Another NBA franchise is expected to change hands soon, as Michael Heisley has reached an agreement to sell the Memphis Grizzlies to 34-year-old billionaire Robert Pera. Heisley spoke to Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida at length about why he decided to sell the team and the long-term future of the franchise. He noted that it would probably be a month or two before the NBA officially approved the sale, and said he'd make decisions on the team this summer in consultation with new ownership (Twitter links). Let's check out a few more key quotes from the current Grizzlies owner….
3:40pm: Heisley confirmed to Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida (Twitter link) that he has signed a contract agreeing to sell the Grizzlies. However, he stressed that it could take a month or two for the NBA to approve the sale (Twitter link).
2:15pm: Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley has found a buyer for the franchise, reports ESPN.com's Marc Stein. According to Stein, Heisley has reached an agreement in principle to sell the Grizzlies to Robert Pera, a 34-year-old communications technology magnate, and the deal is pending league approval.
The day's biggest news so far came out of the Southwest Division, when ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported that Michael Heisley had found a buyer for the Grizzlies. While we wait to hear whether an agreement between current ownership and prospective buyer Robert Pera will be finalized, let's check in on a few more Southwest updates, including the latest Rudy Gay trade rumors….
Guaranteed Contracts
- Zach Randolph ($16,500,000)
- Rudy Gay ($16,460,538)
- Marc Gasol ($13,891,359)
- Mike Conley ($7,305,786)
- Tony Allen ($3,300,000)
- Dante Cunningham ($2,090,000)
- Quincy Pondexter ($1,234,320)
- Jeremy Pargo ($1,000,000)
- Josh Selby ($762,195)
Throughout the playoffs, we've been tracking soon-to-be free agents week by week as they make their final impressions heading into the offseason. With 12 members of the Finals-bound Thunder possessing guaranteed contracts for next season, most of the cases have been closed. So, here's a look at the three impending free agents who made the most significant leaps throughout the entire postseason, and the three who took the greatest steps back.
Recent reports have suggested the Grizzlies are open to shopping Rudy Gay, perhaps for a lottery pick, but owner Michael Heisley insists that's not the case.
"We’re not looking to trade Rudy Gay," Heisley told Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "We’re not shopping him around. Period. Do we sit around and say ‘What if we traded Rudy, who could we get?’ No. Right now, Rudy is part of the future of this team."
TUESDAY, 6:47pm: Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio confirms that "talk around the league" indicates the Grizzlies are shopping Rudy Gay. According to Amico, Memphis seems to be seeking a lottery pick in return.
"He won't be an easy move," one team executive told Amico. "It's hard to imagine them getting back what they want for him, based on what I'm hearing."
The Bucks may be in need of a big man following their trade of Andrew Bogut to the Warriors, but Milwaukee is also taking a hard look at the guards in this year's draft, writes Charles F. Gardner of the Journal-Sentinel. While the club is expected to target size with their No. 12 pick, they could go after a guard with size at No. 42 in support of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis. Marquette's Darius Johnson-Odom and Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor were among those auditioned yesterday. Here's a look at tonight's links..
The Spurs are two wins away from the NBA Finals. The Mavs are courting Deron Williams in an attempt to get back into championship contention. The Rockets want to make a splash by going after a star player this summer. The Grizzlies have been a playoff team for two years in a row. The Hornets have the No. 1 and the No. 10 picks in the draft. The Southwest Division could be the league's toughest next season, particularly if the Hornets can re-sign Eric Gordon. Here's what's happening around the Southwest now.
Links from around the Association as the Thunder and Lakers do battle at the Staples Center…
- Stephen Brotherston of HoopsWorld looks at possible draft day trades for the Raptors. Possible targets include Rudy Gay of the Grizzlies and Luol Deng of the Bulls should they choose to restructure their roster in anticipation of Derrick Rose's return in 2013.
- You might think that a player in his contract year would be focused on building up his stats, but Pacers center Roy Hibbert isn't overly concerned with that, writes Conrad Brunner of Pacers.com.
- Matt Moore of CBSSports.com hosts a roundtable to ask if the Western Conference is still the stronger of the two.
- HoopsWorld compiled the complete history of every draft pick from No.1 all the way to No. 60.