Report: Bucks make deal for Grizzlies guard Allen
The Milwaukee Bucks are adding a shooting guard with an interesting history to their remade backcourt.
According to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bucks are trading Sam Merrill and two future second-round draft picks to the Memphis Grizzlies for Grayson Allen.
University of Wisconsin sports fans know the 6-foot-4 Allen well. He was a McDonald’s All-American from Jacksonville, Florida, who joined Duke for the 2014-15 season. He played a small role off the bench during the regular season, but rose to prominence in the national championship game against UW. Allen scored 16 points on 5-for-8 shooting in the Blue Devils’ 68-63 win. His eight straight points ignited Duke’s second-half comeback.
Allen’s next three seasons at Duke were overshadowed by controversy. As a sophomore against Louisville, Allen received a flagrant foul for tripping a Cardinals player. Not long after that, he tripped an opponent from Florida State, drawing a reprimand from the Atlantic Coast Conference and becoming a lighting rod for criticism.
After national attention, Allen was ready to turn the page for his junior season. However, in a game against Elon he tripped another player. That drew a onegame suspension from Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Allen has avoided any intentional tripping incidents since, though he still frustrates opponents with his physical play.
After four seasons with the Blue Devils, Allen was the 21st pick in the 2018 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. He was traded to the Grizzlies in July 2019.
Allen is coming off his best pro season, averaging 10.6 points in 50 games, including 38 starts. He shot 39.1% on 5.5 three-point attempts per game. One of Allen’s best performances came against the Bucks on April 17, when he scored 26 points and shot 7 for 10 on three-pointers in Memphis’ victory at Fiserv Forum.
Allen and George Hill, set to rejoin Milwaukee after parting last offseason, look to bolster the Bucks’ backcourt. Donte DiVincenzo, last year’s starting shooting guard, is rehabbing from surgery on his left ankle, and Bryn Forbes, a sharpshooter off the bench, signed with the San Antonio Spurs.
Merrill was the 60th pick in last year’s draft after four seasons at Utah State. The 6-4 sharpshooter appeared in 30 games during the regular season, making 21 of 47 three-pointers (44.7%).
The 25-year-old Merrill, who took a two-year Mormon mission in college, is the same age as Allen. Merrill’s contract is set to become guaranteed this weekend. Allen is heading into the last season of his rookie deal and will earn just over $4 million.
Assistant coach joins Celtics
According to a report from Wojnarowski, Bucks assistant Ben Sullivan has been hired to work alongside new Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka.
Sullivan spent three seasons with the Bucks as an assistant to Mike Budenholzer and is well-regarded as a shooting guru. Before coming to Milwaukee, Sullivan spent four seasons on Budenholzer’s staff with the Atlanta Hawks.
Sullivan and Udoka worked together as video coordinators with the San Antonio Spurs. Both are natives of Portland, Oregon.