Tony Allen Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Wolves, Grizzlies Discussing Budinger, Barea

February 19th, 2014 at 12:26pm CST by Zachary Links

12:26pm: A source involved in the talks tells Berger that the proposal is “dead,” though others are holding out hope for revival. Some members of the Memphis camp suspect the Timberwolves are using these discussions to further their chances for a different deal, according to Amick (Twitter links).

12:13pm: The Grizzlies are “very unlikely” to yield on Allen, tweets Sam Amick of USA Today.

11:12am: The Wolves are eager to swap Barea, but they’re somewhat reluctant to move Budinger, Wolfson adds (on Twitter).

11:01am: There’s no way Wolves executive Flip Saunders will make the trade without Allen as part of it, Wolfson tweets.

10:50am: The teams are “nowhere close to a deal,” according to Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal, who seconds what Wojnarowski is hearing about the Grizzlies’ reluctance to include Allen (Twitter link). Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities nonetheless hears the clubs are making progress, as he notes on Twitter.

10:45am: The Wolves are insisting that Allen be included along with Prince in a deal for Budinger and Barea, but the Grizzlies are resisting at the moment, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

WEDNESDAY, 10:23am: The Grizzlies and Wolves have gained momentum toward a deal involving Prince and Allen, reports Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). Presumably, Budinger and Barea are also still a part of the talks.

MONDAY, 7:04pm: The Grizzlies are discussing a deal with the Timberwolves centered on forward Chase Budinger and guard J.J. Barea, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. Memphis wants to include forward Tayshaun Prince into the package and the deal could be expanded to include guard Tony Allen, though components of a proposed deal are still fluid.

Memphis has been trying to unload Prince and his cumbersome contract, sources tell Wojnarowski. The forward is earning $7.2MM this season and will make $7.7MM in 2014/15. on his contract. Meanwhile, Wolves GM Flip Saunders is believed to want to add defensive toughness to his roster, and that would make Allen a natural fit.

Budinger, 25, missed much of the early season recovering from knee surgery, and has averaged 6.0 PPG in 17.7 minutes per game this season. Barea, 29, is averaging 8.7 PPG in 18 minutes per contest this season. The Wolves badly want to make the playoffs this season with Kevin Love’s free agency on the horizon and they have reportedly been open to moving the diminutive guard in order to help make that happen.

Allen has been sidelined since early January with a fracture in his left hand. In his 27 games this season, Allen has averaged 10.2 PPG off of 49.3% shooting from the floor.

Grizzlies Seeking Wing Upgrade Via Trade

December 26th, 2013 at 12:41pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Grizzlies are actively seeking trades that would add athleticism on the wing and improve the team in the short term, according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. Berger also hears from sources who expect Zach Randolph to turn down his more than $16.9MM player option for next season in search of a long-term deal this summer.

Memphis, just 12-15, has lost starting wings Tony Allen and Tayshaun Prince to injuries for stretches this season, while backup wing Quincy Pondexter is out for the year with a broken foot. A report earlier this week indicated the team is looking to shake up its roster and offered Jerryd Bayless to the Lakers for a package that would have included Jodie Meeks.

Berger indicates that Memphis wants to see how far its core of Allen, Randolph, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley can take it for now and build around Gasol and Conley for the future. The Grizzlies would be in the mix to retain Randolph if he opts out, according to Berger. The team doesn’t want to lose Randolph without compensation, but unless he tells Grizzlies management that he intends to leave, it doesn’t appear there’s a pressing need to trade him this season, Berger writes.

The Grizzlies have several trade exceptions at their disposal, the largest of which is worth a little more than $2MM. Memphis is about $3.5MM clear of luxury tax territory, so there should be enough flexibility for the team to strengthen its bench, if nothing else.

Western Notes: Blazers, Williams, Allen

November 28th, 2013 at 5:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s round up a few of the day’s items out of the Western Conference….

Owner Paul Allen says GM Neil Olshey did a “great job” bolstering the Trail Blazers‘ bench this offseason, and tells Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com that the club’s play has exceeded his expectations so far.
Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press spoke to Derrick Williams about the opportunity to get a fresh, pressure-free start with the Kings.
Grizzlies guard Tony Allen is a player the Celtics shouldn’t have let get away, writes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. Although he left Boston for Memphis in 2010, Allen had no desire to sign with anyone except the Grizzlies when he hit free agency again this past summer, as he tells Washburn.

Grizzlies Re-Sign Tony Allen

July 15th, 2013 at 1:05pm CST by Zachary Links

JULY 15TH: The Grizzlies have officially announced Allen's new deal in a press release.

JULY 2ND: The Grizzlies have reached agreement on a contract extension with Tony Allen, according to Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal (via Twitter). The deal will pay Allen $20MM over four years, a league source tells Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter).

There were a number of teams gunning for Allen this summer, including the Nuggets, Mavericks, Knicks, Trail Blazers, Pacers, and Bucks. Allen's last contract paid him $9.45MM over three years, so this new deal gives the 31-year-old a solid raise coupled with security to take him through the 2016/17 season.

Allen has never been a tremendous scorer but he has blossomed into one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. The veteran made 79 starts for the Grizzlies last season and averaged 8.9 PPG with 4.6 RPG in 26.7 minutes per game, a career high.

Allen is represented by Raymond Brothers of I AM Sports, as shown in the Hoops Rumors Agency Database.

Wojnarowski On Copeland, Allen, Oladipo

July 1st, 2013 at 3:21pm CST by Luke Adams

Adrian Wojnarowski has passed along a few nuggets this afternoon on free agents and the teams chasing them, so let's check out what the Yahoo! Sports scribe has for us….

The Pacers and Chris Copeland have a "strong mutual interest," according to Wojnarowski, who says Indiana is emerging as a potential destination for the restricted free agent.
If the Grizzlies are unable to re-sign Tony Allen, the Nuggets may become a real threat to land the defensive specialist, tweets Wojnarowski. The Trail Blazers, Pacers, Bucks, and Knicks have also been identified as possible suitors for Allen, while Ken Berger of CBSSports.com throws the Mavericks into the mix as well (Twitter link).
In a non-free-agent tweet, Wojnarowski suggests No. 2 overall pick Victor Oladipo will get "major run" at point guard in Summer League play for the Magic.

Free Agent Notes: Bobcats, Nets, Blazers, Bucks

July 1st, 2013 at 1:36pm CST by Luke Adams

More free agent updates? More free agent updates! Let's round them up….

Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer confirms a report that the Bobcats are going after Al Jefferson, but though the team is said to be a likely suitor for O.J. Mayo, he doesn't appear to be in their plans, at least for now.
The Nets are interested in Shaun Livingston as a potential backup to Deron Williams, tweets Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com.
Jason Quick of the Oregonian reports (via Twitter) that the Trail Blazers will speak to the reps for Matt Barnes and Francisco Garcia today or tomorrow.
The Bucks are one of a half-dozen teams interested in Zaza Pachulia, tweets Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times.
Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien and head coach Dave Joerger were meeting with free agent guard Tony Allen earlier today, according to Chris Herrington of the Memphis Flyer (via Twitter).
Celtics GM Danny Ainge told A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com (Twitter link) that his team hasn't been making calls to free agents today. No big surprise there, considering the rebuilding direction in which the C's are headed.
Ainge did tell Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe (Twitter link) that he made a courtesy call to Dwight Howard to see if there was any interest on Howard's end in a sign-and-trade to Boston, but the answer, of course, was no.
With the exception of Chris Andersen, the Heat aren't entering free agency with their eye on any specific free agents, opines Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Expect to see Garrett Temple back with the Wizards, says J. Michael of CSNWashington.com, tweeting that an agreement could come later this week.

Trail Blazers Interested In Tony Allen

July 1st, 2013 at 1:33am CST by Luke Adams

The Trail Blazers reached out late Sunday night to free agent defensive specialist Tony Allen, reports Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. The talks between the Blazers and Allen's reps were merely "exploratory," says Haynes, but there's some interest on both sides. The team is expected to resume talks with Allen at some point this week, though no meeting is scheduled at the moment, according to Haynes.

Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien has indicated that retaining Allen is his team's top priority this month, as Ronald Tillery writes for the Memphis Commercial Appeal. However, coming off earning a spot on the NBA All-Defensive team in back-to-back seasons, Allen figures to draw plenty of interest from around the NBA. We heard yesterday that the Pacers, Bucks, and Knicks could also be in pursuit.

Allen's last contract paid him $9.45MM over three years, including $3.3MM in 2012/13, so he's likely in line for a raise this summer.

Pacers, Bucks, Knicks Eyeing Tony Allen

June 30th, 2013 at 11:56am CST by Chuck Myron

The Grizzlies will meet with Tony Allen soon in an attempt to keep the unrestricted free agent from the Pacers, Bucks and Knicks, who are in pursuit, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Clippers coach Doc Rivers, in charge of the team's front office, would love to work with Allen again after doing so when they were both Celtics, but it's not clear how competitive an offer from L.A. would be, Wojnarowski adds (Twitter link).

Allen was a member of the All-Defensive First Team this season, and has built a reputation as one of the most fearsome perimeter defenders in the league. The 31-year-old has only averaged double figures in scoring once during his nine-year career, and his 26.7 minutes per game this past season were a career high. Still, his teams have traditionally been among the best in the NBA, and some of the hardest to score against.

The Raymond Brothers client has said he believes he'll remain in Memphis, but understands that the Grizzlies may not come up with enough money to keep him. Allen made $3.3MM in 2012/13, but when I examined his free agent stock in April, I thought he would probably merit offers with a starting salary around $5.15MM, the value of the mid-level exception. That would put the taxpaying Knicks out of the running, unless they can clear a hefty amount of salary from their books. A report last month indicated the Cavs were also interested in Allen, and they, like the rest of the teams said to be chasing Allen, have greater flexibility.

Western Notes: Allen, Kings, Cuban

May 25th, 2013 at 6:59pm CST by Spencer Lund

Despite the Grizzlies place in the thick of their Western Conference Finals series against the Spurs, their perimeter defensive specialist, Tony Allen, will be an unrestricted free agent this July.

Allen spoke with Ramona Shelburne at ESPN.com yesterday about the blue collar "Grit and Grind" Grizzlies, their blue collar Memphis fans, and–towards the end of the piece–his impending free agency. Said Allen:

"I don't even understand the business side. When July hits, somebody is going to have to sit me down and explain it. All I know is I'm a Grizzly and I believe I'm going to be a Grizzly when it's over with.

"I bleed blue. I think they going to keep me. But if they don't, I understand.

"I don't even think about it now. I just play. I love being in Memphis. I love the city. Hopefully I stay here. It feels like home."

Speaking of Allen's Grizzlies, here are some more notes from around the Western Conference:

Grizzlies coach, Lionel Hollins, tells ESPN.com's Kevin Arnovitz "Flopping isn't a part of the game and it shouldn't be a part of the game," in response to the controversy surrounding the flagrant 1 called on Manu Ginobili after his foul on Allen knocked him out of the air.
According to Keith Langlois of Pistons.com (Twitter link), Austin Daye will go on the Grizzlies' inactive list for game 3 tonight in favor of Donte Greene. Marc J. Spears of Y! Sports, confirms (Twitter link).
ESPNDallas.com's Tim MacMahon brings us the highlights from Mavericks owner Mark Cuban's interview on 103.3 FM's ESPN Dallas Game Day.
MacMahon also tells us after hearing from Cuban, that the Mavericks owner has a two year plan to turn the Mavericks into title contenders.
The new owner of the Kings, Viveck Ranadive, is looking at Warriors assistant, Mike Malone, to coach the team. But Matt Steinmetz at CSNY Bay Area says he'd be surprised if the Kings hire a coach before finding a general manger (Twitter link).

Western Notes: Allen, Warriors, Suns

May 15th, 2013 at 8:56pm CST by Michael Pina

A few notes from around the NBA's Western Conference.

NBA.com's Jeff Caplan writes about Grizzlies guard Tony Allen—who's an unrestricted free agent this summer—and the path it took for him to sign with Memphis as a free agent in 2010.
The Suns prepare for the NBA draft lottery at the end of May, writes NBA.com's Aaron Seidlitz. It could be a huge day for them, especially as they go forward with a new, young general manager.
Also related to the Suns, the team's new general manager Ryan McDonough interviewed Lindsey Hunter in Chicago today for the team's head coach position, according to Yahoo! NBA writer Adrian Wojnarowski. The Suns are also looking at several other candidates, including Quin Snyder and Jeff Hornacek.
Carl Steward of MercuryNews.com writes that Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson need to find their stroke in Game 6 against the Spurs or they'll most likely be eliminated. The article also touches on Jarrett Jack, who's stepped up when those two haven't played well, and enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.