Category: Memphis Grizzlies Blog

Robert Pera’s bid to own the Grizzlies is on the agenda for consideration by the NBA’s Board of Governors at its meetings Wednesday and Thursday in New York City, sources familiar with the process told The Commercial Appeal.

If the board approves the deal, only one hurdle would remain before the completion of the first ownership transfer in the Grizzlies’ 11 years in Memphis: Pera’s group would then have to close the deal with current owner Michael Heisley. Pera agreed in June to buy the team from Heisley for what is believed to be $350 million.

Three-fourths of the board, which is made up of the majority owners for each of the 30 NBA teams, must vote in favor of Pera’s bid for the ownership transfer to be approved.

Pera will be the largest shareholder in the prospective ownership group but will own less than 50 percent of the franchise, two sources familiar with the deal said.

— Reported by Geoff Calkins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

The Memphis Grizzlies waived forward/center Jarrid Famous and guard/forward D.J. Kennedy, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

Neither player appeared last night in Memphis’ first preseason game, a 105-93 victory over Real Madrid.

Famous (6-11, 240) played in Slovakia, the NBA Development League and the Philippines last season following a four-year collegiate career at the University of South Florida.  The 24-year-old averaged 13.9 points and 9.8 rebounds in 29.4 minutes in 16 D-League games with Iowa and Fort Wayne.

Kennedy (6-6, 215) averaged 6.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in 29.5 minutes in two games last season as a rookie for the Cleveland Cavaliers.  The 22-year-old also posted 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 37.3 minutes in 44 D-League games with Erie last season.

Both players originally signed as free agents on Sept. 29, 2012.

Memphis’ current roster stands at 18.

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and his wife Ashley, a former Memphian, and Memphis basketball legend Penny Hardaway have agreed to become limited partners in Robert Pera’s bid to buy the Grizzlies, a source close to Pera said Thursday.

Pera, whose purchase of the team from Michael Heisley is being vetted by the NBA, has assembled a group with both star power and local ties, including recent additions such as pop star and actor Justin Timberlake and former congressman Harold Ford Jr.

— Reported by Kyle Veazey of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

The Memphis Grizzlies signed free agent guards Ronald Murray and Kyle Weaver, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

An eight-year NBA veteran (2002-10), Murray (6-4, 200) holds career averages of 9.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists on .414 shooting in 22.7 minutes in 487 games (92 starts) with the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats and Chicago Bulls.  The Shaw product was drafted by Milwaukee in the second round (41st overall) of the 2002 NBA Draft.

Most recently, the 33-year-old averaged 12.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists on .667 shooting in 23.3 minutes in three games for the 2011-12 NBA Development League Champion Austin Toros.  Nicknamed “Flip,” the Philadelphia native also has played professionally in Turkey for Anadolu Efes Istanbul during the 2010-11 season.

A three-year NBA veteran (2008-11), Weaver (6-6, 201) owns NBA career averages of 5.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists on .441 shooting in 18.9 minutes in 73 games (19 starts) with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz.  Following a four-year collegiate career at Washington State, Weaver was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats in the second round (38th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft and traded to Oklahoma City on draft night.

The 26-year-old comes to Memphis after playing for ALBA Berlin last season, recording 9.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists on .508 shooting in 37 games in the German League and averaging 10.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 11 games during the EuroCup.

A native of Janesville, Wisc., Weaver owns NBA Development League career averages of 15.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists on .434 shooting in 36.7 minutes in 37 games (31 starts) for the Tulsa 66ers, Iowa Energy and Austin Toros.  He also has competed professionally in Belgium, guiding TEC Spirou Charleroi to the 2011 Belgian League Championship.

Memphis’ roster currently stands at 20.

The Memphis Grizzlies signed free agents Michael Dunigan, Ronald Dupree, Jarrid Famous, Jerome Jordan and D.J. Kennedy, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

Dunigan (6-10, 245) comes to Memphis after professional stints in Israel, Estonia, Italy and, most recently, Ukraine, where he recorded 12.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks on .507 shooting in 25 games last season in the 2012 Ukrainian SuperLeague.  In the previous season, the 23-year-old Oregon product posted 11.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 25 games in guiding BC Kalev/Cramo Tallinn to the 2011 Estonian League Championship.

Dupree (6-7, 209) joins the Grizzlies after competing in both Argentina and Italy last season.  A six-year NBA veteran (2005-11), Dupree holds career averages of 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds on .427 shooting in 11.2 minutes in 157 games (eight starts) with Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, Seattle and Toronto.  The 31-year-old LSU product also owns NBA Development League career averages of 16.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists on .495 shooting in 106 games (96 starts) over four seasons with Huntsville, Tulsa and Utah.

Famous (6-11, 240) spent last season in Slovakia, the D-League and the Philippines after completing his four-year collegiate career at the University of South Florida.  The 24-year-old posted 13.9 points and 9.8 rebounds on .494 shooting in 29.4 minutes in 16 D-League contests, splitting time with Iowa and Fort Wayne.

Jordan (7-0, 253) recorded 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds on .515 shooting in 5.1 minutes in 21 games last season during his rookie campaign with the New York Knicks.  The 25-year-old also posted 18.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.80 blocks on .485 shooting in 32.6 minutes in five games while on assignment with the D-League’s Erie Bayhawks.  The Kingston, Jamaica native enjoyed a four-year collegiate career at the University of Tulsa, where he set the school record for blocks (333), and played overseas in Serbia and Slovenia after he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round (44th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft.

Kennedy (6-6, 215) rejoins the Grizzlies after originally being acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers on July 25.  Memphis waived the 22-year-old on Sept. 18.  Last season, the St. John’s product averaged 6.0 points and 3.5 rebounds on .417 shooting in 29.5 minutes in two appearances as a rookie for the Cavaliers but spent most of his time with the D-League’s Erie Bayhawks, where he posted 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists on .447 shooting in 37.3 minutes in 44 games (all starts).

Memphis’ roster now stands at 18.

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced that forward Darrell Arthur sustained a small, non-displaced fracture in the head of the fibula in his left leg during a recent workout while preparing for training camp.

The injury was diagnosed by team physician Dr. Fred Azar after Arthur underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the Campbell Clinic earlier this week.

The 24-year-old is being treated by the team’s athletic training staff and will be evaluated on a weekly basis by Dr. Azar.  He will return to action in an estimated 4-6 weeks but could return earlier if symptom-free.

In other news, center Hamed Haddadi will return to full action without any restrictions after an eight-week rehabilitation following right thumb surgery.

The Memphis Grizzlies waived guard/forward D.J. Kennedy, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

Kennedy (6-6, 215) averaged 6.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in 29.5 minutes in two games last season as a rookie for the Cleveland Cavaliers.  The 22-year-old Pittsburgh native also posted 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 37.3 minutes in 44 appearances with the Erie Bayhawks of the NBA Development League.

Memphis originally acquired the St. John’s product from Cleveland for Jeremy Pargo, a 2013 second round draft pick and cash considerations on July 25, 2012.

The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 13 players.

Former congressman Harold Ford Jr. has agreed to become a member of Robert Pera’s Memphis Grizzlies ownership group.

Less than two weeks after Pera added some star power in the person of homegrown pop star and actor Justin Timberlake, he’s come to an agreement with the former five-term congressman from Memphis.

“I’m honored to be a part of Robert’s ownership group,” said Ford, who did not specify what percentage of the team he will own. “He’s a genuine guy and a great guy.”

Ford said he met Pera through mutual friends more than a year ago, before Pera began his pursuit of the Grizzlies. When Pera reached an agreement with Michael Heisley to buy the franchise, Ford said he had the same concerns as everyone else.

— Reported by Geoff Calkins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphians might have noticed Grizzlies guard Tony Allen in the community recently at block parties and autograph signings at retail stores.

However, the best news regarding Allen these days is that he’s back on the basketball court while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. The Grizzlies’ stalwart on defense underwent a minor procedure during the offseason to repair cartilage in his left knee.

Allen has been in town working out in FedExForum and declared that he’ll be ready when training camp opens Oct. 2.

“I’m definitely getting myself back to being that thirsty dog,” Allen said. “I don’t want to rush it. But I’ll be back for the first game, Oct. 31, against the (Los Angeles) Clippers. I guarantee that.”

— Reported by Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal