Iverson's future with Grizzlies in limbo - 籃球

Iverson's future with Grizzlies in limbo

Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4354901


Suddenly, another power forward has become available on the unrestricted
free-agent landscape -- and it could impact Allen Iverson's chances of possibly
playing for the Memphis Grizzlies next season.

That power forward is Hakim Warrick, who was taken by surprise Thursday night
when the Grizzlies rescinded their $3 million qualifying offer to him to give
themselves more flexibility on the free-agent market.

The 27-year-old former Syracuse standout averaged 11.6 points and five rebounds

last season when he shared time with Darrell Arthur at power forward, but
Memphis acquired Zach Randolph earlier this summer to play that position,
making Warrick both expendable and expensive.

Warrick will remain on Memphis' cap for the time being at $6.2 million -- 300
percent of his salary last season -- but the Grizzlies could move about $9
million below the cap if they formally renounce their rights to him or move him
in a sign-and-trade deal.

It remained to be seen whether the move meant the Grizzlies were ready to
resume discussions with Iverson, who was offered a one-year contract by Memphis
earlier this summer and whose box-office appeal is said to be a selling point
with owner Michael Heisley.

"I'm not a guy who says things automatically cannot happen, because funny
things can start to happen in free agency. We haven't closed the door on
anybody. It would be premature to do that," Grizzlies general manager Chris
Wallace told ESPN.com. "We like Hakim and felt he contributed, but we wanted a
little more flexibility going forward in free agency."

Another of Warrick's Grizzlies teammates, Rudy Gay, said he spoke with Warrick
on the telephone Friday morning before Team USA's minicamp practice.

"I'm not quite sure what's going on. Not only was Hakim by teammate, he was one
of my good friends on the team, so it's going to be tough to play without him,
but this is a business," Gay said. "I spoke to him this morning, and he
basically said he's moving on. He explained it to me, and I basically gave him
my blessing.

"I'm not really quite sure where we're going right now, but I'm pretty sure by
the time the season starts we'll have a better idea," Gay said.

Warrick's agent, Bill Duffy, said he had already been contacted by five teams
with interest in Warrick by Friday afternoon, though he would not disclose them

"This was a directive from the owner. It came down from the top, and it is
consistent with the cost-cutting measures going on across the NBA," Duffy told
ESPN.com. "Eighty percent of the NBA teams, their focus now is economic."

Several NBA executives were caught unaware of the move, learning about it as
they attended Team USA's mini-camp in Las Vegas.

The same was true for one of Warrick's now-former teammates, O.J. Mayo.

"If it's to make room for Allen Iverson, I definitely think we're making a step
forward," Mayo said, "and as a young player in my second year in the league I
definitely gets me excited that we're going the right way and making some good
choices for the organization."

Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Chris Sheridan is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.

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