Memphis Grizzlies Blog – Page 61 – NBA Blog

Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay remains out with shoulder injury

Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay underwent a follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) today on his left shoulder, which revealed that while the shoulder is healing from a subluxation, it needs more time to fully recover. There is no timetable for his return.

The 6-8, 240-pound forward has missed the last 10 games after suffering the injury on Feb. 15 vs. Philadelphia.

Currently in his fifth NBA season, Gay is averaging 19.8 points and 6.2 rebounds while posting career highs in assists (2.8), steals (1.69), blocks (1.07), field goal percentage (.471), three-point field goal percentage (.396), free throw percentage (.805) and minutes (39.9, 3rd in the NBA).

The 24-year-old holds career averages of 17.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists on .457 shooting in 36.0 minutes in 372 games, all with the Grizzlies.

Grizzlies sign Leon Powe

The Memphis Grizzlies signed free agent Leon Powe, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

Originally selected by the Denver Nuggets with the 49th overall pick in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft, the 6-8, 240-pound forward owns career averages of 6.3 points and 4.0 rebounds on .516 shooting in 14.3 minutes in 223 games (19 starts) over four-plus seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, who acquired his rights from the Nuggets on draft night.

The former University of California standout averaged 5.0 points and 2.7 rebounds on .492 shooting in 13.4 minutes in 14 games (three starts) for the Cavaliers this season before he was waived on Feb. 24.

A key reserve for the Celtics during their 2007-08 NBA Championship run, Powe has appeared in 28 playoff games, averaging 4.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 10.8 minutes. The 27-year-old gives Memphis three players with NBA Championship experience, including Powe’s former Celtics teammate Tony Allen and Jason Williams, who captured the 2005-06 title as a member of the Miami Heat.

The Grizzlies have a full roster of 15 players.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Leon Powe may join Grizzlies

By Jeff Lenchiner

Free agent forward Leon Powe may soon become the newest member of the Memphis Grizzlies.

According to a tweet from David Aldridge of NBA.com and TNT/Turner, a source of Aldridge says Powe and the Grizzlies have come to an agreement.

The 6-8, 240-pound Powe has a career average of 6.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game.

Injuries have hampered Powe throughout his NBA career, especially in recent years. He played just 20 games in 2009-10 and only 14 so far this season.

Grizzlies beat Spurs 109-93

The AP reports:

Darrell Arthur and Zach Randolph scored 21 points each and the Memphis Grizzlies took advantage of poor ball handling by San Antonio to defeat the Spurs 109-93 on Tuesday night.

Tony Allen added 20 points, missing only one of his nine shots, and Mike Conley had 18 points and nine assists as Memphis won its season-best fifth straight home game.

Gary Neal was the only Spur to finish in double figures with 14 points. Starters Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and DeJuan Blair had nine points apiece, as they sat out the fourth quarter.

The Spurs (49-11) were playing their first game without starting point guard Tony Parker, who is expected to miss two to four weeks after suffering a strained left calf when the Spurs beat Memphis 95-88 on Saturday night.

San Antonio committed 22 turnovers in the game, one short of its season high.

Grizzlies almost traded O.J. Mayo to Pacers

Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports:

O.J. Mayo’s career with the Grizzlies figuratively ended and resumed in the amount of time it took to complete one phone call and make another.

The Grizzlies agreed to trade Mayo to the Indiana Pacers for forward/center Josh McRoberts and a 2011 first-round draft pick Thursday just before the NBA’s trade deadline.

The transaction was supposed to involve a third team but never got finalized because it was submitted to the league shortly after the 2 p.m. deadline. The deal was widely reported — and Griz owner Michael Heisley spoke to The Commercial Appeal of his sadness over parting with Mayo, a favorite of the owner. But then Griz general manager Chris Wallace, in a text to the newspaper, said, “Despite published reports, O.J. was not traded.”

Rockets trade Shane Battier to Grizzlies; Hasheem Thabeet to Rockets

The Memphis Grizzlies have acquired Shane Battier and Ishmael Smith from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Hasheem Thabeet, DeMarre Carroll and a future, lottery-protected first-round draft pick, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

The move reunites the Grizzlies and the City of Memphis with Battier, one of the most-popular and effective players in franchise history.

“We are thrilled to have acquired a player of Shane’s caliber as we make a push toward the playoffs,” Wallace said. “Shane is remembered fondly in our Memphis community for his contributions to the franchise’s prior postseason runs, and we expect that his combination of shooting, defense and leadership will be key ingredients in helping us get back there. We are also pleased to add Ishmael Smith, who has a bright future in this league.”

The first-ever draft pick in the Memphis era (No. 6 overall in 2001), Battier starred for five seasons in the Bluff City (2001-06), averaging 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.28 steals in 32.3 minutes in 396 games (279 starts). The franchise’s all-time leader in steals (507), Battier also ranks in the top 10 in team history in points (4,160, 6th), rebounds (1,908, 7th), blocks (418, 3rd), three-point field goals made (389, 4th), free throws made (765, 7th), games played (3rd) and games started (5th).

Grizzlies sign Rodney Carney to 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed swingman Rodney Carney to a 10-day contract, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

A four-year star at the University of Memphis, the 6-7, 205-pound guard/forward returns to the Bluff City after averaging 5.0 points on .421 shooting (45-of-107 FG), including a career-best .459 mark from three-point range (17-of-37 3FG), in 13.2 minutes in 25 games for the Golden State Warriors earlier this season. The Warriors waived Carney on Jan. 4.

Currently in his fifth NBA season, the 26-year-old owns career averages of 6.0 points and 2.0 rebounds on .422 shooting in 15.5 minutes in 297 games (48 starts) with the Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers.

Carney finished his collegiate career with the Tigers ranked third in school history in scoring (1,901 points), second in games played (133) and first in three-pointers made (287). In his senior season (2005-06), Carney posted 17.2 points and 4.3 rebounds, earning the Conference USA Player of the Year Award and leading the Tigers to an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Rudy Gay out four weeks with shoulder injury

Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on his left shoulder today, which revealed a left shoulder subluxation. Gay will begin rehab in one week and be re-evaluated in four weeks.

The 6-8, 240-pound forward originally suffered the injury in last night’s 102-91 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers when he was fouled with 5:31 remaining in the second quarter.

Currently in his fifth NBA season, Gay is averaging 19.8 points and 6.2 rebounds while posting career highs in assists (2.8), steals (1.69, 9th in the NBA), blocks (1.07), field goal percentage (.471), three-point field goal percentage (.396), free throw percentage (.805) and minutes (39.9, 2nd). The 24-year-old holds career averages of 17.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists on .457 shooting in 36.0 minutes, playing in 372 of a possible 385 games.

Grizzlies sign Jason Williams

The Memphis Grizzlies signed free agent guard Jason Williams, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced Monday. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Williams, who played four seasons in Memphis from 2001-05, is the franchise’s all-time assists leader (2,041).

A member of the inaugural Memphis Grizzlies in 2001, Williams played four seasons in the Bluff City (2001-05), where he averaged 11.9 points, 7.2 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 30.7 minutes in 284 games (277 starts) and helped lead the Grizzlies to their first two playoff appearances (2004, 2005). After his time in Memphis, the 6-1, 190-pound floor general won an NBA Championship as a starter for the 2005-06 Miami Heat.

Selected by the Sacramento Kings with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 1998 NBA Draft, Williams holds career averages of 10.6 points, 5.9 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 29.7 minutes in 777 career games (667 starts) over 12 NBA seasons with the Kings, Grizzlies, Heat and Orlando Magic. The 35-year-old, who ranks ninth among active players in assists (4,683), posted 2.1 points, 1.5 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 10.7 minutes in 16 games this season for Orlando.

Williams also ranks in the top 10 in Grizzlies history in three-pointers made (497, 2nd), steals (369, 4th), points (3,379, 9th), three-pointers attempted (1,528, 2nd), assists per game (7.2, 2nd), games played (284, 10th), games started (267, 7th) and free throw percentage (.817, 5th).

Memphis’ roster now stands at 14 players.

Grizzlies set ticket prices for 2011-12 season

The Memphis Grizzlies have announced their pricing structure for the 2011-12 season, and as a way to thank MVP Season Ticket Holders for their dedication over the last 10 years there will be no increase in ticket prices, with price cuts set for over 2,000 seats in the Plaza Level, 600 of which will be lowered to $25 per game per seat.

In addition to a freeze in ticket prices for the sixth straight season, MVP Season Ticket Holders will also receive 2011 Playoff Priority and incredible “Early Bird Rebate Rewards” for renewing their Season Ticket Plans. Rebate Reward No. 1 gives fans that renew and pay in full by March 11, 10 percent off their total Season Ticket purchase. Those who renew by March 11, 2011 and pay in full by April 10, 2011 will get five percent off the cost their total Season Tickets as part of Rebate Reward No. 2. A two percent discount will be taken off Season Tickets purchases that are renewed by March 11 and paid in full by June 15 as part of Rebate Reward No. 3.

Fans who make their initial renewal payment prior to March 11 but would prefer to pay in three installments or on a 10-month plan will be entered to win one of dozens of great prizes in the annual Reward Lottery. The first reward lottery drawing deadline on Feb. 11 gives fans the opportunity to win two floor seats for the remainder of the 2010-11 season. The second reward lottery deadline on Feb. 15 includes the opportunity to win a Hospitality Suite for the March 9 game vs. the Knicks and $200 in Grizz Bucks. Free parking in the Toyota Garage for the 2011-12 season highlights the second reward lottery deadline. The reward lottery deadline on March 1 includes a one price code upgrade on 2011-12 Season Tickets and the chance to win a $200 Ashley Furniture HomeStore Gift Certificate.

With twice as many chances to win, the fifth reward lottery deadline on March 4 includes at 32-inch Sharp Television and a $200 Kroger Gift Certificate. Fans who renew by March 7 will be in the sixth reward lottery drawing that will include the chance to win $200 in Malco Theater Movie Tickets and lunch for four with Grizzlies’ General Manager Chris Wallace. The final drawing on March 9 will end the reward lotteries with a bang, as fans will have a chance to win 50 percent off a 2011-12 Season Ticket package, a $200 Jason’s Deli Gift Certificate, a $200 Neely’s Gift Certificate or a $200 Gould’s Day Spa Gift Certificate.

“With almost a decade under our belts in this great city of Memphis, we understand now more than ever that our Season Ticket Holders are the pulse of our organization. Every day that we step into FedExForum we strive to give them the rewards that they deserve,” said Greg Campbell, Memphis Grizzlies President of Business Operations. “Each year we try to add more rewards for our Season Ticket Holders to help represent the growing relationship amongst organization, Grizzlies fans and the city of Memphis.”

While purchasing tickets by the March 11 deadline offers a host of rewards as the team looks forward to the 2011-12 season, renewing season ticket purchasers also gives the members of Grizz Nation a big incentive this season. All renewing Season Ticket Holders will continue to receive MVP Express concession lines, MVP entrance, MVP only events and recognition and more.