RealGM

Will the Grizzlies trade AI at the deadline?

They would be foolish not to in my view! Why foolish? Because Iverson will not be in Memphis for more than one season.

Iverson's plan is to resurrect his career and reputation by playing nice with the Grizz and by helping to develope the young core all while improving there record from last year maybe even make the 7th or 8th seed. All this will reflect positively on Allen so he can join a championship contender next season.

The Grizzlies brought in Iverson for reasons listed above and to sell more tickets and to increase merchandise sales both of which help the bottom line. This makes them an exciting team to watch and they will improve.

Unless they become a top three team in the West come January which would take a miracle I think they should look to trade him. If AI is simply going to walk away and sign where he wants which leaves them with nothing, it would behoove them to trade him to a serious contender who can offer something the Grizzlies can use in the future.

Only a contender who felt they had a solid chance of re-signing AI or one that felt he was the missing piece to win the championship would be willing, a **** team is not going to sacrifice it's future to bring in AI for 30 games. A contender with multiple draft picks and a solid young player could get it done and this seems like a smart move for the Grizzlies.

Why let AI who is still an asset walk away after this season and he will getting nothing in return, when you can get something and they will get many offers at the deadline, believe you me!

And even though AI has made it clear he wants to start on any team he plays for I think when it comes down to it and he can see a championship and he has no choice he will at least pretend for 30 games plus playoffs and then he can sign elsewhere should he choose. He does have an ego and an Alpha Male complex but we all surprise ourselves from time to time in order to get what we want. Besides once the word comes that he is being shopped I guarantee you he will be singing the right tune about wanting to be somewhere he's wanted and coming off the bench to win the ultimate prize is fine by him.

AI will resurrect his career and he may not like it but he should be traded if the GM Wallace is smart, unless there is some no trade clause which would signify to me how smart AI is.

Celtic Nation what is your view???

Honestly, I don't get what the Grizzlies are doing by adding Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson to a very young basketball team. Would you want Zach and AI teaching your young players on how to be a professional basketball player? I wouldn't.

I could see if Zach and AI went to a team full of vets like Boston, San Antonio etc. but to go to a young team is just a disaster waiting to happen IMO.

What is Chris Wallace doing? I guess he really doesn't want to be a GM longterm.

As far as Iverson getting traded at the deadline, with Chris Wallace at the helm anything can happen.

I can understand the AI addition. Conley isn't ready for the full time job and Mayo logged 38 mpg last year and he'll be run into the ground soon enough. AI will provide reliable relief for both guys and help Mayo learn to get into the lane better.

But I don't understand the Randolph addition. Arthur can give you the same rebounding numbers with better defense and less scoring (which Mem has plenty of)

How does this even merit conversation. Nobody else really even wanted AI what would he return in a trade?

More importantly he can't be traded without his permission because he is on a one year deal.

Yes they will trade him to the Lakers for the rights to Sun Yue and Adam Morrison's girlfriend.

Rocky5000 wrote:Yes they will trade him to the Lakers for the rights to Sun Yue and Adam Morrison's girlfriend.

No way, that's who we're trading Rondo for...

How does this even merit conversation. Nobody else really even wanted AI what would he return in a trade?

More importantly he can't be traded without his permission because he is on a one year deal.

I feel i know basketball well but is this true that if you sign a player to a one year deal they can not be traded without permission? It very well could be.

Please someone give me this link. I believe you sully00 but just want to see it in print.

However, even if this is true I still see it happening with his permission. AI assumed he would be picked up by some playoff team so he could show his worth but no one would touch him because of the Detroit debacle.. AGREED. Hence Iverson having this opportunity to redeem himself.

I assume in the new year unless there is a miracle Memphis will come to the conclusion that they will not be able to keep Iverson next year and he will walk away. So, they may approach him and say would you agree to a trade to these particular contending teams.

They won't get a stud in return but "something is better than nothing. When AI redeems himself and he will and Memphis realizes that he will walk away I am convinced they will sit down and work out a mutually beneficial trade come february.

Will Memphis get back an all-star, hell no, ,but they will realize it's better to get a decent contributer and some draft picks than nothing. And since it would be a contender we're talking picks around #22-30.

Do you really think AI is playing for Memphis because that is where he wants to be? He at this moment has no choice but when he redeems himself it will become a mutually beneficial situation to trade him at the deadline with or without his permission.

Mark my words!

i don't think i would trade a future 1st at this point for AI.
if we could sign him for the min (which was never going to happen), then fine, that's too good to pass up.
otherwise i'll pass.

AI is just not the sort of player who's going to come in midseason and "fit in". he's a guy who needs an offense designed around him to be effective. unfortunately he's now an extremely inefficient scorer (he never was that efficient but now he's much worse), which i think is contrary to our team's makeup.

O.P I think Sully has a good point. I doubt that any team nevertheless a contender was willing or even considering to sign A.I, so why would they even consider trading more pieces to obtain him when they could've picked him up relatively cheap.
I think last years bad experience A.I left in everyones mind when he chose to sit out and left the Pistons hanging has stayed in every G.Ms mind and I think with so much pool of talent in the league today that a lot of G.Ms werent willing to even take a chance on A.I.
I think A.I has basically come to the end of his career and its really sad that he had to end his career the way he is doing. Oh well you get what you put into it.

Points well taken by all. I admit when I'm wrong and in this case only time will tell.

You are all right about his perception in the league right now. No one wants to take a chance on him NOW.

Most did not think Rodman would end up on the Lakers after his antics back in the day nor did most think Artest would ever bounce back from the incident at the Palace in Auburn Hills. I didn't think either were possible. But Iverson for all his bitching is not either of those guys and if he can prove himself to be a leader again and does not mess with chemistry in the lockerroom I just might be proved correct in my analysis.

This is my prediction. And I hold no belief that the Boston Celtics will be one of these contending teams who will get the deal done. So much can happen from training camp til february and Iverson's 3.5mil contract should he prove himself would be worth at least an expiring contract and a first rounder to a contender. At least.

Don't underestimate the power of supply and demand when a guard from a contender goes down with an injury for the season.

I'm not saying any of you are wrong, I'm just saying don't be surprised when it happens.

AI can be dealt without his permission, so carry on with dealing AI before his signing is official.

keltickings wrote:
I'm not saying any of you are wrong, I'm just saying don't be surprised when it happens.

Let me see if I can sum it up for you.

Lets say A.I doesnt have any problems or issues and he is the best teammate a team can ever wish for.

Now whats your plan?

Its very obvious he wants to start and he isnt willing to take a back seat to anyone and wants well over 30min of P.T. Are you willing to bench Rondo and have a young talented player like Rondo, a proven P.G that knows his role and have him sit on the bench and give his minutes to A.I???

No, why would you do that? Rondo is a proven and an effective P.G that has done well for you guys since he started for you guys.
He has talent and he is still growing, so why go and take away his talent, his game and the fact that he is proven himself many times that he is worthy as a starter for a contending team like yours for someone like A.I that has already publicaly came out and said he doesnt want to come off the bench and he wants to start.

Isnt that why A.I screwed the Pistons over since he was benched and then he decided to throw a fit and claim he was injured and he left the Pistons hanging when the Pistons really needed him in the playoffs against the Cavs and traded away Chauncy to get him.

Here why dont you ask Sheed what he thinks about A.I coming to the Celtics, I bet you he has a say so in it.

Celts17Pride wrote:What is Chris Wallace doing? I guess he really doesn't want to be a GM longterm.

As far as Iverson getting traded at the deadline, with Chris Wallace at the helm anything can happen.

sillyboy,

The coaching staff and GM were reported numerous times to be against the A.I. trade. Since it was a done deal with Heisley, Wallace is now saying all the right things to Iverson's ears.

Let me get this straight, you actually believe Wallace traded Gasol? That was another Heisley move. Wallace is, unfortunately, a man constrained by severe spending limitations of his owner, and several bad contracts that he has jettisoned or let expire since arriving.

As bad as Heisley is, sending in a watchdog for 5 years didn't help. After years of being at the bottom of the lottery, the Grizz (at David Stern's direction) brought in Jerry West to supposedly protect the Grizzlies from Heisley's follies. Unfortunately, one of the first things Jerry West did, when Heisley asked him why they hadn't signed any free agents yet, was offer Brian Cardinal a max MLE deal, and then say to Heisley, "Are you Happy Now." West also detonated the Bulls attempt to trade for Pau Gasol by insisting on Ben Gordon and Luol Deng, when the Grizz would give Gasol away a year later for Marc Gasol, Javaris Crittenton, $3 million cash, Kwame Brown and 2 First Round picks that will average between #28 and #29. Two disastrous moves by West, the Grizzlies would have been better off dealing with the Bulls. All they have to show for Pau Gasol is $3 million cash, Marc Gasol, a future pick returned by Washington (from the Navarro trade) for Javaris Crittenton, and a swap of the Lakers 2010 First Round Pick for the Grizzlies 2010 Second Round Pick, which could be like swapping #31 for #29.

I actually was expecting them to buy Iverson out. They'll have sold their 20 million Memphis Iverson jerseys in China by then. Figure $3.5 million for 50 games work. Then Iverson will sign on with either the Lakers, Magic or Celtics for the Championship run.

Doubt they would trade him, he'd be impossible to deal with unless he wanted to go wherever he's going.

Jammer wrote: Unfortunately, one of the first things Jerry West did, when Heisley asked him why they hadn't signed any free agents yet, was offer Brian Cardinal a max MLE dea, and then say to Heisley, "Are you Happy Now." West also detonated the Bulls attempt to trade for Pau Gasol by insisting on Ben Gordon and Luol Deng, when the Grizz would give Gasol away a year later for Marc Gasol, Javaris Crittenton, $3 million cash, Kwame Brown and 2 First Round picks that will average between #28 and #29. Two disastrous moves by West, the Grizzlies would have been better off dealing with the Bulls. All they have to show for Pau Gasol is $3 million cash, Marc Gasol, and they got a future pick returned by Washington (the Navarro trade) for Javaris Crittenton.

Here we go again............ this just doesnt really get old does it?

So do you have a link or any proof to backup your ridiculous accusations, since thats all this is accusations and basically your version of YOUR story.

When was West ever involved in Paus trade to LA?

Also the reason that the trade didnt fall through was Pau made I think 12 mil or 15 mil (5 Years) and these were the pieces that was suppose to work in that trade, Ben Gordon ($3.8M, 2yrs), Luol Deng ($2.6M, 2yrs) or Adrian Griffin ($1.5M, 3yrs) and 2007 Draft Picks (#9). And as I recall the Bulls didnt want to part ways with Deng. Thats what caused the Grizz to pull out of that trade. They wanted Deng in the deal but again Paxton didnt want to give up Deng.


We needed a big man since Bynum went down, Pau wasnt happy in Memphis and Memphis was paying him 15 mill a year for nothing. As far as the Grizz reasons by getting rid of Kwame Brown the Lakers could’ve simply had his 9 million come off the books at the end of the season but they didnt and that was a very good reason that Memphis liked that deal. Also they got a very talented young rookie in J.C and in Marc Gasol that has done very well in Europe and if you havent noticed is doing very well for Memphis too. Marc Gasol is extremely athletic and very big. He’s 7′1″ and 265 pounds. We already know that he is clearly more aggressive than Pau and is not afraid to use his size to dominate and bang in the paint.

J.C who is a very decent player, but they decided to pass him along to Washington to get their own first round pick from the Navarro deal back which is always valuable to have that as a likely lottery team (would have been a protected first round pick top 19 in 2008, top 16 in 2009, top 14 in 2010-12, top 12 in 2013, else 2014 second round pick). In other words THIS IS NOW THE #2 PICK or it would still live in Washington!

They got two likely very low first round picks from the Lakers. The first one was 2008 #28, and they drafted Donte Greene and traded him for Darrell Arthur. 2010 is the second one, top 6 protected just in case.

With the expiring deals of McKie and Brown, they saved a ton of cap space. Didnt they?
They can still use to acquire free agents if they are willing to spend in 10 again which they will, for a player that puts them in the playoffs.

Without Pau they tanked and what happened they got a #5 draft pick, and managed to convert Kevin Love and Mike Miller into O.J. Mayo.

You are badly misrepresented the Memphis end of the trade. In all honesty I have a problem with people always neglecting to mention the most important piece that Memphis got.

Come on now, if your going to talk nonsense then dont get West involved in it. Its sort of like Laker fans saying that about McHale and Ainge and McHale helping out his own than anyone else, which he did do.

TonyMontana wrote:
J.C who is a very decent player, but they decided to pass him along to Washington to get their own first round pick from the Navarro deal back which is always valuable to have that as a likely lottery team (would have been a protected first round pick top 19 in 2008, top 16 in 2009, top 14 in 2010-12, top 12 in 2013, else 2014 second round pick). In other words THIS IS NOW THE #2 PICK or it would still live in Washington!

What are you talking about? All they got back for JC was a 2014 2nd round pick. Unless they make the playoffs by 2013, basically.

JC was a late first round prospect, a marginal guy; didn't get much run in LA and remained a marginal prospect - at a position where Memphis was already overloaded - and then he was traded away for even less value, probably a 2nd round pick, if Memphis somehow improves they got a mid to late #1 at BEST.

So JC was just as worthless as the late #1's they got from LA. And the cap space they used for Zach and that they will never manage to use on anyone remotely close to Pau's talent.

Luckily they got a foreign prospect in Marc who surprised and wound up decent; although they still decided to draft another center in the lottery this year.

All this for a 7'1" franchise big man who led them to 50 win seasons and playoffs 1 or 2 years previously.

West being involved is kind of a conspiracy theory type thing, but it was crazy fishy. I think they were discouraged and frustrated by Chicago's lowball offers and jumped at the next offer which happened to be even worse. They were desparate financially to dump him quick and didn't care at all what they got from a basketball standpoint. A TERRIBLE situation for the league. This kind of stuff happened in the '70s when Dr J got sold and stuff like that, but shouldn't happen now, but that's how the economy goes.

Gasol got sold like Dr. J or Babe Ruth, basically. That's all there is to it. Of course it was savings in salary rather than actual cash changing hands, but it was obviously a financial move with no motivation to better the team.

keltickings wrote:

How does this even merit conversation. Nobody else really even wanted AI what would he return in a trade?

More importantly he can't be traded without his permission because he is on a one year deal.

I feel i know basketball well but is this true that if you sign a player to a one year deal they can not be traded without permission? It very well could be.

Please someone give me this link. I believe you sully00 but just want to see it in print.

However, even if this is true I still see it happening with his permission. AI assumed he would be picked up by some playoff team so he could show his worth but no one would touch him because of the Detroit debacle.. AGREED. Hence Iverson having this opportunity to redeem himself.

I assume in the new year unless there is a miracle Memphis will come to the conclusion that they will not be able to keep Iverson next year and he will walk away. So, they may approach him and say would you agree to a trade to these particular contending teams.

They won't get a stud in return but "something is better than nothing. When AI redeems himself and he will and Memphis realizes that he will walk away I am convinced they will sit down and work out a mutually beneficial trade come february.

Will Memphis get back an all-star, hell no, ,but they will realize it's better to get a decent contributer and some draft picks than nothing. And since it would be a contender we're talking picks around #22-30.

Do you really think AI is playing for Memphis because that is where he wants to be? He at this moment has no choice but when he redeems himself it will become a mutually beneficial situation to trade him at the deadline with or without his permission.

Mark my words!

No, and here's why...

Chris Wallace wants to keep his job and Michael Heisley wants to sell his team....adding Iverson and Randolph is a HUGE risk from a personality standpoint, but from a talent and notoriety standpoint it is a huge win.

Memphis now has a legit chance, on paper, of making a run for the playoffs - they have 4 elite scorers and depth at every position. There is good balance between youth and experience, with some smart players mixed in with some that need development in that area. Iverson, for all his flaws, brings leadership and guidance to a team lacking a distinct voice.

Iverson has his warts, but he knows how to take charge and will get others to follow - Randolph is an idiot, but he is also a follower - Mayo and Gay are young and should respect Iverson's pedigree since both likely idolized him as children.

The Grizz are not a team that has a lot of pull around the league, so Wallace aquired who he could get. Wallace needs to generate some excitement in Memphis and push for the playoffs or he'll be replaced - this is a calculated risk designed for self-preservation.

Now - the biggest issue is going to be with the personalities involved - Randolph and Iverson are established "give me the damn ball" types. Mayo certainly strikes me as the kind of guy that won't be overly thrilled to take a statistical backseat as he is trying to establish his career - these three could be fighting for touches all season if they are not managed effectively.

Rudy is a wild-card, doesn't seem like a ball-hogging, aggresive type, but he may just be silent about it all. Regardless, this season Memphis will be a team to watch because they are a social expirement - Wallace isn't going to trade Iverson if the team is competitive because it will make them less so and may cost him his job.

Only way Iverson goes is if the team totally implodes, which would spell the end for Wallace anyways...Heisley is just looking to increase profile, so he will go with what gets him the most positive attention.

Great post Bill.

I agree that if the team implodes, say is out of the playoff picture by the deadline AI could go. I think the only trade that would make any sense is if a contender lost a starter at the 1 or the 2. If Ray Allen went down and we could get AI for Scal, cash and a late pick we might pull the trigger. The same can be said for ORL, LA, CLE, and SA

TonyMontana wrote:

keltickings wrote:
I'm not saying any of you are wrong, I'm just saying don't be surprised when it happens.

Let me see if I can sum it up for you.

Lets say A.I doesnt have any problems or issues and he is the best teammate a team can ever wish for.

Now whats your plan?

Its very obvious he wants to start and he isnt willing to take a back seat to anyone and wants well over 30min of P.T. Are you willing to bench Rondo and have a young talented player like Rondo, a proven P.G that knows his role and have him sit on the bench and give his minutes to A.I???

TonyMontana

I never said will the Grizz trade AI to the Celtics, I don't want AI on our team! I don't think he is a good fit with us because of Rondo and Sheed and 30 other variables!

Keltickings wrote:And I hold no belief that the Boston Celtics will be one of these contending teams who will get the deal done.

I simply asked if he would be traded to a contender. Don't be shocked if Memphis helps the Lakers again. I just think they would be stupid to not trade him for something. If they don't he will walk away and they get nothing. They could trade him for a 2nd round pick and Paul Shirley and it would be a good deal because he is not staying in Memphis after this season. That's my point.
So to sum up again AI should be traded and the Celtics are not a good fit.

chakdaddy wrote:
What are you talking about? All they got back for JC was a 2014 2nd round pick. Unless they make the playoffs by 2013, basically.

First of all Javaris' ceilings is pretty ridiculous, and he was a #1 draft pick with tremendous upside when he was drafted by the Lakers in the 1st round. J.C couldn't get minutes over Conley or Lowry, and Lowry was on the trade market first and a lower pick than J.C. cCnley's gotten the best production out of all of them so it was very obvious that they were going to use J.C as a piece for a trade or cash. Right?
Well whos fault is that, the Lakers?

chakdaddy wrote: JC was a late first round prospect, a marginal guy; didn't get much run in LA and remained a marginal prospect - at a position where Memphis was already overloaded - and then he was traded away for even less value, probably a 2nd round pick, if Memphis somehow improves they got a mid to late #1 at BEST.

So JC was just as worthless as the late #1's they got from LA.

Right again your taking the Grizz F.O mistakes and the ability to make good trades and your blaming and accusing the Lakers of wrong doings, which again has nothing to do with LA or Jerry West.

chakdaddy wrote: And the cap space they used for Zach and that they will never manage to use on anyone remotely close to Pau's talent.

Again Pau didn't want to play for Memphis, it was very obvious, wasnt it?
So how are you going to pay a player 15 mil a year when your franchise is struggling and your paying someone all that money and he isnt producing for you.
He wasn't playing for Memphis, they traded him for some great talent and expiring contracts. Now if their F.O didnt know how to use those pics and money then I just cant see how that falls on the Lakers lap. But realistically they won cause they didnt have to deal with Pau who wasnt doing anything for them anyways.
An then they had all that cap space to spend on talent and 2 future first rounders who could very well end up being the next guy and they can legally tank for a few years to get high lotteries which they have been doing and now they added A.I for 3.5 mil.

chakdaddy wrote:Luckily they got a foreign prospect in Marc who surprised and wound up decent; although they still decided to draft another center in the lottery this year.

All this for a 7'1" franchise big man who led them to 50 win seasons and playoffs 1 or 2 years previously.

Luckily............. LMAO.
How many true 7 footers are in the league today?
Marc Gasol, who Im sure you know was the MVP of the Spanish league. He won a chip in the spanish league and also helped win a gold medal for the Spanish National team as well as 2 silvers. He could very well be better than his brother in a few years to come. He has done very well for his rookie season and he is a starter at this time. So I dont think its luck, everyone knew about his talents and again thats why we drafted him.

chakdaddy wrote: West being involved is kind of a conspiracy theory type thing, but it was crazy fishy. I think they were discouraged and frustrated by Chicago's lowball offers and jumped at the next offer which happened to be even worse.

To you and others, but apperantly it wasnt to Grizz Org.

chakdaddy wrote: They were desparate financially to dump him quick and didn't care at all what they got from a basketball standpoint.

Right 9 mil came off the books and the 3 mil we gave them. Sounds like a good amount of cash for a team that was facing a desperate financial problem to me, and if they dont care about their fans then again I fail to see how that has anything to do with LA.

chakdaddy wrote: A TERRIBLE situation for the league. This kind of stuff happened in the '70s when Dr J got sold and stuff like that, but shouldn't happen now, but that's how the economy goes.

Not really, it happens all the time.
Here lets dig in your history books for a change. How about when you guys traded with Golden State with McHale and Parrish for Joe Barry Carrol in 1980??? How about that?
Or better yet Dallas Mavericks traded Robert Traylor to Bucks for Dirk Nowitzki in 1998.
Hell we even got screwed by the Shaq trade, samething that happened with Pau. We had to eat Brian Grants contract for a few years and we traded away Butler for sorry arse Kwame. I mean nobody is perfect but you dont hear us bitching about it.

Coach pop was one of the coachs that complained about the Pau trade but have you heard anyting from him about the R.J trade that recently took place?? No you know why cause its not the Lakers.

chakdaddy wrote:Gasol got sold like Dr. J or Babe Ruth, basically. That's all there is to it. Of course it was savings in salary rather than actual cash changing hands, but it was obviously a financial move with no motivation to better the team.

Again read the paragraph on top of this. Same answer.