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The Memphis Grizzlies signed free-agent center Hamed Haddadi, who led all 2008 Olympians in rebounding and blocks, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Ahvaz, Iran native recently participated in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, where he was the only player to average a double-double (16.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks) in Olympic competition while playing five games for the Iranian National Team. The 7-2, 254-pound center had his best performance came against eventual bronze medal winner Argentina when he had a team-high 21 points and game-high 16 rebounds on Aug. 16. “We are pleased to sign Hamed,” said Wallace. “He is a young center who was very productive as a rebounder, shotblocker and scorer at the Rocky Mountain Revue Summer League in Salt Lake City, Utah, the 2008 Olympics and the FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament in Nanjing, China prior to the Olympics. Our coaching staff is eager to begin working with Hamed.”


What happened to the federal statute forbidding business dealings with Iran?

I think that Memphis went through the proper channels with the Feds to sign him and bring him over.

Seems like this may speed up the trade of Milicic to the Knicks for Randolph.

This will be huge for Memphis. Hadadi is one of the few true centers left in the world. I don't mean to overhype, and he has a lot to prove, but at his career best,e he will be a mediocre but stable poor man's Wilt Chamberlain.

I think he has a lot of potential and at the least could put up a double double and provide a presence on defense.

This can be a potentially big boost to the NBA in terms of spreading basketball hype and NBA marketability to Iran's young population of 70 million, along with the entire Middle East in general.

Nice news to hear.

Did you know that he entered the 2004 draft, but because no-one had seen him before, he passed.

to answer the question in the OP, the original article stated that the state department was proccessing a waiver.

it must have gone through

ToffBosh wrote:Great, another Euro, just what the NBA needs...

Hey Everyone! Did you knew that Iran was a country right in between Croatia and Portugal?

Also for your knowledge, Argentina is between Malta and Wales.

Viva les Euros!

Good for the NBA, should be a fun story.

I saw him play in the diamond bal. Well,not a bad player, clearly the main guy in Iran team. Delicious hands to shoot and take rebounds. Apparently he has also the personality and the guts. The most evident flaw is his vertical,quite poor,but he is not a bad athlete overall(can run, block with timing ec...). Of course won't be easy for him being a foreigner, who has to adapt to a different culture. I expect him to be a competent back up for Darko, who i clearly underrated and has what it takes to be a dominat player in both sides of the court(it's all about confidence for him)

He cannot replace The Kwame

Duiz wrote:

ToffBosh wrote:Great, another Euro, just what the NBA needs...

Hey Everyone! Did you knew that Iran was a country right in between Croatia and Portugal?

Also for your knowledge, Argentina is between Malta and Wales.

Viva les Euros!

I guess the green font meant something

Amazing that they were able to get him set up legally so quickly. I wonder how difficult it is to get a regular Iranian over here for a job.

Hamed Haddadi & Marc Gasol.....The New Twin Tower???

Memphis should trade Milicic right now. Marc is clearly better than Darko and Haddadi, and the iranian is better prospect than Darko. Milicic is absolutely wasted and should return to Europe to be a king on his own town. Go away Darko.

I've seen Hamid Hadadi at diamond ball and olympics and he's weak on the physical side of his game. Kind of Yao prospect with less movility but good player to develope. The economic aspect for the Grizzlies and the muslim community are also great.

Marc should be starting right away, he's a done player and much better than what he showed at the olympics, were he had a pass-first role.

I don't think Marc could play as a tall PF since he doesn't have his brother's movility. He's stronger than Pau, agressive on the paint and has nice low post moves, a pure 7 footer center. Pretty different than his older brother.

Duiz wrote:This will be huge for Memphis. Hadadi is one of the few true centers left in the world. I don't mean to overhype, and he has a lot to prove, but at his career best,e he will be a mediocre but stable poor man's Wilt Chamberlain.

Never actually seen this guy play a full game, but wouldn't you say a better description might be a homeless, mentally-deranged man's Wilt Chamberlain? Or better yet, the second coming of Daniel Santiago.

He is going to be so disappointed when he discovers the Grizzles situation compared to the Raptors. (It was confirmed the Raptors also made an offer, maybe other teams did too)

Duiz wrote:

ToffBosh wrote:Great, another Euro, just what the NBA needs...

Hey Everyone! Did you knew that Iran was a country right in between Croatia and Portugal?

Also for your knowledge, Argentina is between Malta and Wales.

Viva les Euros!

lol! Iran is a country in Asia, not Europe... People needs to check the X's & O's of the world map.

Duiz wrote:This will be huge for Memphis. Hadadi is one of the few true centers left in the world. I don't mean to overhype, and he has a lot to prove, but at his career best,e he will be a mediocre but stable poor man's Wilt Chamberlain.

Bucky O'Hare brainwashed you.