Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace announced that the Grizzlies acquired the draft rights to Michigan State forward Deyonta Davis (Dee-on-TAY Davis) and Mega Leks (Serbia) forward Rade Zagorac (RAH-day ZAH-go-rahtz) from the Boston Celtics in exchange for a future first round draft pick originally acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 19, 2016.
Selected with the No. 31 pick in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft, Davis (6-11, 237) averaged 7.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.83 blocks in 18.6 minutes in 35 games (16 starts) last season as a freshman at Michigan State University, shooting 59.8 percent from the field (119-of-199 FG). He set the Spartans freshman record with 64 blocked shots, the second-most in a single season in program history, and recorded 11 games with three-or-more blocks, establishing a school freshman single-game record with six swats on Jan. 28 at Northwestern.
The winner of the 2015 Hal Schram Michigan Mr. Basketball Award, Davis was selected to play in the Jordan Brand Classic All-America Game and the McDonald’s All-American Game following his senior season at Muskegon High School. The 19-year-old Muskegon native averaged 18.3 points, 15.2 rebounds and 6.7 blocks as a senior, leading his team to a 23-2 record and a spot in the Class A state quarterfinals. He averaged 15.0 points, 13.6 rebounds and 7.1 blocks as a junior, guiding Muskegon to a perfect 28-0 record and a Michigan Class A State Championship. He finished his prep career ranked No. 2 on the state of Michigan’s career blocked shots list.
Selected with the No. 35 pick in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft, Zagorac (6-9, 205) averaged 14.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-high 2.38 steals in 27.4 minutes in 13 games (12 starts) last season for Mega Leks in the Serbian KLS, where he teamed with Philadelphia 76ers 2016 first round draft pick Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Los Angeles Lakers 2016 second round draft pick Ivica Zubac. He averaged 12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.69 steals in 29.4 minutes in 13 games (six starts) in leading Mega Leks to the Adriatic League finals and and capturing Liga ABA Round 27 MVP honors.
The 20-year-old has represented Serbia in junior national team play, winning the gold medal in the 2015 FIBA U20 European Championships and competing in the 2013 FIBA U18 European Championships.
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