News & Notes On The Memphis Grizzlies Latest Moves

- Memphis is reportedly interested in signing veteran free agent Mo Williams. While there are plenty of teams still in the race for the point guard who averaged 12.8 points per game for the Utah Jazz last season, Marc Stein of ESPN reports that Williams has now started to strongly consider joining the Grizzlies.

Any contract would likely only be for one or two seasons, as the team doesn't have the cap space to offer Williams the kind of long-term deal he is searching to land this offseason. If he were to sign a one year deal with Memphis, he would have the opportunity to once again play for a contender and then have the option next summer to return or try to sign with a team long-term for more money.

Williams has played in the spotlight before, as he was one of LeBron James best teammates during his days in Cleveland and helped lead the Cavaliers deep in the playoffs on a couple of occasions. After spending last season with the struggling Jazz, Williams is strongly leaning towards joining a contender for the season at this point after a lack of interest around the league in giving him the deal he wants.

- Mike Miller has decided to return to the Memphis Grizzlies. Miller chose returning to Memphis after being courted by a number of teams including the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, and others. He has said he decided to return to the Grizzlies because he believes they are the closest team to being ready to make the NBA Finals in the West.

Miller played in Memphis from 2002-08 and still has a home in the area. While he was a big contributor to the Heat over the past few seasons, Miami was unwilling to pay the massive tax hit that would've came if they had decided to keep him. If can stay healthy, which has always been a problem for Miller, he could be the missing piece the Grizzlies lacked during this most recent postseason run.

Expect the coaching staff to play Miller on limited occasions during the regular season in an effort to keep him near 100% for when the playoffs begin. New head coach Dave Joerger would be wise to let his younger players get the minutes during a bulk of the regular season, then start working Miller comfortably into the line-up towards March or April for the postseason.

- The Grizzlies and second round pick Jamaal Franklin have officially agreed to a three year contract, with the third year being a team option. Franklin, who Memphis selected with the 41st overall selection, was considered a late first round pick by many scouts and has been viewed as one of the steals of the second round by many draft analysts.

Franklin spent three years at San Diego State and averaged 16.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in his final season with the Aztecs. He is also talented on the defensive side of the ball, making him a solid all-around addition to the team. However, he needs to work on his shooting, especially from distance, as Franklin only averaged 27% from three last season.

If he can develop his shot, Franklin could turn into a very solid contributor off the bench for the Grizzlies. While he may struggle to get minutes early in his career, I wouldn't be surprised if Franklin eventually becomes one of the team's most important players on the bench. He could also develop into one the team's best defenders, as many people have started to compare Franklin to teammate Tony Allen on that end of the floor.