Grizzlies Acquire Draft Rights to Lawrence Roberts from Seattle for Two Future Second Round Picks and Cash Considerations
Memphis, Tennessee, June 28, 2005 — The Grizzlies acquired the draft rights to Lawrence Roberts, who was selected 55th overall by the Seattle SuperSonics, in exchange for two future second round draft picks and cash considerations.
“He’s a tremendously aggressive rebounder and we think he’ll address our team’s rebounding needs,” said Memphis Grizzlies President of Basketball Operations Jerry West. “Hopefully he’ll be able to help us in that area, and we’re excited to have him.”
Roberts played his freshman and sophomore seasons at Baylor University, before transferring to Mississippi State for his junior and senior seasons.
In four collegiate seasons, he started 117 of 118 career games, and averaged 16.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. As a junior he was named Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year after averaging 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds, the first Mississippi State player since Bailey Howell in 1958-59 to be named a First Team All-America by the Associated Press. He was just the third player in Mississippi State history to score over 1,000 points in two years.
Last season as a senior, Roberts averaged 16.9 points per game (fourth in the SEC) and 11.0 rebounds per game (first in the SEC). He posted the school’s first-ever triple-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists vs. Nicholls State. Roberts had a double-double with 23 points and 14 rebounds vs. Stanford in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
As a junior, Roberts averaged 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game (second in the SEC and 11th nationally). He scored 20 or more points 19 times, and had a career-high 21 rebounds at Alabama.
As a sophomore, Roberts averaged 15.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game at Baylor (second in the Big 12, 13th nationally), along with 14 double-doubles.
As a freshman, he averaged 16.6 points and 8.2 rebounds at Baylor, and set a Big 12 freshman record with 498 points, with 20 or more points in 11 games.