Rumor: Grizzlies, JaMychal Green progressing toward two-year contract

The Grizzlies reportedly offered JaMychal Green significantly more than his $2,820,497 qualifying offer, but he remains unsigned.

Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal on Sports 56:

What I’m hearing is that it will be done, but it will be a short-term deal. I think, initially, they were trying to get a long-term deal done – four years.

I think it will end up being two years. They’ve just got to get to the money.

A two-year deal could work well for both sides.

As long as they’re keeping Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, the Grizzlies need a credible starting power forward now, and Green is one. Memphis can offer Green a starting salary north of $14 million while staying below the luxury-tax line. Pinched by a tight market for restricted free agents and bigs – Green is both – he almost certainly can’t command anywhere near that much. So, the tax shouldn’t be an issue for the Grizzlies.

Green has earned just the NBA minimum in two full seasons plus a little extra on a few 10-day contracts. He hasn’t banked enough to risk taking the qualifying offer. Getting two guaranteed seasons at a moderate salary, even if it’s not quite commensurate with his production, could change his life. He’d also get a chance to try for a far-more-lucrative contract as an unrestricted free agent at age 29.

This sounds as if it’s heading toward a resolution neither side loves, which indicates it’s at least fair.