Grizzlies Sign Top Pick Bibby
Mike Bibby, the savvy point guard who led Arizona to a national title in his freshman year, Friday signed a three-year, $7.55 million contract with the Vancouver Grizzlies.
Bibby, the second overall selection in the 1999 draft, was the second point guard taken in as many years by the Grizzlies, who chose Antonio Daniels with the fourth pick in 1997. Daniels was traded by Vancouver hours after the team selected Bibby.
The Grizzlies also signed free agent forward-center Cherokee Parks to a three-year deal at undisclosed terms. In addition, Vancouver signed guard Felipe Lopez, who was acquired on draft day, to a three-year $1.9 million deal with a club option for a fourth year and second-round choice J.R. Henderson to a one-year deal at undisclosed terms.
The 6-foot-2 Bibby, who also received a club option for a fourth season, averaged 17.2 points and 5.7 assists last season, leading the Wildcats to a regional final appearance in the NCAA Tournament. He was considered for the first overall selection by the Los Angeles Clippers, who eventually opted for center Michael Olowokandi.
Bibby has NBA roots from his father Henry, a nine-year NBA veteran who won an NBA title with the 1973 New York Knicks.
The 6-11 Parks, who is coming off his best season as a professional, averaged 7.1 points and 5.5 rebounds in 79 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves last season.
The 12th overall selection in the 1995 draft, Parks began his career with the Dallas Mavericks. The 26-year-old Parks has averaged just under five points per game in his career.
The 6-6 Lopez was drafted 24th by the San Antonio Spurs and traded with forward Carl Herrera to the Grizzlies for Daniels.
Lopez finally delivered St. John's to the NCAA Tournament after entering college in 1994 as one of the most-hyped freshman ever. He averaged 17.6 points and 2.7 assists his senior season but made progress in his shooting, converting a career-best 43.1 percent from the field and 33.7 percent from three-point range.
Henderson, a 6-9 forward from UCLA, averaged 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game for the Bruins last season.
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