Memphis Grizzlies Won’t Negotiate With Assistants Due To Lockout
In The Red
The Memphis Grizzlies have decided not to renegotiate the contracts of four assistants in preparation for a lockout. Assistants Johnny Davis, Dave Joerger, Henry Bibby and Barry Hecker all have contracts due to expire this summer, and have not talked with the team about new deals.
Precautionary measures similar to that of the Grizzlies have taken hold all over the league, as teams prepare for a possible lockout. Some organizations have provided partial pay to employees under contract. The San Antonio Spurs will give 75 percent of salaries during a lockout and pay back the other 25 percent later according to ESPN.
It’s also reported that Memphis provided head coach Lionel Hollins with a full playoff share, while assistants received only partial payment.
Memphis Grizzlies Head Coach Tells Grizzlies Fans To Shut The F Up
Don't Make Me Use These Crumpled Up Fingers On You
The Memphis Grizzlies already have bad publicity circulating their facilities with the arrest of O.J. Mayo father (Kenneth Maurice Ziegler) now have to hear their head coach tell 17-year-old die hard Grizzlies fans to “shut the f*ck up”. According to CBS Sports, Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins told a group of kids to “shut the **** up” after they made noise questioning his decision to leave center Hasheem Thabeet in the game instead of replacing him with Zach Randolph.
It’s kinda unheard of for a coach to go off on his own fans like that especially since many regard them to the level headed leaders of a team, masters of public relations.
Allen Iverson Already Unhappy In Memphis Part Tres
Surprising?
Memphis guard Allen Iverson returned to his home in Atlanta after receiving permission to leave the team to attend to personal business. Team owner Michael Heisley gave Iverson permission to skip the Grizzlies’ game Saturday night against the Los Angeles Clippers following a 114-98 loss to the Lakers the night before.
According to a team spokesman, Iverson participated in a walk through at the team’s hotel in the morning and then hopped a flight in the afternoon after he and personal manager Gary Moore met with Heisley.
“It’s a personal issue that they asked for permission to go attend to,” coach Lionel Hollins said. “It was granted, and it’s indefinite. I have no other information.” Asked if he had any timetable as to when Iverson might start for the Grizzlies, Hollins said: “I have no comment about that.”
Iverson reiterated his displeasure about coming off the bench minutes after the loss to the Lakers.
“It’s something that I never did in my life, so obviously it’s a big adjustment,” he said. “I’m so tired of discussing that, talking about that, every single day. It’s just not something that I want to discuss. That’s something you’ve got to ask the coach. He makes all the decisions around here. Obviously, they signed me for a reason. They’ve been watching me play this game for 13 years, and they know what I do on the basketball court.”
Is this already the end for Iverson in Memphis? Don’t believe so.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Memphis Grizzlies Talks Heat Up
History Class 38,387
The Grizzlies still are in “serious negotiations” with NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to help top draft pick Hasheem Thabeet, according to team owner Michael Heisley. Abdul-Jabbar has already visited Memphis back on October 25 attending a practice and meeting with serveral Grizzlies players. Heisley said both sides are trying to iron out a working arrangement.
“It’s a matter of how much time Kareem will give to us,” Heisley said. “We’re trying to come to an understanding of how Kareem will work. I want to make sure we’re getting somebody who will give attention to these kids and help them. He’s got a lot of commitments.”
Abdul-Jabbar, 62, is still under contract with the Los Angeles Lakers after having tutored Andrew Bynum over the past several seasons. Memphis, however, asked for and received permission from the Lakers to speak with Abdul-Jabbar.
“He wants to come and we want him to come,” Heisley said. “It’s really a question of whether he’s got commitments that will keep him away from the team more than we’d like.”
The Grizzlies have three centers, Marc Gasol, Hamed Haddadi and Thabeet, who could benefit from Abdul-Jabbar’s knowledge and experience. Abdul-Jabbar spent diner with the three centers when he visited back in October and has also met with Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins and general manager Chris Wallace. Heisley confirmed that Abdul-Jabbar would essentially be a consultant if a deal is reached.
“I don’t think there’s any question he can help our young guys,” Heisley said. “We’ll see what happens.”
Abdul-Jabbar is is arguably the best center to ever play in the NBA and the man needs a full time job. Hopefully he can take time off from filming another Airplane film and make this Memphis connection work.
Allen Iverson Already Unhappy In Memphis Part Deux
Surprising?
Allen Iverson came off the bench for the Memphis Grizzlies for the third straight game Friday night, scoring eight points in 22 minutes during their 114-98 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Iverson says he has no interest in being a reserve or playing for a rebuilding team, then why did he dot his government name to Memphis, and immediately made his displeasure public with several comments in the days following his season debut on Monday.
“I think that’s probably the worst part of all this,” Iverson said Friday. “That while all this is going on, we have never talked to each other. That’s probably why it’s at this point right now. We’ve just never had a conversation, so it’s probably going to always be hard for me and him to see eye-to-eye, because we’ve never even talked to each other. Obviously that’s what you do if you’re trying to accomplish the same goal.”
The Answer wants to start, and he also insists nobody told him the Grizzlies would be rebuilding after a 24-58 season.
“I’m not trying to figure out how to contribute to no team,” Iverson said. “I contribute to a team by just playing. That’s it. I don’t have to figure it out. Obviously, they signed me for a reason. They’ve been watching me play this game for 13 years, and they know what I do on the basketball court, so I don’t have to figure out how I’m going to play or anything like that. I just go out and play basketball.”
Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins refused to speak about Iverson earlier in the week, said Friday he doesn’t intend to have a special chat with Iverson.
“Every player has his opinion of his self-worth and what he expects, but I have to coach the whole team,” Hollins said. “He has a right to say what he wants to say, and I have a right to say what I want.”
Again either your going to come to Iverson’s defense or use his antics like a speed bag in preparation the Manny Pacquiao/Miguel Cotto fight. No matter what corner you choose, just remind yourself where the cause and the effect of his career has lead him to, Memphis. Kinda reminds me of someone in Buffalo.
Allen Iverson Already Unhappy In Memphis
Surprising?
Allen Iverson made his debut for the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night in Sacramento and wasn’t too bad, returning from a partial left hamstring tear, scoring 11 points in 18 minutes in the Memphis’ 127-116 overtime loss.
“I had no problems with the hamstring,” Iverson said afterward. “I had a problem with my butt from sitting on that bench so long. That’s the only thing I got a problem with.”
Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins took out Iverson down the stretch of the fourth quarter, allowing Mike Conley to finish up regulation.
“I’m not a reserve basketball player. I’ve never been a reserve all my life and I’m not going to start looking at myself as a reserve,” Iverson said after the game. “To answer the question, ‘No, I’m not a bench player. I’m not a sixth man. Go look at my resume and that will show you I’m not a sixth man.”
Hollins seemed to be skeptical about Iverson starting anytime soon.
“He hasn’t even been with the team until just a couple of days ago,” Hollins said. “He’s going to come off the bench. He hasn’t played all preseason, hasn’t played the three regular-season games (leading up to Sacramento). He only practiced three days in training camp before he got hurt so there’s no way I would trot him out there in a starting role.”
Hollins said afterward he doesn’t think a three-guard lineup with Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo and Iverson will work. citing too many defensive deficiencies.
Either your going to come to Iverson’s defense or use his antics like a speed bag in preparation the Manny Pacquiao/Miguel Cotto fight. No matter what corner you choose, just remind yourself where the cause and the effect of his career has lead him to, Memphis. Kinda reminds me of someone in Buffalo.
