Grizzlies Targeted Nuggets’ Danilo Gallinari Last Season

The Memphis Grizzlies looked at Danilo Gallinari of the Denver Nuggets before acquiring Jeff Green from the Boston Celtics in last season.

According to Zach Lowe of Grantland.com, Memphis “sniffed around” the Nuggets versatile forward around the trade deadline last year with plans to play him on a similar role that Green assumed, off the bench backing up both forward spots.

Also according to the same report, the Nuggets also explored probable trades, aside from Gallinari, for Wilson Chandler and Ty Lawson with hopes of netting a future first round pick.

Both Gallinari and Chandler are still under contract with Denver for the upcoming NBA season while Lawson was traded to the Houston Rockets earlier in the offseason. In late July earlier this year, Gallinari signed a three-year, $45.15 million contract extension with the Nuggets.

Gallinari’s value has been low in recent years, as the Italian forward has struggled with injuries the last two seasons. However, he’s coming off a great tournament in the recent 2015 FIBA Eurobasket. In eight games in the Olympic-qualifiers, Gallinari led Italy in scoring and rebounding, averaging 17.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

Italy bowed out in the tournament after losing to eventual silver medalists Lithuania in the quarterfinals. Gallinari had 17 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals to cap his excellent showing in the Euro basketball championships.

Gallinari, who was acquired by the Nuggets in a trade with the New York Knicks in 2010, has career averages of 14.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in six years in the NBA.