Basketball Forum : Professional and College Basketball Forums

Memphis Grizzlies Fetch $300 million

MemphisX — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:02:17 GMT

Quote:

Micheal Heisley has finally been granted his wish and has found a buyer for the downtrodden Memphis Grizzlies. FedEx founder Fred Smith forked over the $300 million asking price and will be the sole owner of the team. This sale has been in the works prior to the Grizzlies acquiring LeBron James and according to anonymous sources, Smith has talked to James and is committed to making the Grizzlies one of the premiere professional franchises in the world. Although Chris Wallace has not been formerly relieved of his duties, Smith is thought to have engineered and green lighted the acquisition of LeBron James with promises of paying the luxury tax in the future.

As one of the most visible businessmen in Memphis, it would seem any speculation of the Grizzlies moving has been permanently tabled. Heisley and Smith were unavailable for comment.

:baseldance:

Andrea Bargnani "I don't feel like I've arrived"

Porn_Player — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:54:39 GMT

Bargs discusses everything we've been discussing...

Quote:

How do you feel about Chris Bosh leaving the Raptors? On one hand, it obviously makes the team a little weaker. But on the other, it helps you individually because you are going to have a bigger role. How do you feel about that?

Andrea Bargnani: For sure he leaves a big hole because he�s a very good player. We�re going to miss him because he�s an All-Star. Playing with him makes it easier for everybody, but we gotta play and it�s an opportunity for me and other players to step up and to do something more.

Do you feel the Raptors are your team now?

AB: They�ve always been my team. I was in a nice spot last year too. I was the second option last year. We have to finish the team because the market is not closed yet� And I just hope we make better. We didn�t make the playoffs, so it�s not like we come from a championship. We can only get better.

How do you think the team has done during this offseason?

AB: I think we signed very talented players: Kleiza, Andersen, the two young guys that we drafted� Maybe they are not ready today to go on the court and do something, but they have a great potential to develop and grow. DeMar (DeRozan) got much better, Sonny Weems too in the summer league� We took Barbosa, who likes to play an up-tempo game� We�re a pretty young team, athletic, we can run a lot. Should be a fun basketball to play.

Which position would you like to play this year?

AB: My natural position of course is power forward. But the last four years, I played at the five and I did good. I got better every year. It doesn�t really make a difference, but if you ask me what position I prefer to play, I have to say power forward.

In which areas do you think you will have to step up the most this season?

AB: I gotta continue to get better on the rebounding and the low post.

Is the All-Star Game a goal for you this season? And do you think that would be a realistical goal?

AB: I think the All-Star Game is a goal and a dream for all the players in the world. You practice, you try to get better every year� You can�t do nothing more than that.

What was your reaction when you learned Bosh was going to Miami?

AB: I wasn�t surprised. His contract was finished and the feeling was that he was going to leave. You could feel that he was going to leave for the last couple of months before the end of the season. Everybody had this kind of feeling. So I wasn�t surprised.

Some people believe he gave up on the team late last season. What do you think about that?

AB: Every time he was wearing the jersey on the court, he always played hard. His numbers prove that. He�s a good player. As for personal stuff, I don�t know, I can�t know and personally I don�t want to know. Everybody can think whatever.

How do you feel about your NBA career so far?

AB: I got better every year. You cannot ask more than that. But you always want more, so I�m not satisfied. I mean, I�m satisfied with my career, but I don�t feel like I�ve arrived. I feel like I have to keep working and do much more than what I�ve done.

Do you feel the pressure that comes with being picked No. 1 in the draft?

AB: Not really. I had more pressure when I was in Europe and I didn�t know if I was going to the NBA or I was staying in Europe. One year before the draft, I didn�t even know what the draft was. I think the draft is more pressure for an American player. For me, for European players, it�s just a way of getting to the NBA. It doesn�t mean much being No. 1 or No. 2. I was very happy with being No. 1 because it was an historical thing for an European player. But I was even more happy because I got the chance to go to a city like Toronto.

What would you say to those critics you have that question your toughness or your passion for the game?

AB: Anything a player makes, he�s going to have critics about it. You have to start worrying when nobody criticizes you. With a good player, people will criticize and challenge you. And that�s the best thing because that gives you extra motivation.

Other than the extra motivation, does this affect you in any way?

AB: No, because if somebody tells me I don�t have passion that doesn�t make anything to me because that doesn�t have any sense. Without passion, you don�t arrive in the NBA. The NBA is not a joke. You have to work all your life to get in the NBA. So the stupid criticism without any sense doesn�t make anything to me. But there is some criticism that is real. I mean, if somebody tells me I have to get better on something, maybe I realize that it�s true so I try to get better. So some stuff is good to know.

There was talk last year about a division between American and foreign players in the locker room. Is there any truth to that?

AB: There wasn�t any division, no. We were cool. Of course with European guys you have more things to talk about, right? It�s common sense. But we were cool with everybody and friends with everybody. If I speak with Jose (Calderon), I got more things to speak about because we come from almost the same place and we can talk about the cities we�ve been in Spain or Italy.

What has been wrong with the Italian National Team the past few years? The team has been very successful in the past, but they have been struggling lately.

AB: Playing in Europe is really tough. The other teams are always very good and have a lot of players with a lot of experience in Euroleague and big teams. In Italy, it�s different. The Italian basketball, the championship� It�s not big like in Spain, for example. We are pretty young. We need to grow up and learn how to play together. Europe is not easy.

Link

2011 FA SGs

BullsBaller — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:40:30 GMT

With all the talks about acquiring Rudy Fernandez, I think it is important to look at the FA SGs next year who we could possibly sign. I want Rudy, but like everyone else, don't want to give up too much since he is a FA next year and could split. If he wants out of Portland due to lack of playing time, then I don't think he is going to be happy here, as well. Some have mentioned Charlottes 1st rounder, Taj, Johnson, etc... I do not want to give up Taj or Charlottes pick. If we can't get Rudy for JJ, our pick, or JJ+our pick(too much IMO), then I think we should look at other options. We could re-sign Flip and sign a long term SG next year for the MLE. Here are some of the candidates.

Rudy Fernandez-Why sacrifice pieces when we could sign him next year?
Michael Redd-Career as we know it is over, but might be a nice off the bench piece. Attitude isn't as bad as a TMacs, so he could handle it.
Terrence Williams
Courtney Lee
Michael Pietrus
Nick Young
JR Smith-Not sure about him???
Aaron Afflalo
Corey Brewer

The list is longer, but these are a few of the guys that stood out. I really want to reunite Corey Brewer with Noah, but I think Afflalo would fit in nice with this team and Rose. He's a shooter we need.

Top 30 NBA Players - #3

gi0rdun — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:09:40 GMT

1 - LeBron James
2 - Kobe Bryant

Because it's kinda obvious that Top 2 are LeBron and Kobe. Who is number 3?

For me it's Dwyane Wade.

From the KVBL

Dre� — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:14:46 GMT

Hey, I guess you know me from being Pacer GM in this thread, but I also help out with the other league on this board, the KVBL.

We're looking for people to help us out with something.

Due to the nature of out simulation program, we've decided to go with "Agents" to help with free agency.

We need neutral parties, with knowledge of the cap willing to work together and decide where they believe Free Agents will have the best opportunities.

For more details PM me.

Been playing a lot lately

VanillaPrice — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:36:18 GMT

And slowly but surely it's coming back to me. I've just been playing four on four pickup games with friends so it's not like I'm in any real competition but it feels great to be playing again. Earlier in the week when we started playing my shot was completely gone so I had to rely on my passing and the fact that I have a better understanding of the game then the people I play with (only one of them have ever played basketball on any kind of team before so it's not like I'm taking on allstars here) but today my jumper started falling and my team dominated all four games.

Hopefully this continues because I definiatly forgot how much fun it is.

Stern warns teams not to tamper with Paul

Diable — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:36:16 GMT

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5414701

They are a bit late on this as teams like the Blazers have been doing this for a couple of years more or less openly without a word from the front office.

Quote:

The NBA unexpectedly issued a memorandum to its teams to remind them about the league's tampering regulations and specifically to warn them against illegal contact with Chris Paul, ESPN.com has learned.

The memo, circulated Tuesday by the league office, states that "no team should be having communications with Chris Paul or his agent or representative about a potential trade for Paul that have not been authorized in advance by the New Orleans Hornets."
The memo, sources said, also threatens to punish any such communications with penalties that range from "suspension of the offending person, prohibition of the offending team from hiring the person being tampered with, forfeiture of draft picks and individual and/or team fines of up to $5 million."
The NBA took the uncommon measure of actually naming a specific player in a tampering memo in the wake of various media reports in recent days that Paul's new agent Leon Rose -- who also represents Paul's close friend LeBron James -- has been urging a handful of teams to pursue trades for his client.

NFC West

Organized Chaos — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:19:39 GMT

With the slight success of doing this last yr and football season upon us, it's time to go division by division to discuss how we see each team and landscape of the NFL this upcoming season.

2008 Record: 7-9, 2nd AFC West

Head Coach: Mike Singletary; 2nd yr

Key Additions: WR/KR Ted Ginn Jr, OLB Travis Laboy.

Losses: OT Tony Pashos, WR Arnaz Battle, QB Shaun Hill.

Draft Picks: OT Anthony Davis, OG Mike Iupati, S Taylor Mays, LB Navorro Bowman, RB Anthony Dixon, TE Nate Byham, WR Kyle Williams, CB Phil Adams.

2008 Record:: 9-7, 1st AFC West; lost to Saints in Divisional RD

Head Coach: Ken Whisenhunt; 4th yr

Key Additions: S Kerry Rhodes, OG Alan Faneca, OLB Joey Porter, QB Derek Anderson.

Losses: QB Kurt Warner, WR Anquan Boldin, LB Karlos Dansby, S Antrel Rolle, CB Bryant McFadden, K Neil Rackers.

Draft Picks: NT Dan Williams, LB Daryl Washington, WR Andre Roberts, OLB O'Brien Schofield, QB John Skelton, CB Jorrick Calvin, TE Jim Dray.

2008 Record::5-11, 3rd NFC West

Head Coach: Pete Carroll; 1st Year

Key Additions: RB Leon Washington, G/C Ben Hamilson.

Losses: OT Walter Jones (retired), DE Darryl Tapp, S Deon Grant, DE Patrick Kerney (retired), DE Cory Redding, Justin Griffith.

Draft Picks: OT Russell Okung, S Earl Thomas, WR Golden Tate, CB Walter Thurmond, DE EJ Wilson, S Kam Chancellor, TE Anthony McCoy, TE Dexter Davis, WR Jameson Konz.

2008 Record:: 2-14, 4th NFC West

Head Coach: Steve Spagnuolo; 2nd yr

Key Additions: DT Fred Robbins, DT Chris Hovan.

Losses: DT Adam Carriker, OT Alex Barron.

Draft Picks: QB Sam Bradford, OT Rodger Saffold, CB Jerome Murphy, WR Mardy Gilyard, TE Mike Hoomanawanui, DE Hall Davis, TE Fendi Onobun, DE Eugent Sims, CB Marquis Johnson, DE George Selvie, LB Josh Hull.

How many players have ever made 20 mil in salary in one year?

Ballscientist — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:39:54 GMT

Including former nba players

I believe it is about 10 players, five of them are seeking for the minimum salary this summer:

Shaq, McGrady, Marbury, Iverson, J ONeal

another five:

Jordan, Kobe, Duncan, KG and Lewis

Who else?

Prokhorov: I respect their choice, and no one has the right to judge them.

UD40 — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:29:11 GMT

Quote:

'The players are signed, the "Decision" is made, but the passions around this year's extraordinary class of NBA free agents refuses to die down. What surprises me is the amount of negative commentary directed at the three top free agents (especially LeBron James) who decided to play on the same team and to create a great franchise together. Of course, any club owner dreams of having those players, including me, but all questions of how the announcements were made aside, I respect their choice, and no one has the right to judge them.

I want to say that I support LeBron, the best athlete in the NBA. He had a truly difficult choice to make. Any move he made was sure to be viewed as wrong, and to leave many unhappy fans. Basing his decision on achieving results on the basketball court shows that the sportsman won the day, not the showman or the businessman. What is wrong with that?

We are seeing the birth of a new, dynamic team with such star players, and all of us can await the new season with great anticipation. I wish them success and give them my moral support. I will be happy for us to beat the Miami Heat in the conference finals, maybe not this season, but in the very near future.'

Read more: http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archiv...#ixzz0v82fwlH8

Complete opposite of what Gilbert said. Prokhorov never really went public (to my knowledge) on many subjects in the NBA today, so it's good to see him speak his mind on this situation, especially with the rumors of LeBron and Jay-Z butting heads.

New Jersey Nets Depth Chart

briaN37 — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:27:21 GMT

Dooling (24)/Quinn (24)
Lee (28)/Williams (12)/Casspi (8)
Williams (24)/Casspi (24)
Thompson (30)/Josh Boone (18)
Lopez (40)/Humphries (8)

Reserve: Taylor, Anderson, Hassell

Dooling (PG) (1st/24/outside/auto/-1/2/-)
Quinn (PG) (2nd/24/outside/auto/-1/2/-)
Lee (SG) (1st/28/auto/auto/1/2/-)
Williams (SF) (1st/36/auto/auto/1/2/1)
Casspi (SF) (2nd/32/outside/auto/1/1/-)
Thompson (PF) (1st/30/auto/post/1/2/-)
Boone (PF) (2nd/18/post/post/-1/2/-2)
Lopez (C) (1st/40/auto/post/2/-1/1)
Humphries (C) (2nd/8/post/post/-1/2/-2)

Battie (C) (none)
Hayes (SF) (none)
Simmons (SF) (none)

Clippers DC (Subject to change)

scarface132 — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:11:52 GMT

LA Clippers Depth Chart

(Bolded to denote all new obviously)

PG- Chauncey Billups(40)/Tayshaun Prince (16)
SG- Shawn Marion(40)/David Lee/Tayshaun Prince
SF- David Lee (40)/Shawn Marion/DeAndre Jordan (24)
PF-Ben Wallace(36)Andris Biedrins/DeAndre Jordan
C-Andris Biedrins(40)/Ben Wallace/DeAndre Jordan

PG Chauncey Billups 1st 40 minutes post offense auto defense +2 OI - DI auto BH

SG Shawn Marion 1st SG 3rd SF 40 minutes post offense auto defense +2 OI -DI -2 BH

SF- David Lee 1st SF 3rd SG 40 minutes post offense auto defense +2 OI - DI -2 BH

PF- Ben Wallace 1st PF 3rd C 40 minutes post offense auto defense +2 OI - DI -2 BH

C- Andris Biedrins 1st C 3rd PF 40 minutes post offense auto defense +2 OI - DI -2 BH

Charlie Villanueva no role (as in do not list him @ pg sg sf pf or c) 1 minute drive offense auto defense +2 OI +2 DI -2 BH

C DeAndre Jordan 24 minutes ok PF ok C Auto offense auto defense +2 OI +2 DI -2 BH

PF Craig Smith no role 1 minute drive offense auto defense +2 OI +2 DI -2 BH

PF Steve Novak no role 1 minute post offense auto defense +2 OI +2 DI -2 BH

PG Ty Lawson no role 1 minute post offense auto defense +2 OI +2 DI - BH

C Brian Skinner no role 1 minute auto offense auto defense +2 OI +2 DI -2 BH

C Tayshaun Prince 16 min 1 minute post offense auto defense +2 OI +2 DI -2 BH

Minnesota Timberwolves Depth Chart

Vuchato — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:48:24 GMT

PG: Andre Miller (22)/Ricky Rubio (18)/Jonny Flynn (8)
SG: Jonny Flynn (22)/Wayne Ellington (18)/Ricky Rubio (4)/Damien Wilkins (2)/Corey Brewer (2)
SF: Corey Brewer (24)/Ryan Gomes(16)/Wayne Ellington (6)/Damien Wilkins (2)
PF: Kevin Love (34)/Oleksiy Pecherov (10)/Ryan Gomes (4)
C: Greg Oden(28)/Joel Przybilla (14)/Darko Milicic (6)
Inactive: Nathan Jawai, Brian Cardinal, Ryan Hollins

Kevin Love 1st/34/post/post/2/-1/0
Jonny Flynn 1st/30/drive/drive/1/1/1
Greg Oden 1st/26/post/post/1/2/0
Corey Brewer 1st/24/outside/outside/0/2/-2
Andre Miller 1st/22/drive/outside/-1/2/2
Wayne Ellington 2nd/24/outside/outside/1/0/0
Ricky Rubio 2nd/22/drive/driving/-2/2/2
Ryan Gomes 2nd/20/outside/outside/0/1/-2
Joel Przybilla 2nd/14/post/post/-1/2/-2
Oleksiy Pecherov 2nd/8/post/post/0/0/-2
Darko Milicic 3rd/6/post/post/-1/2/-2
Damien Wilkins 3rd/4/outside/outside/-2/1/-1
Ryan Hollins 4th/2/post/post/0/1/-2
Nathan Jawai 4th/1/post/post/-1/1/-2
Brian Cardinal no/1/outside/outside/-2/2/-2

Machete vs The Expandables

fjkdsi — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:55:31 GMT

Which one are you more looking forward to?

So Heat fans don't think their interior defense, as of now, is an issue?

Dre� — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:44:03 GMT

I want to make sure we're on the same page, because if the Heat do lose to the Lakers I'd place a strong bet that the post play was the story.

I don't want to see anyone who's saying it's not an issue now start copping pleas.

So if you believe it, state it once and for all..and why?

That other thread is about Eddie House not the Heat's interior defense.