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Grizzlies guarantee 2014-15 contract of Kosta Koufos

Justin Ford / USA Today Sports

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The Memphis Grizzlies had a choice to make when it came to their frontcourt depth: Ed Davis or Kosta Koufos.

The team decided on Koufos, guaranteeing the final year of his contract on Monday night while also non-tendering Davis, making the would-be restricted free agent an unrestricted one.

Koufos will earn $3 million for the 2014-15 season, only $500,000 of which would be guaranteed if the team waived him by Monday. He now figures into the plans as the backup at center to Marc Gasol, a role he filled capably last season, averaging 6.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in 16.9 minutes.

The 25-year-old Koufos will enter his seventh NBA season out of Ohio State, having averaged 5.4 points and 4.5 rebounds over 343 career games. It's tough to find reliable 7-footers at a $3 million price tag, so this seems a prudent move by Memphis.

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