Memphis Grizzlies Blog – Page 56 – NBA Blog

Grizzlies add Bob Thornton and Lloyd Pierce to coaching staff

The Memphis Grizzlies announced today that Bob Thornton and Lloyd Pierce will complete head coach Lionel Hollins’ staff as an assistant (Thornton) and player development coach (Pierce).

With almost 30 years of collegiate and professional basketball experience as a player, scout and coach, Thornton comes to Memphis after spending the past four seasons (2007-11) as an advance scout for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Along with his work with the Thunder, Thornton also served as an assistant coach for two NBA teams, first with the Chicago Bulls (2002-04) and most recently with the Minnesota Timberwolves (2005-07). Before his first stint with Bulls, Thornton spent one season (2001-02) as head coach for NBA Development League’s Huntsville Flight, along with one season as head coach of the Quad City Thunder of the Continental Basketball Association (2000-01).

As a player, Thornton played as a power forward for 11 professional seasons, eight in the NBA (1985-92, 1995-96) and three overseas, averaging 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 283 career NBA games with the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz and Washington Bullets.

The Los Angeles, Calif. native attended the University of California-Irvine (1981-84) where he played until graduation, earning his bachelor’s of science degree. Thornton was selected 87th overall in the 1984 NBA Draft by the New York City Knicks.

Pierce, with over 15 years of and collegiate and professional basketball experience, joins the Grizzlies’ organization for third NBA coaching job after a year (2010-11) with the Golden State Warriors, where he served as an assistant coach under head coach Keith Smart.

Prior to his stint with the Warriors, Pierce worked for the Cleveland Cavaliers as a player development coordinator for three seasons (2007-10). The San Jose, Calif. native attended Santa Clara University (1994-98) where he helped lead the Broncos to two NCAA Tournament berths.

After graduating with a degree in business management, Pierce played four seasons internationally, making stops in Mexico, Australia and Germany before returning to Santa Clara University where he joined the team’s staff as an assistant coach under head coach Dick Davey (2003-07).

Miami Heat hope to land Shane Battier

Once NBA teams can speak with free agents beginning Monday, Miami Heat president Pat Riley has his franchise in strong position to sell Shane Battier on signing to play with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Battier has been a primary target in free agency for the Heat, and sources say the pitch of Riley, coach Erik Spoelstra and key Heat players could ultimately confirm Battier’s strong feelings about chasing a championship in Miami.

Riley and Spoelstra see Battier as a strong defender with an ability to hit the open shots that’ll come his way playing with James, Wade and Chris Bosh. Battier has been a proven playoff performer, and possesses the professionalism and maturity to navigate within the harsh glare of the Heat’s existence.

Battier, 33, is still studying the marketplace, and how his personal scenario could change as different teams use the amnesty clause to create salary-cap space. Nevertheless, Miami currently stands as the most compelling option for him.

— Reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports

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Grizzlies hope to re-sign Marc Gasol

Memphis has already committed lucrative deals to Rudy Gay, Mike Conley and Zach Randolph. Locking up Gasol, entering his fourth season, is considered the final move toward solidifying the team’s nucleus.

But there doesn’t seem to be any reason to fret about Gasol’s signing.

The Grizzlies can sign Gasol to a longer contract and pay him more money than any other team. Memphis also has the right to match any offer sheet Gasol signs with another team.

People with knowledge of Heisley’s thinking are convinced that the Grizzlies will match any offer sheet Gasol signs with another suitor. Memphis would have three days to match under the proposed collective bargaining agreement.

The Griz also will look to fill assistant coaching positions vacated by the departure of Johnny Davis and Damon Stoudamire, re-sign unrestricted free agent Shane Battier and negotiate a contract with rookie Josh Selby.

— Reported by Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

Juan Carlos Navarro becomes all-time leading Euroleague scorer

F.C. Barcelona Regal superstar Juan Carlos Navarro on Thursday night became the all-time leading scorer since the Euroleague was founded in 2000! Navarro’s left-handed layup off a Chuck Eidson steal at 5:30 of the third quarter of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague game against Union Olimpija at Palau Blaugrana in Barcelona gave him the record of 2,716 career points, previously held by recently-retired Marcus Brown. And with plenty of time left in this game and the season, he will keep adding to the record every time he takes the court.

Navarro, 31, has played his entire 11-season Euroleague career with his hometown club, F.C. Barcelona. Already a legend of the game, “La Bomba” adds this record to an impressive career haul of achievements. He is a two-time Euroleague champion and was the 2008-09 Euroleague MVP and the 2010 Euroleague Final Four MVP. All told Navarro has played in five Euroleague Final Fours and been named to the All-Euroleague First Team a record five times.

— Reported by Euroleague.net

FC Barcelona Regal extends Juan Carlos Navarro through 2015

FC Barcelona Regal announced Monday that it has agreed to terms with star guard Juan Carlos Navarro on a contract extension through 2015. Navarro (1.91 meters, 31 years old) will appear with club president Sandro Rosell at a press conference Tuesday afternoon to discuss the signing. The extension comes days before Barcelona’s Turkish Airlines Euroleague Week 6 game against Union Olimpija, which Navarro enters needing just 14 points to become the competition’s career scoring leader. He has spent all but one season with his hometown club with whom he has won the Euroleague twice as well as six Spanish League titles, five Spanish King’s Cups and the 1999 Korac Cup. On an individual note, he was the 2008-09 Euroleague MVP, the 2010 Euroleague Final Four MVP and been named to the All-Euroleague First Team a record five times.

— Reported by Euroleague.net

Lester Hudson playing basketball in China

Lester Hudson hasn’t put on hold his dream of continuing to play in the NBA.

The Memphis native simply is no longer waiting for an end to the lockout…

Under Chinese Basketball Association rules, Hudson must play the full season without an opt-out clause should the NBA lockout end. The CBA’s regular season runs through the middle of February.

Hudson, 27, will play with Washington Wizards free agent Yi Jianlian and former Indiana Pacer Fred Jones. Phoenix Suns restricted free-agent guard Aaron Brooks has agreed to a one-year deal with Guangdong, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Hudson last played for Guangdong in January after he was waived by the Washington Wizards. The Boston Celtics originally selected Hudson with the 58th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.

— Reported by Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

Tony Allen gave Ramen noodles to Halloween Trick-or-treaters

It’s tough for many NBA players to make ends meet — particularly with no game checks coming during the lockout.

That lack of incoming finances led to a drastic cutback at Memphis guard Tony Allen’s house during Halloween.

Instead of giving trick-or-treaters candy during a visit to his house, Allen provided them with beef and chicken Ramen noodles.

“Sorry kids it’s a lockout no candy!!,” Allen tweeted. ”Got a chicken and beef,::: Ramen noodles.”

According to Basketball-Reference.com, Allen made $3 million last year for the Grizzlies. During the course of his seven-season NBA career, he has pocketed $12,777,037

— Reported by Tim Griffin of the San Antonio Express-News

Career of OJ Mayo at a crossroads

Mayo’s career is at a crossroads. And the Grizzlies — facing high expectations after a playoff run to Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals last season — are right there in terms of evaluating Mayo’s future with the organization. The 6-3 shooting guard brought a household name and bucket loads of points in 2008, going on to average 18 points his first two seasons as a starter.

But those Griz teams weren’t playoff qualifiers.

Mayo, as a reserve, turned in career-low numbers when Memphis broke through with a historic postseason run. Veteran Tony Allen and second-year guard Sam Young emerged while Mayo endured a role reduction.

There are people close to Mayo who believe that a new destination would restore his starter status and change his career outlook.

— Reported by Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

Shane Battier says NBA revenue sharing is key

Aside from attending a union meeting in June, Battier has kept up with the proceedings from afar, stating that it’s hard to have the necessary frame of reference if you’re not able to attend every meeting.

However, he has managed to stay in contact with members of the executive committee.

Having played for both a small market team in Memphis and a large market one in Houston, Battier has seen firsthand the discrepancy of revenue sharing, which is why he believes that could be one of the keys to getting a new CBA completed.

“Teams like Memphis, Milwaukee, Sacramento, they’re at a disadvantage because of the economics of their cities,” he said. “I would like to see us have a true partnership in every sense of the word. Let’s all share. This is an unbelievable game. This is an unbelievable opportunity for both owners and players. Let’s be partners. I think that extends to revenue sharing.”

— Reported by Marlon W. Morgan of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

Hamed Haddadi signs in Iran

Memphis Grizzlies center Hamed Haddadi joined Melli Haffari basketball team on Tuesday.

The Ahvaz-based basketball team signed Haddadi on a short-term contract for an undisclosed fee.

Following the North America’s National Basketball Association (NBA)’s ongoing lockout, the Memphis Grizzlies center joined Melli Haffari to play for the Iranian Basketball League and will return to Memphis in December to take part in the training sessions.

— Reported by the Tehran Times