Memphis Grizzlies Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Odds & Ends: Nets, Knicks, Grizzlies, Waiters

November 7th, 2012 at 11:21pm CST by Chuck Myron

Earlier we passed along Nets GM Billy King's admission that he made roster moves this summer with the idea of taking down the Heat, which surely makes the team's 30-point loss in Miami tonight that much tougher to take. Nets coach Avery Johnson downplayed the idea that his squad is on the Heat's level, as Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News observes (Sulia link). Bondy juxtaposes Johnson's comments by noting that shooting guard Joe Johnson said earlier that he thinks the Nets can dethrone the champs this season. While Brooklyn's team sorts out its troubles, it's a more upbeat story on the other side of the East River, as we detail among other news on a 13-game night around the Association.

The moves Knicks GM Glen Grunwald and company made this summer are paying early dividends, even in spite — or perhaps because — of the absence of Amare Stoudemire, as the USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt examines.
The Grizzlies new ownership group borrowed $125MM from the NBA and another $50MM from a bank to close their deal to buy the team, but that's nothing out of the ordinary, a league executive tells Kyle Veazey of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
Cavs coach Byron Scott encouraged the organization to use the fourth pick this June on Syracuse sixth man Dion Waiters, who's paying early dividends, at least offensively, as Sean Deveney of The Sporting News and Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal write.
Waiters was the choice over Harrison Barnes, who went to the Warriors at No. 7 and hasn't performed as well so far, as Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Plain Dealer chronicles.
The Lakers are off to a 1-4 start, but Jordan Hill has been a bright spot, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
Yesterday, Vince Carter said he wouldn't mind a return to the Raptors someday, but Doug Smith of the Toronto Star doesn't see that happening anytime soon, arguing that Carter's current skill-set isn't a match for the team's needs.
The Celtics have hired former player Keyon Dooling as a player development coordinator, reports Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald (Twitter link). The 32-year-old guard abruptly retired in September.

Western Notes: Kobe, Roy, T’Wolves, Hollins

November 6th, 2012 at 6:08pm CST by Zachary Links

Expectations are high in Denver as the new-look Nuggets stand as one of the most talented team in the Western Conference. However, they've yet to notch their first win this season after losing to the Sixers, Magic, and Heat. Tonight, Andre Iguodala & Co. look to secure their first W of the year as they take on the Pistons. Here's more out of the West..

A report out of Turkey recently suggested that Kobe Bryant wants to play until he is 40, but Bryant's comments earlier today to reporters including Dave McMenamin of ESPNLA.com (via Twitter) imply that he didn't necessarily mean playing in the NBA. "Playing till I’m 40 is not beyond the realm of possibility,” Bryant said with a smile. “There’s always YMCA games. There’s always pick-up games. So, I’ll probably be playing. As long as I’m living, I’ll probably be playing.” In the past, Bryant has suggested that he won't play in the NBA when he can no longer perform at a high level.
Brandon Roy hasn't looked strong so far in his comeback attempt with the Timberwolves, opines Zach Harper of CBSSports.com. Of course, Roy is only three games in to the 2012/13 campaign, but Harper wonders if his knee troubles could keep him from playing closer to his old form.
Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins says that he isn't going to change his approach even as he faces uncertainty in his walk year, writes Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal.

Odds & Ends: Martin, Jennings, Parker, Gaines

November 5th, 2012 at 4:50pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA has issued its first two warnings for flops, as the league's official site outlines today. The league has formally warned the Timberwolves' J.J. Barea and the Cavs' Donald Sloan about flopping, meaning that if either player commits a second offense, they'll be fined $5K. Let's round up a few more odds and ends from around the Association….

Kenyon Martin may be open to playing for just about any NBA team, but don't expect the Mavericks to make him an offer, says Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News.
While Brandon Jennings may feel as if he's auditioning for other teams, he certainly remains in the Bucks' long-term plans, writes Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld.
Within his weekly Morning Tip column at NBA.com, TNT's David Aldridge looks at the post-James Harden Thunder, talks to Tony Parker about why he's been willing to accept a discount to remain with the Spurs, and conducts a Q&A with Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov.
Italy's Pallacanestro Cantu may have interest in adding Sundiata Gaines, according to a Sportando report. Gaines, who was cut by the Pacers prior to the season, played for the Italian club back in 2008/09.
Geoff Calkins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal shares a few of his first impressions of new Grizzlies owner Robert Pera. Meanwhile, Pera and new CEO Jason Levien responded to some questions about how they intend to run the franchise.
Appearing on 98.7 ESPN Radio in New York, commissioner David Stern discussed his decision to retire in February of 2014, and how he feels about the criticisms he's faced (link via Sports Radio Interviews).

Grizzlies Hire Jason Levien As CEO

November 5th, 2012 at 12:44pm CST by Alex Lee

MONDAY, 12:44pm: In addition to officially introducing Levien as the team's CEO, the Grizzlies have unveiled their list of limited partners involved in Pera's ownership group. The complete list, which can be found here, includes Penny Hardaway, Justin Timberlake, and Peyton Manning's wife Ashley.

SUNDAY, 7:09pm: According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Grizzlies will announce tomorrow that Jason Levien, until recently a minor 76ers shareholder, will join the Memphis franchise as CEO and managing partner. Levien, a player agent turned front-office executive, will head up the team's basketball operations, working with general manager Chris Wallace, but having final say on personnel.

Levien was reportedly crucial in assembling the high-powered ownership group led by billionaire Robert Pera and also including Justin Timberlake, Peyton Manning and Penny Hardaway. Levien, who also helped set up the Sixers deal before last season, worked previously in the Kings front office and is a general partner of the MLS team DC United.

Via the team's press release:

“Jason and I share a vision for building a world-class team on and off-the-court,” Pera said. “He has my complete trust, confidence and support in how best to lead our organization's efforts."

“I’m honored to be part of such a dynamic and potential-filled opportunity here in Memphis,” Levien said. “I appreciate what a special role the Grizzlies and FedExForum play in the Memphis community and I know that we will build successfully on the foundation already in place.”

Kyler On Suns, Lawson, Harkless, Levien

November 5th, 2012 at 11:29am CST by Luke Adams

Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld touches on several topics in his NBA AM piece today, talking to a handful of players and weighing in on the new face in the Grizzlies' front office. Let's dive in and round up the highlights….

Coming off a summer during which they overhauled their roster, the Suns are off to a slow start as the team's new additions work to develop chemistry. "You got to find each other’s games out," said returning Sun Jared Dudley. "Coaches got to find what players work good with each other, what plays for which players. We’ve shown spurts and glimpses of what we can do, we haven’t put it together for a whole 48 (minutes)."
Goran Dragic tells Kyler that, while it's nice to be playing with Luis Scola, who was his teammate in Houston, there's still plenty of work to be done in Phoenix: "Two don’t make a team. Everybody needs to know each other and what we do. We’re struggling a little bit in the process, but we still have to find a way to win basketball games."
A week after signing a four-year contract extension to remain with the Nuggets long-term, Ty Lawson says the only thing that's changed is that he's more sure of the confidence and trust the team has in him.
Maurice Harkless, who underwent hernia surgery in the offseason, is being brought back slowly, and understands why he has yet to make his NBA debut with the Magic. "I think it’s good to just learn as much as I can because being that I missed the whole training camp," Harkless said. "Learning is important. Naturally, I’d rather just be out there playing, but I think coach is doing a good job."
Kyler notes that Jason Levien, who was hired as the Grizzlies' new CEO and managing partner, negotiated big deals for Luol Deng and Kevin Martin back when he was an agent, and also spent over a year in the Kings' front office, where he had a hand in "several cap-clearing trades."

Marc Stein On Mike Brown, Josh Smith, Thunder

November 3rd, 2012 at 1:25pm CST by Chuck Myron

The start of the regular season means the return of Marc Stein's Weekend Dime feature on ESPN.com, and as usual, there are a few notable tidbits within the piece. Stein praises Lakers coach Mike Brown for his refusal to run from "ridiculously early" questions about his job security despite the specter of available names like Phil Jackson and Mike D'Antoni. In response to the notion of D'Antoni taking over the team, HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler calls it overreaction (Twitter link), which would seem to carry over to Jackson as well, especially considering the doubts about his desire to coach again. Here's more of what Stein had to say.

Josh Smith is in the final season of his deal, worth $13.2MM this year, and he could represent an attractive trade chip. Stein nonetheless hears the Hawks will most likely hang on to Smith this year while retaining cap flexibility for what could be an active summer of 2013.
One of the reasons why the Thunder traded James Harden is because the team is projected to pay, instead of receive, under the league's revenue-sharing model, despite playing in a small market.
Seven coaches are in the final year of their contracts, including Larry Drew of the Hawks, Avery Johnson of the Nets, Vinny Del Negro of the Clippers, Lionel Hollins of the Grizzlies, Scott Skiles of the Bucks and Alvin Gentry of the Suns. Frank Vogel is the other member of that group, though the Pacers hold a team option on his deal for 2013/14.

Extension Rumors: Gibson, Casspi, Curry

October 31st, 2012 at 8:55pm CST by Luke Adams

This year's deadline for extension-eligible fourth-year players to sign new deals is just hours away, arriving at 11:00pm CT today. Blake Griffin, Serge Ibaka, and Ty Lawson came into the day as the only players with new contracts, while Stephen Curry reached an unexpected agreement with the Warriors this morning and James Harden agreed to a maximum deal with the Rockets this afternoon. Will we see any other extensions signed before the night is out? We'll track today's extension-related rumors and rumblings right here:

Aggrey Sam of CSNChicago reports Taj Gibson is seeking a four-year extension worth $40MM while the Bulls are offering $32MM. Sam notes a $36MM figure in the middle would be equal to what fellow forwards Ryan Anderson and Jeff Green got over the summer, and less than the $10MM or more Sam believes Gibson could command as a restricted free agent next summer (All Twitter links).

Earlier updates:

Grizzlies Exercise 2013/14 Option On Pondexter

October 31st, 2012 at 5:12pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Grizzlies have picked up their $2.23MM fourth-year option on Quincy Pondexter for 2013/14, Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal tweets. Pondexter was the last of the players eligible for rookie-scale contract extensions by tonight's 11pm Central deadline, as our tracker shows.

The Thunder took Pondexter with the 26th pick in the 2010 NBA draft, trading him that night to the Hornets. The 6'6" swingman averaged 2.8 points in 11.1 minutes per game as a rookie for New Orleans, which sent him in another trade to the Grizzlies before last season. Pondexter saw a little bit more time in Memphis, averaging 15.7 MPG while putting up 4.2 PPG.

Robert Pera Completes Purchase Of Grizzlies

October 31st, 2012 at 2:41pm CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 2:41pm: The Grizzlies announced today that the sale of the franchise to Pera's group has officially been completed.

"The Grizzlies are here to stay in Memphis," Pera said in a statement. "We are thrilled to assume ownership of the Grizzlies. We see enormous potential and understand the role the Grizzlies play in bringing Memphians together. We are committed to building a winning team with a best-in-class organizational culture, finding new and creative ways to engage with our fans, and making a positive and meaningful difference in the community."

MONDAY, 4:58pm: Earlier this afternoon, Robert Pera's officially closed on his deal to buy the Memphis Grizzlies, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal (Twitter link). Pera's ownership group has "paid in full," according to the tweet.

We heard earlier today from TNT's David Aldridge that the final sale price for the franchise was $377MM. While Pera's ability to produce that kind of money was called into question when his company, Ubiquiti Networks, saw its stock fall in recent months, but the 34-year-old entrepreneur strengthened his bid by bringing aboard a handful of minority partners. According to Aldridge, two of those minority owners contributed $25MM+ each to Pera's bid.

The NBA approved the sale of the Grizzlies, from Michael Heisley to Pera's group, last week. At that point, the last step that remained was Pera closing the sale with Heisley, which it appears he's done.

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Odds & Ends: Curry, Bulls, Richardson, Grizzlies

October 31st, 2012 at 1:36pm CST by Luke Adams

Despite indications this morning that the Nets/Knicks opener in Brooklyn tomorrow would proceed as planned, the game will be postponed due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy, tweets Greg Anthony of CBS Sports and NBA TV. It's not clear yet whether the Knicks' Friday game at Madison Square Garden or the Nets' Saturday game in Brooklyn will be played. For now, however, it seems the debut of the Barclays Center will have to wait as the city continues to recover.

Here are a few more notes from around the league:

Prior to reaching an agreement on a contract extension for Stephen Curry today, the Warriors and Curry had been discussing a deal with an annual salary ranging from $8.5-10MM, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. Golden State upped its offer following Ty Lawson's four-year, $48MM deal with the Nuggets.
The Bulls are monitoring the free agent market in anticipation of being able to add a minimum-salary contract later in November, says Aggrey Sam of CSNChicago.com. Quentin Richardson is one player under consideration, according to Sam.
The fact that the Bulls haven't been able to pair a second star with Derrick Rose yet hasn't been due to lack of trying, executive VP of basketball operations John Paxson said on ESPN 1000 Chicago (link via ESPNChicago.com).
The Grizzlies never considered undergoing what GM Chris Wallace calls a "voluntary rebuild" this summer, writes Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
One of the main lessons Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert learned from the LeBron James saga was not to let a star player leave in unrestricted free agency without getting anything back for him, according to an Associated Press report.