According to Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com, the Memphis Grizzlies are signing forward Bruno Caboclo to a multi-year deal going through next season:
The @memgrizz are signing forward Bruno Caboclo to a multiyear deal that includes the rest of this season and next season, I'm told. Deal comes after Bruno concluded his second 10-day contract in Tuesday's loss to the Spurs. Bruno averaged 6.3ppg, 3.1rpg & 1.2bpg in 9 MEM games. pic.twitter.com/vCIb2ygcJF
— Michael Wallace (@MyMikeCheck) February 13, 2019
Wallace adds that Memphis has grown intrigued with Caboclo's size, length, and upside as a two-way player down the road:
Grizzlies coaching staff and front office have been intrigued by Caboclo's size, length, defensive instincts and offensive potential. They consider him an asset and want to continue his development the rest of this season. Caboclo had a game-high 3 blocks off bench vs Spurs.
— Michael Wallace (@MyMikeCheck) February 13, 2019
Caboclo's second 10-day contract with the Grizzlies has expired, and it seems like they were impressed with what they saw from the 6-foot-9, 200-pound. Brazilian. In 10 games with Memphis, Caboclo averaged 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in nearly 21 minutes per game.
The decision to keep Caboclo for the rest of the season and next season makes a lot of sense for Memphis to see what the kid can develop into. They are clearly looking into the future after trading away longtime franchise big man Marc Gasol at the trade deadline. Hence, this comes as a low-risk move for the Grizzlies, as Caboclo is still just 23 years old. Moreover, he has shown great upside, especially on the defensive end.
Prior to signing with the Grizzlies, Caboclo had spent the majority of his time with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. In 28 appearances with the Houston Rockets' G League affiliate, he averaged 16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 3.1 blocks. His stellar showing earned him a spot on the Mid-Season All-NBA G League Western Conference Team.
The Toronto Raptors selected Caboclo with the 20th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. On draft night, former college basketball coach Fran Fraschilla infamously dubbed Caboclo a player who was “two years away from being two years away.”
Those words turned out to be pretty accurate, as Caboclo played sparingly in his first four seasons in the league (he played just 35 games overall). Now, in his fifth season as a pro, the former Basketball Without Borders MVP gets his chance to prove further that he belongs in the NBA.
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