Well unless you have been under a rock the last 24 hrs, you should have all have heard the Grizz trade news. It’s official, Miami Heat player Mario Chalmer is headed to the Mid-South.
The Memphis Grizzlies announced yesterday they had acquired guard Mario Chalmers and forward James Ennis from the Miami Heat for guard Beno Udrih and forward/center Jarnell Stokes.
Chalmers was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round (34th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft following his junior season at the University of Kansas where he led the Jayhawks to the 2008 NCAA Championship and was named the 2008 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Chalmers is one of 43 players (and one of six active NBA players) who have won both an NCAA Championship and an NBA title.
Chalmers (6-2, 190) joins the Grizzlies with career averages of 8.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.51 steals in 27.8 minutes while shooting 42.2 percent from the field, 36.6 percent from three-point range and 77.6 percent from the free throw line in 525 games (383 starts) over eight seasons (2008-09 to 2015-16) with the Heat. Among Miami’s all-time leaders, he ranks second in steals (791), third in assists (2,004), fourth in three-point field goals made (657), fourth in games played (525) and sixth in minutes played (14,571).
The 29-year-old averaged 5.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.33 steals in 20.0 minutes in six games with the Heat this season.
He has competed in 99 career playoff games (73 starts), averaging 8.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.19 steals in 29.1 minutes while shooting 42.9 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from three-point range and 74.2 percent from the foul line. His 87 postseason appearances since the start of the 2011 NBA Playoffs rank second among all NBA players behind LeBron James (107), with whom he won back-to-back NBA Championships in 2012 and 2013.
On the Heat’s all-time postseason leaderboard, he places second in three-point field goals made (117), third in steals (118), third in assists (321) and third in games played (99).
The Anchorage, Alaska native owns the Heat all-time record for steals in a regular season game with nine on Nov. 5, 2008 vs. Philadelphia in what was his fourth career game. In addition, he became just the fifth player and first rookie in club history to start all 82 games en route to earning 2008-09 Second Team All-Rookie honors.
Chalmers took to Instagram to thank Heat Fans and welcome Grizz fans.
The Heat organization had this to say:
“This is a tough day for myself and the organization in trading Mario Chalmers and James Ennis,” Heat president Pat Riley said in a team statement. “Mario was a part of two championships with us, and Ennis is a solid young player, but it is part of the business, and it was a move necessary to make because of our crowded backcourt. We feel that it is in the best interest of Mario, and we want him to be successful and be a part of a good team. We wish them nothing but the best.”
With Mario and Matt Barnes now on the Grizz rooster, I may just have to become a season ticket holder.
Welcome to the city Mario, can’t wait to see you in Beale Street Blue.
Photo Credit: IG
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