2017 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Mario Chalmers: 1 year, $2.1 million (Memphis Grizzlies)
Free agent guard Mario Chalmers is finalizing a one-year, partially guaranteed deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 19, 2017
Needing a slight boost in depth at the point guard position behind Mike Conley, the Memphis Grizzlies will turn to a somewhat familiar face in Mario Chalmers, who originally joined the Grit-N-Grind via a trade with the Miami Heat during the 2015-16 season.
In his 55-game stint down on Beale Street, Rio averaged 10.8 points and 3.8 assists in 22.8 minutes per game and impressive overall. Unfortunately, he only posted .417/.326/.827 shooting splits and was waived by the team following a ruptured Achilles tendon in early March.
Chalmers was unable to return to an NBA roster in 2016-17, but will give the Grizzlies a superior option behind Conley over the still-developing Wade Baldwin. Since it’s only a partially guaranteed deal, most likely for the veteran minimum, this is a decent depth signing — even if it hardly moves the needle for a team that feels like it’s slipping out of the Western Conference playoff picture.
Bourguet Grade: C+