Grizzlies Trade Rumors

"Avery Johnson was fired by the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, and Mike D’Antoni clung loosely to his job in Phoenix — their fates underscoring that success is no guarantee of security for N.B.A. head coaches. The Mavericks fired Johnson a day after his team was eliminated from the playoffs by the New Orleans Hornets. The Suns also lost their first-round series, to the San Antonio Spurs, amid widespread reports that D’Antoni would be replaced."

"Let's connect the polka dots. No sooner does Larry Brown resign his vacuous vice president's job - or whatever title it was - with the 76ers than the 32-50 Bobcats turn Sam Vincent into Sam Vincent van Gone... If my conclusion-jumping is off target, the Grizzlies' presidency and coaching jobs are there for the scoop should Brown want them. Again, he was never in Bulls GM John Paxson's interviewing equation, which has expanded beyond Rick Carlisle... Yesterday's La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed Mike D'Antoni could wind up in Toronto with former Suns exec Bryan Colangelo should Phoenix make him the designated scapegoat for its playoff failures and Sam Mitchell be fired by the Raptors."

"As stated from the giddy-app, Billy King and Mark Jackson are the common sense choices to become GM and coach... Sources say Scott Skiles is being romanced by the Bucks and Grizzlies. . . . Rick Carlisle appears to have a clear path to the Bulls. . . . P.J. Carlesimo's future with the Sonics is real shaky; too many players aren't fond of him and none are named Latrell Sprewell. . . . Should the Raptors, losers in 13 of last 20, get bounced in the opening round, Sam Mitchell, word has it, could be in jeopardy with two years left on his deal."

"If the Grizzlies' regular-season finale Wednesday night was supposed to also mark an abrupt end to Marc Iavaroni's stint at the helm on the bench then that's news to the rookie head coach. Iavaroni will be stunned if he's not retained after this season. "I fully expect to be back," Iavaroni said amid more conjecture this week that he will be replaced before next season. "I look forward to it. I'm really kind of surprised by the speculation.""

" Barring divine intervention, Larry Krystkowiak, Marc Iavaroni and Jim Boylan are days away from dismissal by the Bucks, Grizzlies and Bulls, respectively. Two others on Uneasy Street, Lawrence Frank and Sam Vincent, recently received votes of confidence - from Nets president Rod Thorn and Bobcats owner Bob Johnson, respectively. "

"Less than a year ago, Marc Iavaroni was highly touted and coveted as the NBA assistant coach most ready to call his own shots. It now appears that the Grizzlies are on the fence about how much longer Iavaroni will keep his first head coaching job."

"Why would even the disseminators of fabrication sense Rick Carlisle is a consequential candidate to replace Isiah Thomas as Knicks' coach? Because he replaced him as Pacers' coach? ... Contrary to an emphatic denial by Grizzlies' executive Chris Wallace, I'm told Mitch Lawrence actually (he got something, right for a change) is correct regarding the team's acute interest in hiring Larry Brown to succeed Marc Iavaroni whose contract has one guaranteed season left."

"Brand also maintained he intends to be a Clipper next season. He again fell just short of saying he will not use his opt-out clause and test free agency. Brand is believed to still be wavering on whether to opt out of the final year of his contract in which he is due $16.4 million. Few teams, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Grizzlies among them, are expected to have enough salary-cap space to sign a high-profile free agent."

"Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace's pre-arranged trip here Thursday afternoon had nothing to do with Marc Iavaroni's job status as head coach. In the wake of recent national reports to the contrary, Wallace insisted that the Grizzlies' first-year coach is in no danger of losing his job."

"Crazy may also describe the Grizzlies' chances of landing Ellis when free agency begins during the off-season. Although the Griz are expected to have $12 million in salary-cap room, the Warriors own Ellis' "Bird Rights," meaning they can re-sign the 22-year-old native of Jackson, Miss., without regard to the cap."

"With three-fourths of a topsy-turvy season complete for the 27-year-old rookie, Navarro is anything but confused. He is very clear when the conversation concerns his basketball future. Navarro wants a lucrative contract and his desire is to remain with the Memphis Grizzlies."

"Anything can happen by the NBA's 2 p.m. CST trade deadline. Then again, nothing is likely to occur regarding the Grizzlies. That was the tone within the organization late Wednesday with regard to potential deals, specifically regarding guards Mike Miller and Kyle Lowry."

"Two league sources said the Cavs' front office is mulling over a blockbuster trade ahead of today's trading deadline. It is a complex deal, because for it to make sense, a second complimentary trade would probably need to be accomplished, too... This potential deal is not part of the Cavs' pursuit of Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard Mike Miller. "

"Wednesday night's game against the Pacers was a priority but rumors of a trade between the Cavs and Memphis - for Mike Miller - and even a deal for Seattle guard Delonte West circulated the locker room."

"If either Cassell or Miller had any feelings about the latest rumored trade, between the Clippers and the Grizzlies, neither displayed them."

"The "it" is a trade of the veteran point guard. The trading deadline is this afternoon, and Cassell was still with the Clippers on Wednesday night at Staples Center when they beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 100-86, in their first game since the All-Star break... Cassell's name has popped up in discussions among a slew of teams, including the Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, Seattle SuperSonics, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets."

"Apparently Eddy Curry does not fit into that category, with Riley refuting an ESPN report of Heat interest in the Knicks center... The Heat, however, was working Wednesday night on a possible acquisition of Grizzlies forward Mike Miller, the ex- University of Florida shooting star."

"Riley also called rumors that he's interested in acquiring New York center Eddy Curry "wrong" and "blog (garbage)." The Heat has also been rumored to be interested in Memphis forward Mike Miller and Golden State swingman Mickael Pietrus, but there's no indication a deal for either is imminent."

"The league's trade deadline is Thursday afternoon, and Miller and Lowry figure prominently in speculation suggesting that the Griz could move them as a combo. Denver and the Los Angeles Clippers, who the Griz face tonight in the Staples Center, are the teams reportedly making a serious push for Miller and Lowry's services."

"Consider the latest rumored trade, as reported by ESPN.com. It has the Cavs acquiring Mike Miller, a fine shooter and player, and Kyle Lowry, a backup point guard, for Ira Newble, Donyell Marshall, Shannon Brown, Cedric Simmons, Dwayne Jones and a first-round draft pick."

"Several point guards reportedly are available, including Philadelphia's Andre Miller, Memphis' Kyle Lowry, Indiana's Jamaal Tinsley and Portland's Jarrett Jack. Memphis swingman Mike Miller also is considered available, though Riley downplayed that possibility last week."

"Shooter Mike Miller, as opposed to the excess of point guards, will be an especially difficult get... Sacramento is weighing offers for Ron Artest, but unlike the deal that sent Mike Bibby to Atlanta largely for expiring contracts, the Kings have sought an impact player for Artest, who has said he would opt out of his contract after this season."

"Among players the Heat has been linked to in trade talks are Warriors forward Mickael Pietrus, Grizzlies forward Mike Miller and Memphis point guard Kyle Lowry. The Chicago Tribune also mentioned Knicks center Eddy Curry on Monday, but it is doubtful Riley would have interest in a big man who neither plays defense nor rebounds and earns an average of $10 million over the next three seasons."

"Meanwhile, the Nets will continue to wheel until Thursday's 3 p.m. deadline. Sources throughout the league say Kiki Vandeweghe is generating a heated rush of discussions involving Jermaine O'Neal, Jamaal Tinsley, Mike Miller and Nene... With Kidd apparently spoken for, the player drawing the most attention from promising title contenders is Philly's Andre Miller. Nuggets, Cavaliers and Rockets are sincere suitors - Celtics feel they're first in line for Sam Cassell - but not serious enough to offer more than expiring contracts and a first-round pick in the 20s."

"According to several league sources, the Cavs are involved in discussions with a handful of teams. They have looked into acquiring point guard Andre Miller of the Philadelphia 76ers and shooting guard Mike Miller of the Memphis Grizzlies, among others. But neither is assured of being traded and if the Cavs get into bidding wars with other teams, they are not in a good position because they don't have very attractive trade assets."

"The 76ers are interested in point guard Kyle Lowry. According to a Philadelphia Inquirer source, the 76ers were among several teams discussing a trade with Memphis for Lowry, who was a high school star in Philadelphia at Cardinal Dougherty and played two seasons at Villanova."

" If or when the Nets-Dallas deal gets done, the next big name to move on should be Mike Miller, who you'd think will be at the top of Rod Thorn's shopping list to upgrade his bench. The big obstacle: Memphis is trying to package Brian Cardinal with him, and that's a commitment (two more years, $13M) that the Nets will not take on."

"Forward Carmelo Anthony wouldn't mind if it's the Nuggets, saying for the second time in three seasons he'd love to have Ron Artest as a teammate... In addition to Artest, Anthony said he has heard rumors about Denver getting Memphis' Mike Miller."

"According to media reports, the Portland Trail Blazers are shopping point guard Jarrett Jack, and the Memphis Grizzlies have taken offers for point guard Kyle Lowry. The Cavs have interest in both. A source said they have had long-term discussions involving Jack."

"An ESPN.com report said the Sixers were among the teams interested in Lowry. A league source confirmed last night that the Grizzlies were shopping Lowry, and that the Sixers were one of the teams they had called. The source said it would be surprising, however, if anything materialized with the Sixers."

"The only young player the Cavs have that is desired by the rest of the league is Daniel Gibson, who James calls his younger brother. He is not going anywhere. Other than James, the player teams would want the most in a trade is Anderson Varejao, and he cannot be traded under league rules...?Though the Cavs would like to have either one, the word going around the NBA is that neither Mike Miller of the Memphis Grizzlies or Andre Miller of the Philadelphia 76ers are being made available at this point."

"As the centerpiece of a trade that sent former Grizzly cornerstone Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers for draft picks and future salary-cap relief, Brown didn't seem slighted about being a lucrative chip the Griz will likely cash in once the regular season ends. The Griz didn't attempt to quell the fact that Brown's expiring contract worth more than $9 million made the deal possible."

"Deng and Gordon both say they are tired of contract talk, but it's hard to imagine either of them leaping to join rebuilding efforts like, say, the Grizzlies'. Gordon has told confidantes that he has contemplated signing the Bulls' tender offer and becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2009."

"So Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal is supposed to go next—and for next to nothing, assuming he comes back from a knee injury. Then goes Jason Kidd, though I seriously doubt the Bulls will get him. And when he is traded, it's clear the Nets won't get much, not after what Memphis and Minnesota received for Gasol and Garnett... Denver, which is now sending feelers to the Clippers about Sam Cassell, seemingly has to move on a point guard with the league's third-biggest payroll and paying the second-highest luxury tax."

"But Ferry is expected to continue to try to push through a deal before the trade deadline in three weeks. He might turn his sights to another Grizzly, shooting guard Mike Miller... Ferry also probably will monitor the Philadelphia 76ers and their intentions with point guard Andre Miller. "

"I'm sure a young team like Se attle, Memphis, Atlanta or Portland or even a veteran team like the Celtics could use someone like Snow."

"The Nets are close to making a deal involving a Jason, but it's not Kidd. They are set to acquire athletic 6-foot-10 forward Stromile Swift from the Memphis Grizzlies for Jason Collins, league sources said. The deal was being worked on Thursday night and could be finalized today or sometime over the weekend."

"Stromile Swift may not work in a Grizzlies uniform much longer once he returns today from a team-imposed, one-game suspension. The on-again, off-again flirtation with potential trades involving Swift were on again Wednesday, although totally unrelated to the recent disciplinary action against the forward/center. Memphis was considering at least two proposals, although no deal appeared imminent."

" The Mavericks like the team as currently constituted. But had Harris' absence been longer, they may have been inclined to explore options, such as: Earl Boykins... Sam Cassell or Damon Stoudamire... New Jersey's Jason Kidd is rumored to be on the trading block, but it is believed the Mavericks are not interested because of the heavy price."

"Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley can't guarantee where Damon Stoudamire will end up. In agreeing to an amicable contract buyout that will become official Monday, Heisley made certain of this: The 13-year veteran point guard now has an opportunity to move on."

"The chances of Damon Stoudamire resurfacing as a Raptor grew less likely yesterday in the wake of talk that the Memphis Grizzlies will not buy out the veteran point guard."

"Tick. Tick. Tick. That's the sound in Damon Stoudamire's head. The clock is certainly ticking on his time with the Memphis Grizzlies. But Stoudamire would rather his phone ring with news of a contract buyout, especially since it has been about three weeks since he last played...It's safe to say that everyone watching this situation, including Stoudamire, figured a resolution would have come by now."

"The Grizzlies next face the Bulls on March 4 at the United Center. The Feb. 22 trade deadline will have passed, the Pau Gasol rumors will have been written and it's anybody's guess where Gasol and Andres Nocioni will be."

"Although Monday marked one month until the NBA trade deadline, Memphis Grizzlies forward Pau Gasol no longer is preoccupied with the idea of being dealt to the Bulls."

"A year ago at this time, trade rumors sending Memphis forward Pau Gasol to the Bulls were rampant. This time, Gasol isn't getting his hopes up about leaving the 12-29 Grizzlies."

"Under that logic, the Heat would no longer be a potential destination for either free agent center Chris Webber or veteran point guard Damon Stoudamire, who reportedly is negotiating a contract buyout with Memphis and could be a free agent. It also seems to remove forward Udonis Haslem from potential trades, unless the Heat could get in return a reasonably priced star who complements Wade and O'Neal."

"The Suns have pledged to not move a core player but could add a role player. The two top candidates seem unlikely. The Memphis Commercial-Appeal reported that guard Damon Stoudamire, amid buyout talks with the Grizzlies, wants to sign with Boston."

"While Hill's return from a Jan. 9 appendectomy means the Suns are back at full strength, it also presents coach Mike D'Antoni with the challenge of what to do with the reserves who performed so well while filling in for Hill, such as Boris Diaw and D.J. Strawberry... While it's yet to be determined how much playing time Strawberry will get, his play, coupled with a healthy Raja Bell shooting the 3-pointer like he did last year when he sank 205, has more than likely taken the Suns out of the running for Damon Stoudamire should the Memphis Grizzles buy out the veteran guard's contract as expected."