Memphis Grizzlies Blog – Page 54 – NBA Blog

Grizzlies guard Josh Selby faces marijuana charge

Grizzlies rookie guard Josh Selby is facing a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge after police found probable cause during an Oct. 5 incident at the University of Maryland.

The 20-year-old Selby has been summoned to appear in a Maryland district court Jan. 25.

“I have no comment about it,” Selby said. “It is what it is.”

Maryland makes a distinction between marijuana and all other illegal drugs. Possessing or using marijuana is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine

— Reported by Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

Sixers trade Marreese Speights to Grizzlies in 3-team deal

The Memphis Grizzlies acquired forward/center Marreese Speights from the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a three-team trade also including the New Orleans Hornets, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

As part of the deal, Memphis traded guard Xavier Henry to New Orleans and a 2012 second round draft pick to Philadelphia. The Hornets also sent a future second round pick to the 76ers.

Speights (6-11, 245) comes to the Grizzlies with career averages of 7.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.53 blocks on .492 shooting in 14.7 minutes in 205 games (four starts) over his first three seasons in Philadelphia (2007-10). He has not appeared in Philadelphia’s first four games of the 2011-12 season.

The 24-year-old averaged career highs in scoring (8.6 points) and rebounding (4.1) in 16.4 minutes during the 2009-10 season.

A native of St. Petersburg, Fla., Speights was a member of the Florida Gators’ 2007 NCAA Championship Team, setting a school freshman record by shooting .671 from the field that season. He averaged 14.5 points and 8.1 rebounds on .624 shooting as a sophomore before being selected in the first round (16th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft.

Henry (6-6, 220) averaged 4.3 points and 1.0 rebounds on .406 shooting in 38 games (16 starts) for the Grizzlies as a rookie last season. The 20-year-old Kansas product has not appeared through Memphis’ first five games this season due to a right ankle sprain.

Grizzlies trade Xavier Henry to Hornets

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have acquired guard Xavier Henry from the Memphis Grizzlies for a 2013 second round pick.

“We are delighted to welcome Xavier to our team and the New Orleans community,” said Hornets General Manager Dell Demps. “We hope Xavier will develop into a good basketball player that will contribute to the success of the New Orleans Hornets this season and into the future.”

Henry (6-6, 220), is in his second NBA season after being selected 12th overall by the Grizzlies in the 2010 NBA Draft out of the University of Kansas. Last year, in 38 games (16 starts) for Memphis, Henry averaged 4.3 points and 1.0 rebounds in 13.9 minutes of action.

The 20-year-old from Oklahoma City played just one collegiate season at Kansas, becoming the first player in KU history to leave for the NBA after his freshman campaign, posting averages of 13.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 36 games. Henry was named to the 2010 All Big 12 Rookie Team and was a 2010 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. Henry joins San Antonio Spurs’ point guard Tony Parker as the only current Belgium-born players in the NBA.

The Hornets roster now stands at 15.

Grizzlies bring back center Hamed Haddadi

The Memphis Grizzlies signed center Hamed Haddadi, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The first Iranian ever to play in the NBA, Haddadi (7-2, 265) averaged 2.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.42 blocks in 5.4 minutes in 31 games last season with the Grizzlies. The 26-year-old Ahvaz native holds NBA career averages of 2.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.45 blocks in 6.1 minutes in 86 contests over three seasons in Memphis.

A longtime member of the Iranian National Team, Haddadi led Iran to an 8-1 record at the 2011 FIBA Asian Championship in Wuhan, China, averaging 15.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.89 blocks in 26.3 minutes with six double-doubles in nine games during the 2011 tournament.

Memphis Grizzlies waive Brian Skinner

The Memphis Grizzlies waived forward/center Brian Skinner, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

Skinner (6-9, 255), who originally signed with Memphis on Dec. 10, appeared in one regular season game with the Grizzlies, logging four minutes on Dec. 26 at San Antonio.

The 35-year-old Baylor product holds career averages of 4.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 608 games (197 starts) over 14 NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies.

Kevin Durant wanted Shane Battier to sign with Thunder

In his first game back in Memphis since Game 6 of the second round of the playoffs, Durant admitted that his lobbying last month for former Grizzlies forward Shane Battier was real.

“I was dead serious,” said Durant, who used Twitter in late November to attempt to recruit Battier. “I wanted him since last year, after we beat them in the playoffs. I was telling a few of the guys, ‘Shane would be a good fit here for us.’ He was a guy I was looking forward to playing with, but Miami jumped in and took him.”

Durant said he understood why Battier chose to sign with the Heat.

“Let’s be real,” Durant said. “Guys like LeBron (James) and D-Wade and (Chris) Bosh, they’re lobbying for you as well. And it was me and Nazr Mohammed and Nick Collison lobbying for him. And you look at the names there, you look at Miami, the weather and just that whole aura around those guys and of course he’s going to pick them. But it’s a decision that he made for him and his family. You can’t really be upset about it.

“Shane’s an unbelievable player, a great teammate from what I’ve heard. I wish him the best. If he would have come here it would have been perfect for us.”

— Via Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman

Hornets trade Quincy Pondexter to Grizzlies for Greivis Vasquez

The Memphis Grizzlies acquired guard/forward Quincy Pondexter from the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for guard Greivis Vasquez, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

“We feel this is a trade that benefits both teams. We will miss Quincy and we thank him for his efforts, professionalism and work ethic,” said Hornets GM Dell Demps. “We are excited to add Greivis Vasquez to our team, organization and community. Greivis is an exciting, big guard that plays with a passion that we hope will thrill our fans at the Hive.”

Pondexter (6-6, 225) comes to Memphis after averaging 13.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in 33.0 minutes in two preseason games against the Grizzlies earlier this month, including a 14-point, 12-rebound performance on Dec. 21. The 23-year-old recorded 2.8 points and 1.3 rebounds on .406 shooting in 11.1 minutes in 66 games (six starts) as a rookie with the Hornets last season.

A native of Fresno, Calif., Pondexter left the University of Washington as the school’s career leader in games played (136) and third all-time in scoring (1,786 points), averaging 19.3 points and 7.4 rebounds on .528 shooting in 36 games as a senior with the Huskies.

Originally selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round (26th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft, Pondexter’s rights were acquired by New Orleans in a draft-night deal on June 24, 2010.

Vasquez (6-6, 211), who was drafted 28th overall by the Grizzlies in the 2010 NBA Draft, averaged 3.6 points and 2.2 assists in 12.3 minutes of action over 70 games (one start) for Memphis last season. In two preseason games this season, he averaged 4.5 points and 4.5 assists in 14.5 minutes of play. He is the first Venezuelan-born player ever selected in the NBA Draft and only the third Venezuelan to play in the NBA, joining Carl Herrera (1991-99) and Oscar Torres (2001-03). Vasquez was named the ACC Player of the Year and won the Bob Cousy Award as the best point guard in the nation in 2009-10 while at Maryland University. He is the only player in ACC history to record at least 2,000 points (2,171), 750 assists (772) and 600 rebounds (647) in a career.

Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur undergoes season-ending surgery

Memphis Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. The surgery was performed yesterday by team physician Dr. Fred Azar and Dr. Drew Murphy at the Campbell Surgery Center.

Arthur (6-9, 235), who suffered the injury on Dec. 18, will begin his post-operative rehabilitation after an appropriate period of healing. The 23-year-old is expected to be ready for the start of the 2012-13 season.

Last season, the Dallas native averaged career highs in points (9.1), field goal percentage (.497), blocks (0.79) and minutes (20.1) in 80 games in his third NBA campaign. He posted 7.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 15.5 minutes during Memphis’ 13-game run in the 2011 Playoffs.

After helping lead Kansas to the 2008 NCAA Championship, Arthur was selected by the New Orleans Hornets in the first round (27th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft and traded to Memphis on draft night. He owns career averages of 6.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.69 blocks on .468 shooting in 18.8 minutes in 188 games (73 starts), all with the Grizzlies.

Grizzlies rescind qualifying offer to Hamed Haddadi

Backup center Hamed Haddadi is still trying to obtain a work visa, and he’s also looking for an NBA contract.

Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace confirmed Thursday that the team withdrew its $2 million qualifying offer from Haddadi, a 7-footer who hails from Iran. The move makes Haddadi, 26, an unrestricted free agent. He can sign with any NBA team without the Griz having a right to match offers.

The Grizzlies’ decision was primarily based on finances as they are trying to remain comfortably below the league’s $70 million luxury tax. It is possible that the Griz and Haddadi will negotiate a multi-year deal, paying between $1 and $1.5 million per season.

— Via Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur will miss entire 2011-12 season

Memphis Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which revealed a torn right Achilles tendon, the team announced today.

Arthur (6-9, 235), who suffered the injury on Dec. 18, is scheduled to have surgery to repair the injury within one week and expected to be ready for the start of the 2012-13 season.

The 23-year-old averaged career highs in points (9.1), field goal percentage (.497), blocks (0.79) and minutes (20.1) in 80 games last season in his third NBA campaign. He posted 7.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 15.5 minutes during Memphis’ 13-game run in the 2011 Playoffs.

Selected by the New Orleans Hornets in the first round (27th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft, the Dallas native owns career averages of 6.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.69 blocks on .468 shooting in 18.8 minutes in 188 games (73 starts), all with the Grizzlies.