Trade him to the Lakers for Luke Walton and a second round pick.
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ar...hamed_haddadi/
Memphis Signs Hamed Haddadi
Aug 28, 2008 6:49 PM EST
The Memphis Grizzlies signed free-agent center Hamed Haddadi, who led all 2008 Olympians in rebounding and blocks, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Ahvaz, Iran native recently participated in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, where he was the only player to average a double-double (16.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks) in Olympic compe ion while playing five games for the Iranian National Team. The 7-2, 254-pound center had his best performance came against eventual bronze medal winner Argentina when he had a team-high 21 points and game-high 16 rebounds on Aug. 16. “We are pleased to sign Hamed,” said Wallace. “He is a young center who was very productive as a rebounder, shotblocker and scorer at the Rocky Mountain Revue Summer League in Salt Lake City, Utah, the 2008 Olympics and the FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament in Nanjing, China prior to the Olympics. Our coaching staff is eager to begin working with Hamed.”
Trade him to the Lakers for Luke Walton and a second round pick.
This dude might be a sleeper.
I heard all the reports coming out of the Olympics that this dude was being contacted by a bunch of NBA teams. This was a fast signing.
I'm thinking the Grizz take a solid step forward this year and hang around the 8th seed.
Milicic/Marc Gasol/Hammed - 3 - 7 footers with talent (Milicic was a bust at #2 draft but he's still a solid player)
Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo, Darrel Arthur, bazilliion talented young point guards should be a pretty solid team.
I was impressed with Hamed's offense, but his defense is Francisco Elson-like. However, I think he will learn a lot in the NBA, he's still very young.
Always good to have a spare pilot on board.
Yeah, I agree. It's funny how some teams just need to trade their superstars: Minnesota & KG, Philly & AI, and Memphis & Pau. All three of those teams are heading in the right direction now with brighter futures.
They'll be alright. Way too young to make much noise.
No way in the Grizzlies make the playoffs. Give me 1 to 20 odds and I'm still confidently picking against the Grizzlies.
I'm surprised the Grizzlies haven't gotten more heat about signing this guy. The NBA specifically told teams not to talk to him. And during that time, Hamed came out and said he was going to sign with the Grizzlies.
Yet more proof the Grizzlies are a cheating franchise . . .
Oh no, not MAKE the playoffs but "hover" around 8 and keep the #8 team on its toes. They have a possiblity to make the Playoffs but probably won't. Last year, they had no chance in , they have some chance this year and will probably get 40-45 wins....in the East they would probably be a Playoff team.
Yes, I remember the NBA specifically telling teams not to talk to Iranian players...I believe because of the political issues. Don't know how this finalized.
I'd say 38 wins would be surprising.
Luckily for the Grizzlies, no one cares about the Grizzlies. Not only were the Grizzlies going against what the NBA said, they were breaking federal laws.
So since when does the NBA, let alone the government, just let anyone get away with it?
I mean...I'm sure I'm pretty damned unimportant to the government, too...but you could bet they'd show up on MY doorstep if I started breaking federal, international laws.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news...enter-haddadi/Haddadi will become the first Iranian to play in the NBA after spending the 2007-08 season playing for Saba Battery in the Iranian Super League. He was cleared to play for the NBA after U.S. government officials granted the league an Office of Foreign Assets Control license to employ Haddadi.
So the grizz's pick up what the hornets picked up. Another big practice dummy, although Id give Marks an edge cos of his experience. Memphis will be in the lottery. Somewhere near the bottom 5 of the league. And not because of Haddadi. Why even be a Grizzly fan?
I doubt the Griz went thru all the trouble to get a "practice dummy". They feel he can be a serviceable big who can give them some mins off the bench. I dont think he will be used much this coming year but maybe next season
Hamed looked VERY good in the Olympics.
So good a bunch of NBA teams started talking to his agent and then the NBA had to tell them all to chill out. It only took a week or so for the Grizz to snatch him up so I'm guessing they moved fast so another team couldn't get him.
As for his skills, if you haven't seen him, he's extremely agile for a 7'2 guy.
Last edited by Allanon; 08-29-2008 at 03:09 PM.
The Grizzlies "snatched" him during the time teams were told not to talk to him.
That's a good question. But seeing how the NBA backed them 100% after the Gasol trade, they'd probably back them now if the feds came knocking.
another esteban batista
Why did his last name change all of a sudden from Ehadadi to Haddadi?
Pop is that you?
Are you now saying that the NBA asked the Griz to give up Pau to the Lakers so the NBA will let get Haddadi 6 months later?![]()
Let it go already.
I thought the Spurs fans always made fun of the Suns fans cos they whine so much!!
Because of the division they play in, you can already pencil in 9 or 10 losses in the 12 games Memphis has with Dal, Hou, and SA. Think of climbing from 0-10 to 50 wins as their chance at the playoffs. They'd need to go like 50-22. They're not that good.
How absurd that the NBA/US Federal Government would restrict teams from talking to an Iranian athlete!? What's he going to do, smuggle in WMOs?![]()
Haddadi averaged 16.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks for the Iranian national team during the 2008 Olympics, including a 21 points and 16 rebounds against Bronze-medalists Argentina. In fact, Haddadi led all Olympic players, including Yao Ming and Dirk Nowitzki, in rebounds and blocked shots. Despite his team losing all five games, the 23-year old centers play in the pivot opened many eyes, and interest in the Saba Battery club player was high.
He is a sleeper. But in the end, probably still cannon fodder for most NBA bigs like Yao, Duncan and Garnett.
Last edited by Indazone; 08-31-2008 at 10:58 AM.
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