzlies will be the first, though, as they plan to sign Elliot Williams to the aforementioned deal, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports.
The Grizzlies currently have 15 players on their roster, so in order to make room for Williams, they are going to have to cut someone. It seems like the best options for them are James Ennis, Ryan Hollins and JaMychal Green, considering they all have non-guaranteed contracts that become guaranteed on Jan. 10.
Williams started his college career out at Duke (after being the 15th best recruit in the 2008 class) before transferring to Memphis for one year and then entering the NBA Draft in 2010. Williams was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 22nd overall pick in the 2010 draft but has had trouble sticking in the NBA since then. Williams was in training camp with the Charlotte Hornets this past offseason, but he was cut a few days before the season began.
Williams has been playing for the Santa Cruz Warriors of the D-League this year, and he is having a stellar season. Through 16 games so far this season, Williams is averaging 28.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the arc. Add those numbers to the fact that Williams is a native of Memphis, Tenn., and you can see why they plan to sign him.
There is some speculation that the addition of Williams could mean that the Grizzlies are either close to making a trade or worried about Mike Conley's Achilles injury. Conley missed Wednesday's game with Achilles soreness, but the Grizzlies don't seem to think the injury is very serious. This signing could just be a matter of adding depth for now should he have to miss more time than they anticipate.
Williams has appeared in 104 games across his three years in the NBA, and in those games, he is averaging 5.1 points in 13.7 minutes while shooting 43 percent from the field. The now 26-year-old likely won't have much of a role with the Grizzlies, but his play in the D-League this season has definitely warranted him getting another chance at the NBA level.
UPDATE: Ryan Hollins has been waived to make room for Elliot Williams. Hollins in appeared in four games and played just 28 minutes with the Grizzlies.
