Heisley: Grizzlies Won't Leave Memphis

Post #1 » by **SD2042** » Fri Aug 7, 2009 4:25 pm

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... e_memphis/

jefe · Post #2 » by **jefe** » Fri Aug 7, 2009 6:58 pm

Heisley is just stating the obvious here IMO. However, I'm sure some people will refuse to believe it - some mofos are always trying to iceskate uphill.

G.A. Clone · Post #3 » by **G.A. Clone** » Sat Aug 8, 2009 1:42 pm

I'm sure Vancouver Grizzlies fans remember the same thing all too well. Since this was pretty much the same thing he said when the team was still here in Vancouver. Good luck with that Memphis.

Downtown · Post #4 » by **Downtown** » Sat Aug 8, 2009 4:07 pm

As someone living here in Vancouver I remember it well. But the circumstances are totally different. In Vancouver there weren't any financial strings attached to Heisley leaving. In Memphis he would have to pay something like $100mil in penalties to move. The only guy I can think of that can absorb that kind of bill is Steve Balmer from Microsoft in Seattle. And it's well known that until they get a major upgrade or new arena nothing is happening there. Balmer has offered $150mil out of the $300mil needed yet with the economy the state legislature has turned down the latest bill to fund a renovation until things pick up. I believe Seattle will have a team but it won't be for quite a few years yet.

On hoopsworld there's an interesting article today on the subject of who is relocating. The writer stated that Sacramento is the only team that might go somewhere in the near future.

Safe to say that even though Heisley isn't one to be trusted the Grizzlies aren't going anywhere soon unless a white knight rides into town. And that only happens in fairy tales. Heisley said that the Grizzlies actually turned a profit(hard to believe I know) last season. He may not know how to put a winning basketball team together but he knows how to make a dollar. And if there's a new collective agreement that swings back towards the owners then he's in even better shape. Even if they give Rudy Gay a big contract extension it could kick in after Zach Randolph's contract is up. Plus now that they have 3 first round picks next year they can keep filling the roster with low priced players on 4 year rookie contracts.

Gee, maybe I am starting to see the vision of this team.

Downtown · Post #5 » by **Downtown** » Sat Aug 8, 2009 7:00 pm

Just got my tickets for the Oct. 22 game between Phoenix and Portland. Row 1 right behind one of the benches( I don't know which team will be where). I'm excited to see the NBA return to Vancouver, even if it is for one pre season game.

G.A. Clone · Post #6 » by **G.A. Clone** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:38 am

right on Downtown, good to know that there's still people who likes hoops that also lives in Vancouver. me and a couple of friends got tickets to that game too, but we only got the ones behind one of the baskets because we weren't quick enough. can't wait!

raptorsam · Post #7 » by **raptorsam** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:50 am

Heisly is a moron, he could hvbe made a ton of money in one of N. America's richest cities but instead moved the team to memphis of all places and will continue to draw 5000 bums a game while being the joke of the NBA.

Downtown · Post #8 » by **Downtown** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:49 am

While it's true that the attendance in Memphis is poor, and the team has struggled to win games since Hubie Brown left town, owner Michael Heisley has stated that the Grizzlies are one of the few teams that actually turned a profit somehow last season.

Go figure. As long as his cost cutting measures allow him to stay around the break even point he isn't going to lose much sleep. You can call them a joke but his accountant likes the way he makes all those little trades that bring in a million here, a half million there. This sounds strange but I can actually see a number of small market teams adopting the Memphis model over the next couple of years to stay alfloat until some sort of revenue sharing comes into play among the owners.