As the Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers completed a deal Tuesday that will send three players and a future first-round draft pick to Cleveland in exchange for forward/perennial D-Leaguer Jon Leuer, we must all become more aware of the bigger picture at stake. The clock is expiring on the NBA’s practical, dollar-for-dollar luxury tax era. The rules are changing, and these deals will become more of the norm than the exception. [Read more…]
On the plus side for Memphis Grizzlies fans, they don’t have to worry about new owner Robert Pera having to reach deep into his wallet to pay the punitive repeater luxury tax in the years ahead. As if Grizz fans care about Pera’s wallet. The verdict here is that the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a heist Tuesday in making their 3-for-1 trade with the Grizzlies, acquiring Marreese Speights, Wayne Ellington and Josh Selby and a first-round pick in exchange for Jon Leuer.
(This is another in a series of 30 guest columns that will run in October, when optimism reigns supreme across the NBA. The theme will be “Five Reasons to Feel Positive About … ” We encourage you to follow the authors on Twitter and visit their sites. – CS) Two seasons back, the Grizzlies were a Game 7 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder away from making it to the Western Conference finals. To that, they entered the 2011-12 season with
The basketball world is focusing in on Barcelona, where Team USA narrowly defeated Argentina today. For coverage of that, check out Chris Sheridan’s piece on why there’s no need for Team USA to panic, and also be sure to read his Diary of the Uncredentialed, and Jan Hubbard’s look back at the Barcelona Games in 1992, twenty years later. Here’s today’s news from all over the NBA: First reported by Peter Vecsey of the NY Post on Twitter, the Bulls will sign
Gilbert Arenas is back in the NBA, officially signing Tuesday with the Memphis Grizzlies. Released under the amnesty clause in December – and still due more than $60 million from the Orlando Magic – Arenas worked out for the Grizzlies on Monday. The Memphis Commercial-Appeal reported that Arenas appeared slender and shot the ball well during the workout. The Grizzlies could use Arenas’ shooting ability as they are next to last in the NBA with 3.8 3-pointers per game. Arenas also can