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The World Famous LayupDrill Rumor Mill
8/19/09
While the rumors surrounding the next team star guard Allen Iverson will suit up for continue to swirl around the net, signs are starting to point in the direction of the Big Apple. Sources close to the situation believe while the two other Eastern Conference teams interested in A.I(Miami, Charlotte), might be higher on the priority list, the Knicks situation is ideal. Iverson could get a 1 year deal to be the primary offensive force on the perimeter, and flourish in the style of play coach Mike D’Antoni has established. The Knicks, meanwhile, take a small gamble on a hall of famer who will be more motivated than ever to prove his critics wrong.
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The Strange, Sad History of the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies
A LayupDrill.com Exclusive
For a franchise currently in its 13th season of existence, the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies have made more waves for the moves they have made off the court, than any success found on. After scouring the internet, I have found that most fans north of the border don’t really miss the Grizzlies
(Canucks.com Forum). The Grizzlies stayed in Vancouver for six seasons, before heading south to Memphis in 2001-02.
Things looked good at first for the Memphis Grizzlies at first, as the city was strongly behind their new team, and the results on the floor showed progress. With Jerry West in the front office, and Hubie Brown on the sidelines, The Grizz made the playoffs for the first time ever, and West and Brown won accolades as Executive and Coach of the Year.
As the decade continued, the young Grizzlies changed coaches, but the playoff appearances continued. With Mike Fratello at the helm, Memphis made the playoffs in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons, and Pau Gasol became the franchise’s first All-Star. Things started to unravel for the franchise in 2006-07 though. After Pau Gasol was injured in the World Championships playing for his native Spain, Memphis began the season without their star, and in a hole. They never did recover, and disappointed many on their way to a 22-60 season. Jerry West departed shortly after that season ended, and later re-joined the Lakers as a consultant in the front office. It was that move that later proved to be vital in the departure of the franchise’s greatest player.
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Gasol was traded a year ago to Los Angeles in what I feel is one of the five worst trades in NBA History. Memphis traded the face of their franchise for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron Mckie, and the lone bright spot, Pau’s brother, Marc.
As Memphis announced the firing of their latest head coach, Marc Iavaroni today, they sit at 11-30, and among the very worst franchises in the NBA. Gone is the excitement of playoff basketball, and the promise of a up and coming team. The talent of Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, and Mike Conley are wasting away in a city that doesn’t support its only professional franchise. With the city of Seattle lobbying to get another NBA team, and the ownership secretly regretting their move out of Vancouver, it could very be another relocation in the future for them.
Below are the Top ten Greatest Players in Grizzlies History:
1. Pau Gasol
2. Shareef Abdur-Rahim
3. Mike Miller
4. Jason Williams
5. Rudy Gay
6. Mike Bibby
7. OJ Mayo
8. Bryant Reeves
9. Shane Battier
Should the Grizzlies franchise relocate to Seattle? Vote in the poll and tell us your comments.
