With only 3 weeks of the NBA schedule crossed-out, one thing no one can doubt is the Memphis Grizzlies have already made some major much needed adjustments. What followed the now well documented shift at the GM position over the summer, was a flurry of trades and signings that made all of NBA twitter harder than steel. Seemingly overnight, the once half-contending, half-selling Grizz had one clear focus from the GM to the 15th man: rebuilding.
On the surface the first moves were no-brainers, shedding Andre Igouodala and Solomon Hill’s salaries for some high ceiling prospects in T.Bryant and Jalen Brunson. The intentions proved successful as fans across Reddit and Twitter rejoiced. The promise team owner Robert Parra showed in young-Ali was showing to sprout promise. However, while many thought most other jobs would be safe, even high paid players hitting their prime were quickly moved: Plumlee and K.Anderson swapped with Atlanta for a bundle of future picks. Yogi Ferrell, Tyus Jones, veteran Jae Crowder and even young standout De’anthony Melton were ALL moved within the matter of 47 days. These quick sporadic moves were not as favorably received, as the Memphis faithful looked toward what may be another season of unexciting, win-less, tanking basketball. Once again, it seemed the team had no real direction, and fan confidence tanked as well.
Insert the growth of a hype-train, birthed through a quote given by GM Sabih Ali in a ESPN First Take interview the weekend before the opening game for the team:
“I don’t expect most people to understand the moves I’m making at the helm of this team, at the end of the day that’s my job, that is what Mr. Parra entrusted me to do when he gave me this position, when he gives me my paychecks every week. He trusts that I make any and all decisions for the betterment of the team, and that is all i ask for from the fans as well, simply trust; trust that what we are doing here in Memphis is a part of a bigger plan. We are here to compete and surprise people and if you want to surprise people too, stand with us. Listen, we have a team full of secret weapons now, we have a secret weapon waiting to join us that’s ready to shock a lot of people, this whole roster truly is, and I think that will become clear rather soon.
Soon enough, a tweet later that following midnight via @AdrianWoj indeed confirmed what Ali had stated in that interview, that in a summer filled with surprising moves by the Memphis front office the most bizarre came a mere 2-days before tip-off, as the team doled out $67 million to the tune of a former undrafted freshman SF: Alfonso Daye was officially apart of the Memphis Grizzlies.
The move sent shockwaves across NBA media. Never before had an undrafted free agent pulled a deal worth near $70 million with no experience in an NBA game prior, let alone one at the young age of 21. But Daye was no ordinary free agent.
Daye entered Mounte Verde HS as a stand out athlete, with a 6’3 frame and freakishly quick first step he drew the eyes of many college scouts. As a first-year junior starting PG, he broke the Californian team’s season record for points, steals, and FG%, using his size to great advantage and bullying people in the paint. While shooting for someone who began so late was a concern, Daye finished 78% of his points in the paint, along with 32.3ppg and 3.2stls to boot. The hype therefore grew quickly, and by the end of his second year, one comparable to his first but at a lanky 6’5, Daye ended the year ranked as the #18th prospect on the ESPN Top 100 list.
The story then goes as always told, recruitment began shortly after the end of his senior year, and although no big Zion-esc TV announcement was made, a short three weeks after graduation Alfonso committed to Michigan St for the 2018 season to play along side prospects like Josh Langford and Cassius Winston. The idea of an Uber athletic front three for MSU brought many eyes and hype to the squad, even being listed as -130 favorites for the Big 10 1st seed before even seeing college minutes. Those odds however revealed to be tough ones to cash, as unfortunately, the trio never saw the court
During a pickup game occurring at a local MSU charity event held before his freshman year, Daye unfortunately suffered both a torn MCL and ruptured Achilles on a defensive play. Suddenly the hype train had stopped as it was looking like a minimum 10-month long absence and recovery for the prospect. However, if stopping the train wasn’t enough it was entirely derailed when it was later revealed the nature of both injuries required mutually exclusive rehabs, meaning the MCL could not heal at the same time frame or before the Achilles, one was needed to begin the other. The process would ultimately surpass his full season eligibility, and reports brought the estimate closer to a full 16+ month absence.
A tough pill to swallow, it forced the hands of two different parties to make two equally difficult decisions. For Michigan St, it was whether to opt in the altered health clause outlined in Daye’s rookie contract, allowing the college to disqualify the freshman for an open roster spot for another annual class prospect, and further removing the cost liability of the college’s care to injury. Or, to remain committed to the young Chicago-native and bank on the playing value for the following year(s) to come. They chose the former, and with a shift of a pen Alfonso Daye was no longer a NCAA athlete. Hence, the second difficult decision came to Daye himself, as a still highly regarded talent but no longer with the ability to prove it, the path to NBA slimmed down exponentially. The choice was therefore a difficult but obvious one: forego the shot at a NBA Draft pick for the following two years, rehab and recover on his own dime, then attempt to reestablish his value by recommitting to a NCAA school or even fore-go the NBA altogether and choose to play overseas. What Daye ended up choosing however was the not-so-obvious choice, and instead as an injured unproven 19-year old with no professional minutes to account for he applied for the 2018–19 draft regardless.
The reasoning was not clear to many, but in retrospect ended up being a $70 million pay-off to a less costly gamble. Alfonso logically went undrafted that year, but what he did earn by applying was a now ongoing eligibility to sign in the NBA as a free-agent. The point stood his talent was not proven so even though he could, why should any team? The need for minutes and proper scouting and exposure was undoubted, and so was the need to first recover from the suffered injuries. What Daye now chalks up to the innovation and inspiration of a high school coach who motivated him overseas, and a “legendary level of work ethic”, he managed to rehab both injuries ahead of schedule by a full four months, spending his entire rehab in Germany and Poland throughout. Through use of stem cell regenerative injection, he managed to be in full contact basketball ready form by the cusp of the 2019–2020 free agent period. With a full set up with connections and experience in Germany, Alfonso concluded an uneventful off-season with a 1 year, $840K deal with Budensliga League Basketball club, FC Bayern Munich.
If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door. That’s exactly what the now 6'7 Alfonso Daye did in his time with Bayern, playing with a chip on his shoulder in a diminished spotlight opportunity, he shone through. Starting at SG for the veteran Bayern team, he made the BBL All-Star Team receiving the most votes in the league for either conference. What shone through early in the season was a much more physical guard with an ability to not only create a shot but finish at the rim as always. With the help of former NBA players Derrick Williams & Greg Monroe, Alfonso was also able to space the offense and increase a play-making level that wasn’t previously seen. What stood out the most however, and most importantly, was that the athleticism Daye showed in his full 65 game season with the team. Regardless of how well he could play that season, the injury and unorthodox surgery to both his knee and ankle would always bring question marks. But here’s the catch, boy did he play well; he averaged 29.3ppg with an impressive 11.3reb and 5.4 ast, with a receding but still notable 1.2stl. What accumulated was FC Bayern lifting the BBL German Cup, a BBL MVP Award, and once again bringing back the spotlight onto a once coveted combo guard.
Flashback to the secret weapon revelation, while its easy to focus in and be biased in result of shock to the deal Alfonso Daye managed to secure in his 21st year old season, we need to think of the similarities between the one in Memphis with the others equal to the history of this level signing. Look at Luka Doncic, a kid who dominated in European leagues and was overlooked initially coming into the draft who has blossomed into a budding superstar, almost already superstar. Think of Giannis Antetokounmpo who played majority of his amateur career in Greece and now dominates in the NBA. Look at Kristaps Porzingis, even though the Knicks traded away the Lativian PF, he is still a very dynamic forward who is changing the position every game. So here comes Alfonso Daye, he has the physicality, the scout history of high school and university, a full season of professional experience under his belt, and most importantly, NBA free agency eligibility. On the opposite side to him was a NBA GM who had reportedly been scouting him since he first left Michigan State, and one who just a couple months ago took head of the Memphis Grizzlies:
At least for the early part of this 2020 NBA season, with the help of rising future star Ja Morant, Daye has himself begun raising the hype that may have once come along if he was drafted in his class year. Controversy has the nature to birth something special, depending on the ones who can handle the pressure are rewarded with a brighter spotlight. With a breakout 20/7/3 on an incredible 56% FG, the SG is certainly coming through on proving doubters wrong and proving the GM right. Whether he can maintain this level of play and help the 12–4 Grizz on a winning path throughout the season remaines to be seen, but Alfonso Daye has the rare chance to prove what may go down as one the most brilliant team maneuvers in recent NBA history, both player and team.
