MEMPHIS, June 28, 2013 – The Memphis Grizzlies acquired center Kosta Koufos (COAST-ah KOO-fuss) from the Denver Nuggets for forward Darrell Arthur and the draft rights to Joffrey Lauvergne (JOFF-ree LA-vern-yea), the No. 55 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the team announced today.
Koufos (7-0, 265) posted 8.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.27 blocks in 22.4 minutes in 81 games (all starts) – all career highs – while shooting .581 from the field last season with Denver.
The 24-year-old ranked fifth in the NBA in offensive rebound percentage (13.3) and 13th in block percentage (4.4) last season. Koufos recorded 18 points, a career-high 16 rebounds and three blocks in 31 minutes on March 15 against the Grizzlies.
The five-year veteran holds career averages of 5.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.78 blocks on .548 shooting in 14.4 minutes in 263 games (114 starts) with the Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets. A native of Canton, Ohio, Koufos was drafted by Utah in the first round (23rd overall) after his freshman season at Ohio State.
Arthur (6-9, 235) averaged 6.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists on .451 shooting in 16.4 minutes in 59 games (three starts) for Memphis last season. The 25-year-old recorded 3.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.7 minutes in 15 games during the 2013 Playoffs.
The four-year veteran owns career averages of 6.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists on .464 shooting in 18.2 minutes in 247 games (77 starts) with the Grizzlies. The Dallas native was drafted by the New Orleans Hornets in the first round (27th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft after helping guide the University of Kansas to the 2008 NCAA Championship.