Seeking a roster spot in Phoenix and Memphis, Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot and Killian Tillie were sadly cut short just before the resumption of the season. What future now for the two Frenchmen?
We were talking about it right at the time of the Grizzlies preview, vagueness reigned around the future of Killian Tillie. Extended last January until June 2023, the tricolor interior had progressively disappeared from the Taylor Jenkins rotation, particularly due to persistent back pain. To make matters worse, Memphis has selected Jake LaRavia and David Roddy in the latest Draft, two elements that should play more or less in the same position as Killian. With 16 players under contract and only 15 places in the team, we were afraid that the scissors would fall and unfortunately it was Tillie who had to pack. The franchise confirmed this in an official statement.
The @memgrizz announced today that the team has given up on Killian Tillie and Dakota Mathias to finalize the opening night roster for the 2022-23 regular season. pic.twitter.com/SZWEDMpH0e
– Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) October 15, 2022
If Killian Tillie isn’t at the party, we can say the same for Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot. Despite 52 games including 18 starts during the previous year with the Hawks, the TLC had not been extended from the franchise to the piou-piou. After a summer spent with the Blues at EuroBasket, he had found a place at the Suns retreat. In order to raise with a candidate for the title, we have strongly validated the plan. Although he has been in all preseason, the swingman hasn’t finally convinced James Jones to keep him. Information confirmed this Saturday by Gerald Bourguet from Fenice Sport.
The Suns announce they have officially renounced Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Saben Lee and Adonis Arms pic.twitter.com/b33rqDumqR
– Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) October 15, 2022
What is the rest of the plan now for the two tricolors? Asked last September about Elie Okobo and Guerschon Yabusele’s choices to leave the NBA to favor an important role in Europe, Luwawu-Cabarrot made it clear that he would not see himself crossing the Atlantic again for the moment, clearly prioritizing a future with Uncle Sam. He didn’t really shine this summer in the Euro, but his 3&D profile might appeal to some GMs. As for Tillie, it’s probably a little more complicated because he has less experience in the NBA and has had to deal with a lot of physical problems in the last few months. You could imagine him remaking the icing on the G League cake to reassure everyone about his form and raise the rating with the great performing GMs downstairs. Unless, of course, he is tempted by an experience in Europe.
Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot and Killian Tillie cut, double bad news for cocorico lovers. Will the two French be able to convince a franchise to bet on them?
Source text: Phoenix Sports / Memphis Grizzlies
