The Memphis Grizzlies have signed Toney Douglas as they attempt to get through multiple injuries. The team announced the signing on Monday, using the NBA’s Hardship exception.
Douglas has played for six teams in his seven-year career. Most recently, he was a member of the injury-ravaged New Orleans Pelicans last season. In his 61 games in NOLA, Douglas averaged 8.7 points and 2.6 assists per game.
Douglas also has experience with Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale who coached him as an assistant with the Miami Heat in 2014.
The Grizzlies are currently nursing multiple injuries. Most notably, Mike Conley is out with a back issue while Chandler Parsons nurses a knee injury. Zach Randolph is away from the team for a personal reason. Several role players are also injured and unable to play.
Douglas has never been a game-changer but he has proven himself as a more-than-capable backup and emergency player. He is a decent shooter and at the least he can manage the offense in the primary point guard role.
The Grizzlies needed any sort of perimeter playmaker next to Marc Gasol as they try to get healthy. Toney Douglas can provide that role for a while as they wait for those injuries to pass.
