Memphis Grizzlies: It’s time to sign Bruno Caboclo

Bruno Caboclo recently joined the Memphis Grizzlies on a 10-day contract and he’s been intriguing enough for the team to sign him for the rest of the year.

Although Bruno Caboclo has played less than 50 games in his NBA career, he is still a recognizable name among NBA fans — not for anything he did on the court, but for what ESPN‘s Fran Fraschilla said about him in the 2014 NBA Draft.

After being selected 20th by the Toronto Raptors in the first round, the world let out a collective “Excuse me, who?” before Fraschilla came on and said these immortal words:

"“He’s two years away from being two years away.”"

Unfortunately for the Raptors and Caboclo, he played just 25 games over his four-year stint with the team before being traded to the Sacramento Kings early in the 2017-18 season. Caboclo played just 100 minutes with the Kings, bouncing back and forth between Sacramento and the G League.

Complicating matters more, Caboclo was removed from the Brazilian national team that summer after refusing to check in to a game against Mexico multiple times.

Caboclo got another shot with the Houston Rockets before this season started, but didn’t make the regular season roster, spending time with their G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Caboclo has gotten another chance — and perhaps his last — after signing a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. In what is quickly turning into a lost season for the team, signing Caboclo to a 10-day deal is a “why not?” transaction. It’s one that carries no risk but possibly a little reward. Maybe he really can be the Brazilian Kevin Durant.

Caboclo has had some shining moments for the Grizzlies during his stint — so much so that the team elected to sign him to a second 10-day contract.

After playing just eight minutes in the opener against his former team, the Kings, Caboclo has averaged 24.7 minutes a game, showing the ability to hit 3s and play strong defense. Caboclo’s best game came in a win against the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 26, putting up 11 points, four rebounds, a pair of blocks and one steal in 29 minutes of action.

Caboclo knocked down three 3-pointers in the game, including a deep, contested 3-pointer that put the Grizzlies up by 10. About a minute later, Caboclo blocked a Bojan Bogdanovic step=back 3-pointer, showing off his 7’7 wingspan.

A few days later, Caboclo had another strong performance in a heartbreaking loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Caboclo played 32 minutes, putting up seven points, three rebounds, three assists and an amazing four blocks. Two of those blocks came against Andrew Wiggins, stuffing Wiggins on two layup attempts. A third came against a Dario Saric jumper where Caboclo wasn’t even defending Saric, sagging off Gorgui Dieng to come up with the block and start the break.

Since that Minnesota game, Caboclo has significantly cooled off, shooting just 1-for-11 over the last two games and missing all seven of his 3-point attempts. Caboclo has still been a strong force defensively, working off the weak side and being able to disrupt shots with his length and quick leaping ability.

Caboclo hasn’t set the world on fire by any means, but he’s still an intriguing asset to have on the team. With the Grizzlies’ season continuing to trend downwards, they should sign him for the rest of the season. Why? Well, why not? He’s shown he’s versatile enough to do a little bit of everything and the Grizzlies are in a position where they should be taking fliers on young players.

It’s doubtful that Caboclo will ever turn into something deserving of a first round pick, but he could be a B-list 3-and-D player, able to play 20-30 minutes a game and provide strong and easily switchable defense.

It’s unclear if he will ever figure out the offensive side of basketball, as through six games he’s shooting 24.2 percent from the field, but players like Caboclo are hard to come by. Despite all the shortcomings over his career, Caboclo has a certain swagger about him. He pulled out the Jamal Murray arrow celebration after a 3, and plays with an energy the team seems to lack from time to time.

So give Bruno a chance. If things don’t go right for the rest of the year, the Grizzlies could easily cut him. If he plays well, he’ll be available for around the minimum.

In an age where the Memphis Grizzlies’ future looks more and more uncertain, it’s time to take some risks, no matter how small.