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Grizzlies Weighing Multiple Trade Scenarios

February 21st, 2013 at 12:01pm CST by Luke Adams

The Grizzlies are "actively working" two separate trade possibilities, according to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal (via Twitter). Both scenarios would involve Memphis landing a big man, though neither player is a household name, adds Tillery.

With just 12 players on their roster, the Grizzlies will be required to add a 13th man soon to adhere to NBA rules. The team is expected to do so by using one of their seven trade exceptions to acquire a player today. Tillery tweets that the Grizzlies' current talks would "only involve" one of those exceptions, though Memphis would technically have to add another outgoing piece, even if it's something like a heavily-protected future second-rounder.

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Kyler’s Latest: Suns, Redick, Lakers, Novak, Blair

February 21st, 2013 at 8:17am CST by Luke Adams

With less than six hours until today's trade deadline, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld explores a few of the latest rumors in his NBA AM piece. Here are the highlights:

  • Besides Jermaine O'Neal, Sebastian Telfair is another candidate to be a roster casualty once the Suns finalize their acquisition of Marcus Morris, says Kyler. If Phoenix trades either player for virtually nothing, the Grizzlies, who have seven trade exceptions and a need to add a 13th man to their roster, could get involved.
  • As they explore J.J. Redick deals, the Magic continue to seek a high-level first-round pick or a package that includes a young player and second-round picks. Several teams have questioned whether it's worth meeting that asking price for what could be a 30-game rental of Redick, according to Kyler.
  • If the Lakers make a trade, it's expected to be one that reduces their luxury-tax bill rather than one that drastically changes the roster.
  • In addition to shopping Ronnie Brewer, the Knicks have also made Steve Novak available. The duo isn't drawing a whole lot of interest though.
  • The Hawks are a potential destination for DeJuan Blair, particularly if Atlanta finalizes a Josh Smith trade.
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Grizzlies Pursuing J.J. Redick

February 20th, 2013 at 10:14am CST by Luke Adams

With one day remaining until the 2013 trade deadline, the Grizzlies are making a push to land J.J. Redick, according to Chris Vernon of ESPN Radio in Memphis (via Twitter). With the $7.49MM trade exception they acquired when they dealt Rudy Gay, the Grizzlies would be able to absorb Redick's contract without sending out any salary in return.

The Magic have reportedly been seeking young talent and picks for Redick, and the Grizzlies would be hard-pressed to provide either of the two. The team has already committed future first-round picks to the Timberwolves and Cavaliers, so a package of second-round picks, or a first-rounder far down the line, would be all that Memphis could offer. The Magic would also gain a trade exception and some cap relief from a hypothetical deal, but I'd imagine they'll receive better offers for Redick from other suitors.

The Grizzlies are expected to add a player to their roster today or tomorrow using one of their seven trade exceptions to facilitate a deal, as we heard yesterday. The club is currently carrying just 12 players, and will need to add a 13th man soon to adhere to the league's roster requirements. Having moved well below the tax line with their two trades last month, the Grizzlies wouldn't be in danger of going back into the tax this season even if they added a player like Redick, who is earning $6.19MM.

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Rudy Gay Talks Grizzlies’ Exit, Raptors’ Future

February 20th, 2013 at 8:38am CST by Luke Adams

Before the Grizzlies traded Rudy Gay to the Raptors last month, one avenue they explored was a deal with the Nuggets, according to Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida. Tomasson tweets that Denver turned down an offer that would have involved sending Danilo Gallinari to Memphis in a deal for Gay. All parties involved seem happy with the way things eventually turned out, and Sam Amick of USA Today spoke to Gay about the forward's exit from Memphis and the deal that sent him to Toronto. Here are the highlights from the conversation:

On telling a Toronto radio station that he missed "nothing" about Memphis:

"Obviously that was just out of a little bit of anger. There were a lot of people in Memphis and a lot of relationships I left in Memphis that I'll always have. I'm so thankful for the city doing what they've done for me up until now."

On whether he saw the trade coming:

"It was a total shock to me. I never went to any of (the new management) and told them that I wanted to be traded. I've never done that. The summer before, I did. I said this team has a chance to be a competitor in the West, and we're going to be good, but if you plan on doing anything – this is the summer before – I said I want to express to you that I may be wanting to move on."

On why he expressed an openness to a trade last summer:

"It was a post-dominated team, and I didn't get a chance to have a guy who you could say was a stone-cold guy who you went to all the time. A couple games it'd be Marc [Gasol], then it'd be me, and then it'd be Zach [Randolph], you know what I mean? So at that point, I was like, 'I want to see what I can do with an open floor.' And I got that (in Toronto), but as long as we were winning, I'd like to see myself as a great teammate. And as long as we're winning, I'll do whatever, just be on the perimeter and open the floor for the big fellas, then that's what I'll do."

On staying in Toronto long-term:

"I've played six games. I don't know about (re-signing), but I love the organization. I possibly could be here for the rest of my career, but who knows."

On the Raptors' outlook:

"I'm excited about this team — excited about the possibilities of how good we can be. It was kind of a mixture of feelings when it first happened, getting traded and not knowing anything and one day thinking you're competing for a championship and the next day you're getting shipped off somewhere. It was a mixture of feelings… and now I've just got to embrace where I'm at. I'm happy I'm a Raptor right now…. I want to see this team be a good team, to be a playoff team again."

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HoopsWorld’s Latest: Randolph, D12, 2014, Ellis

February 19th, 2013 at 4:54pm CST by Luke Adams

Steve Kyler and Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld both have new pieces up, in which they address various trade candidates or possibilities. Let's dive in and cover the highlights….

  • Zach Randolph is "all but untouchable" for the Grizzlies this week, according to Kyler. While Memphis is still expected to make a move or two using its trade exceptions, the club would have to be blown away to consider moving Randolph.
  • Sources tell Kennedy that there's a non-zero chance the Lakers will move Dwight Howard this week, which is something we've heard from Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio and from Kennedy himself. Howard hasn't asked for a trade and isn't expected to do so, so a deal is very unlikely, but there's no guarantee D12 will remain in Los Angeles through the deadline, according to Kennedy.
  • If the Lakers are fielding calls on Howard, the Rockets, Mavericks, and Hawks, three teams frequently linked to the All-Star center, are expected to make inquiries.
  • When weighing trade offers this week, teams will be cognizant of their salary commitments for 2014 and beyond, says Kennedy. Like 2010, the 2014 free agent class is expected to be particularly star-studded, so plenty of teams are attempting to preserve cap space for that summer.
  • League sources expect Monta Ellis to opt out of his contract this summer and look to sign with a contender, since he's tired of being on losing teams, according to Kennedy. It's worth noting that the 26-25 Bucks aren't technically a "losing team," but I suppose being one game above .500 doesn't exactly qualify Milwaukee as a contender.
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Western Rumors: T-Wolves, Grizzlies, Warriors

February 19th, 2013 at 1:32pm CST by Luke Adams

Regular-season action resumes tonight, and one of the more intriguing games on the schedule will impact the Western Conference's playoff standings. If the Jazz can defeat the Warriors in Utah, they'll pull into a tie with Golden State for the sixth seed. As we wait to see if the Warriors can snap their five-game losing streak, let's check out a few notes from the West:

  • Multiple reports have suggested the Timberwolves are shopping draft picks as they try to bolster their roster. Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities isn't exactly sure who the Wolves are pursuing, but says Josh Smith and J.J. Hickson aren't among the team's targets and that J.J. Redick is "doubtful" (Twitter link).
  • According to Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld, the Grizzlies are likely to be buyers rather than sellers at the deadline, since they'll need to add a 13th man to their roster soon.
  • Kyler also echoes a report by Ken Berger, writing that the Warriors are expected to try to move a couple of minimum-salary players to duck below the luxury-tax threshold. The HoopsWorld scribe notes that Draymond Green is also a possibility, and that he'd bring back a better return, but Golden State will probably want to keep him around.
  • We've heard plenty of times over the last few weeks that the Kings aren't likely to make a deadline deal, and general manager Geoff Petrie agrees with that assessment, as he tells Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.
  • Eric Gordon is unconcerned with the trade rumors surrounding him and is focused on moving forward with the Hornets, writes Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
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Southwest Notes: White, Asik, Grizzlies

February 16th, 2013 at 9:15pm CST by Sean Highkin

The latest news and notes from around the Southwest Division on Saturday evening:

  • David Stern weighed in on Royce White's situation to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle saying that the NBA was "quite involved" in the establishment of a mental-health protocol for White and the Rockets.
  • Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston tweets that Rockets owner Leslie Alexander is surprised at Omer Asik's success in Houston.
  • In an interview with Chris Vernon on 92.9 FM ESPN in Memphis, Tony Allen shared his thoughts on the Rudy Gay trade as well as a conversation he had with Zach Randolph about retiring in Memphis. Allen will be a free agent this summer (transcript via Grizzly Bear Blues).
  • Grizzlies VP of basketball operations John Hollinger discusses the Gay trade with Henry Abbott of ESPN.com, and also shares his thoughts on the trade deadline as a whole.
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Odds & Ends: Knicks, Randolph, Josh Smith

February 16th, 2013 at 12:00am CST by Chuck Myron

Kyrie Irving is willing to listen to any pitch LeBron James might make about joining forces on the Cavaliers in 2014, a source tells Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio, who wonders if All-Stars from around the league will use this weekend to hatch plots to form more superteams. While we wait to hear if any such whispers emanate from Houston, here's the latest from the Association:

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Odds & Ends: Smith, Sixers, Noel, Exceptions

February 13th, 2013 at 8:48pm CST by Alex Lee

As we've seen, the Josh Smith rumors have been frequent and plentiful.  While Smith is aware of the buzz, the veteran forward seems unaffected, reports Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld via a series of tweets.  Per Kyler, Smith has asked his family to refrain from bringing up media reports to him since he attempts to block that stuff out.  While he is flattered to hear how many teams are interested, Smith's mind is on the present and he says the Hawks have yet to discuss the situation with him.  While it certainly looks like there is a solid chance he will be traded, Smith reminds us that his name has been mentioned in rumors before to no avail. (Kyler tweets are listed here)

Smith's Hawks are in Orlando tonight – one of 12 games on the NBA schedule on Wednesday.  Let's round up all the odds and ends from around the league here for the night:

  • The Sixers are not interested in trading Spencer Hawes and Evan Turner for Josh Smith, tweets the Philadelphia Inquirer's John Mitchell, citing two league sources.  Philly has reportedly been dangling that duo and may be considered sleepers in the Smith sweepstakes.  
  • Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times tweets that he keeps hearing Smith will end up as a member of the Celtics. 
  • In light of the news that Nerlens Noel suffered a torn ACL on Tuesday, Yannis Koutroupis of HoopsWorld drops the Kentucky freshman to No. 4 in his mock draft.  Similar to what we heard from Jeff Goodman earlier, Koutroupis suspects that Noel will remain in this year's draft despite the injury, referencing the strength of next year's field.  To me, since Noel will likely miss a sizeable chunk of next year with the Wildcats if he were to stay in school, it makes more sense to leave and rehabilitate his knee under NBA trainers if he can go anywhere in the top 10. 
  • Several general managers still consider Noel a top-5 pick, while one has him slipping to between 10-12 if he comes out, tweets SI's Chris Mannix.  Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader, quoting Draft Express' Jonathan Givony, writes that the prevailing wisdom is that Noel is still a lock for the top-5.  Givony believes Noel could still go No. 1 overall.  Roberts adds that young NBA players that have suffered similar injuries have not had long term effects. 
  • In an Insider piece for ESPN.com, Bradford Doolittle points to the Nuggets ($13MM), Magic ($17.8MM), Grizzlies ($7.5MM) and Bulls ($5MM) as teams with Traded Player Exceptions worth $5MM or more.  The Nuggets may just have the urgency (their exception expires March 15) and the ability (it's large enough to acquire a significant piece) to make utilizing their exception worth it, Doolittle says.  While Memphis is likely to use their modest exception, Orlando and Chicago will likely refrain.
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Southwest Links: White, Spurs, Prince, Mavs

February 13th, 2013 at 4:25pm CST by Luke Adams

As every Southwest team except the Grizzlies prepares for action tonight, let's check in on the latest notes out of the division….

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