Message Board Responses

I don't have time to read every post of every thread on the team's official message board, but I do try to keep tabs on it to see what die-hard fans are talking about. Perusing it tonight, I ran across a few issues I might be able to shed a little light on:

1. There a lot of outrage and umbrage on this thread about ESPN.com's Chad Ford's recent suggestion that Sixers unrestricted free-agent Andre Iguodala is "coveted" by Grizzlies.

I can say with some certainty that Iguodala was coveted by the Grizzlies. Back during the season, discussions with team decision-makers after the Pau Gasol trade gave me the strong impression that the restricted free-agent the team was most interested in was Iguodala, as opposed to other options such as Monta Ellis, Josh Smith, or Emeka Okafor. Even then, though, doubt was expressed over the ability to pry him from Philadelphia.

I think the acquisition of O.J. Mayo has changed all that. I haven't heard Iguodala's name or any other high-profile name mentioned since the draft. (One name I have heard mentioned as a subject of possible interest: Minnesota bruiser Craig Smith.) I suspect Ford's info is outdated, but perhaps he knows something I don't.

2. This thread asks whether the team's summer-league games will be televised locally (in addition to NBA-TV telecasts), as was the case last year.

According to a someone on the broadcast staff I corresponded with today, there is currently no plan for additional broadcasts. The team is, however, sending a videographer to Las Vegas and plans to provide daily video packages on the team's web site.

3. This thread weighs an optimistic Commercial Appeal story about post-draft ticket sales against a more tempered Chris Vernon report.

I spoke to a high-level team source Sunday and when I asked if the draft was having a big impact on ticket sales, he declined to characterize it as such, instead saying that the draft activity seemed to have "stopped the bleeding."

Submitted by Chris Herrington on Thu, 07/03/2008 - 2:31am.
Chris Herrington's blog | add new comment | email this blog

another nice post

thanks Chris H. for another good post.

I'm highly inclined to think that the Iggy thing is certainly outdated and, by now, obviated.

the Craig Smith thing is reasonable. Will be nice and cheap, and the contract length can be kept to two or so years, I'd say, dependent on who else makes offers to him.

HPTMatt (not verified) | Fri, 07/04/2008 - 11:45pm

I copy that first sentiment,

I copy that first sentiment, whoever wrote it. It's always good to have someone have the inside scoop and actually tell the fans what's going on.

Also, I do believe the summer games will now be televised

"All games will be televised on a live webcast on NBA.com and the Grizzlies-Lakers contest on July 13 will be televised on NBA TV."

http://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/grizzlies_announce_summer_league_info-080703.html

Anonymous (not verified) | Fri, 07/04/2008 - 4:50pm

Matt - did you even read his question?

He was rolling in and questioning the availability of this franchise. A little cheeky if you ask me - and deserving of a cheeky response.

GrizzledGrizzFan (not verified) | Thu, 07/03/2008 - 5:11pm

Re:Re:Seattle

Thanks to TrueHoop's Henry Abbott for calming me down a little. Henry doesn't think Stern has promised Seattle anything and refers me to this passage on Lester Munson's Q-and-A on ESPN.com

Quote:

Q: The settlement agreement includes a "negotiated statement" from NBA commissioner David Stern on "the future of professional basketball in Seattle." What, if anything, does this mean?

A: If the choices are "meaningful" or "meaningless," the Stern statement is meaningless.

Mayor Nickels and the city council needed something to try to show that their betrayal of Sonics fans was not a total betrayal. They needed something reassuring and hopeful in the face of what many fans thought was a disaster. The NBA was already involved in the discussions, assisting and advising Bennett on his exit from Seattle -- given that, it was easy to ask Stern to say something for the fans in Seattle.

The result is a "negotiated statement" issued moments after the announcement of the settlement. It's a carefully worded, lawyerly document. It promises very little and avoids any real commitment from the NBA.

The statement reiterates the position the NBA has argued since the controversy began. Seattle is, of course, a "first-class NBA city," Stern said. It is so fine a city that its team is leaving for Oklahoma City.

Stern also repeated his demand for a $300 million renovation of KeyArena before the NBA will consider a return to Seattle. And he added that it must be funded in the next 18 months. Then, and only then, Stern says, the NBA will keep Seattle "informed" if there is a sale of a team, a relocation of a team or an expansion team.

Mayor Nickels will use the statement to defend his settlement, but that will be its only meaningful use.

Chris Herrington | Thu, 07/03/2008 - 4:59pm

Re: Seattle

It's terrible what's happend to Sonics fans.

That said, while Adam did a good job sketching out the hurdles to any future Grizzlies move, I don't think fans in any vulnerable market (and, yes, the Grizzlies have to be in that group — along with New Orleans, Milwaukee and maybe a couple of others)should be pleased with David Stern's behavior in all of this.

He has essentially promised Seattle a new team if they are swift in getting their arena situation sorted out, but didn't exactly specify where that new team would come from. Isn't this promoting a vulture-like demeanor among aggrieved fans in Seattle or people in other cities who want NBA basketball? Especially when Stern just helped Clay Bennett rip a franchise away from Seattle.

Chris Herrington | Thu, 07/03/2008 - 4:49pm

re:

Sonics fan, not everyone in Memphis is ridiculous like Grizzled. Ya'll took an admirable stand, showed your true colors and, when the NBA returns to Seattle (if you want it to), it will be on your terms.

Craig smith? The grizz brass is making too much sense recently. Its like bizarro-Chris Wallace.

Matt (not verified) | Thu, 07/03/2008 - 4:42pm

Ripped out heart

Paul - sorry about your Sonics. Shame your city didn't opt to step up and build a new facility.

Excuse me I have something stuck to the bottom of my shoe, I think it's your heart...

GrizzledGrizzFan (not verified) | Thu, 07/03/2008 - 2:11pm

No, the team is currently not being shopped around. Also, the team has a very restrictive contract with the city. Here is a quote from an article Geoff Calkins wrote in our local paper a couple of months ago regarding this exact issue:

"There's a separate non-relocation agreement, for starters, stating that "during the first 10" seasons in FedExForum, the team "shall not relocate from the City of Memphis."

That's a simple "shall not relocate." Enforceable by injunction. Hard to see how the team would get around that.

Starting in year 10 -- which is a full six years from now -- the team can move only if certain ticket and suite sales minimums are not met.

Even then, the city and county have the right to step in and buy enough tickets or suites to meet the minimums.

But say the city and county pass on that one. Say someone wants to buy the team and move it out of town. The city and county would still have the opportunity to find a local buyer to match the purchase price.

The hurdles are starting to stack up, aren't they, Velma? And we haven't even started talking about money yet.

Any out-of-town buyer would also have to pay off the debt service on FedExForum, a number that doesn't dip below $100 million until 2015. And the buyer would have to pay back FedEx for a portion of the naming rights.

And the buyer would have to get the NBA's approval and pay the NBA's relocation fee, which would surely be a good deal more than the $25 million the Grizzlies had to pay to leave Vancouver.

Translation: The team isn't moving anytime soon. It's just not. In this time of finger-pointing and misery, it seems important to recognize that."

So, no. If Seattle wants a new team, they need to look elsewhere.

Adam (not verified) | Thu, 07/03/2008 - 1:40pm

I am a Seattle Sonic fan and

I am a Seattle Sonic fan and just have had my heart ripped apart on todays decision. Now I know this is going to come off bad but are there any rumors of the memphis grizzly's forsale. I hate to even ask as I know losing your team is about the worst thing but I am just asking.

paul (not verified) | Thu, 07/03/2008 - 7:42am

Good info

As always, thanks for keeping us informed of what is happening.

I'm glad to actually have some good news on the ticket front.

Mac (not verified) | Thu, 07/03/2008 - 4:39am

Thank you Chris Herrington!

Chris, as of the most recent few months, you have been the best source of Grizzlies news, team correspondence, and opinions. I commend you and thank you for all your Grizzlies related work. I'm sure you are spread quite thin with all of your duties at the Flyer and appearances on The Chris Vernon Show, but I think I can speak for all of the die-hard Grizzlies fans when I say thanks for all the hard work you put in for us, and keep up the good work.

A VERY GRACIOUS GRIZZLIES FAN (not verified) | Thu, 07/03/2008 - 4:03am