BRIGGS wrote:http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/65397/20100317/grizzlies_will_match_any_offer_gay_receives/

Oh well

u had to expect they would... they're not a franchise that has the drawing appeal to lure big money FA's there... they'll want to hold onto any young talent they can, that's the only way they can build a winning team going forward.

BRIGGS wrote:http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/65397/20100317/grizzlies_will_match_any_offer_gay_receives/

Oh well

He also said he would sell the team if he received a good offer also. He is just saying this to force a S&T.

Q. Will you re-sign Rudy Gay, who is a restricted free agent this summer?

A. I feel we're going to sign him. I don't know what else you want me to say. Rudy is an outstanding player. He fits our team well. We've got the best front line in basketball.

Q. People wonder if trading for Ronnie Brewer was done in part to get insurance against losing Gay. Do you intend to re-sign both players?

A. I don't know where people get this stuff. We were very active at the trade deadline. We just didn't look at Brewer. We think Brewer is an outstanding player. But if you want to put it that way, let's say this: He's insurance for a couple of guys. OK? He's a great defensive player, which we can use. But I never even thought about Brewer being insurance for Gay. You're the first person to bring that to me. In fact, I thought he was more of a two guard than a three. I absolutely am going to try to re-sign Brewer and Gay. What do you think I gave up a first-round pick for? For fun?

..............

Q. What is the status of coach Lionel Hollins' contract extension?

A. It's in my hands. But I'm not going to get into the negotiations with Lionel or Rudy or anyone else. I'll tell you that Lionel's our coach. Why wouldn't I feel as strongly now about bringing Lionel back as I did in January. You think I'm going to basically change my mind in 30 days? I'm the guy that went and got him. Nobody else was thinking about that. Lionel is an outstanding person. He's a good coach. He deserves a lot of the credit for the success of this team. That's where we are.

..............

Q. Is selling the team a dead issue?

A. I'll reiterate my position again. I'm 73 years of age. My family is not going to take over this basketball team. My point is very simple. If the right person makes a reasonable offer for the team I will sell it. If the minority (local) owners want to come up with a reasonable offer, I would love to sell it to them. I think they would make great owners. If it's not to be, it's not to be.

Quite frankly, I don't have to sell this team. I'm not in any financial difficulty. We have to be a model for what has to be done in the new era of pro basketball when teams are losing the kind of money they're losing. Some people have got to be more fiscally responsible. We've lived within the rules. I've taken the heat. Everybody says I'm cheap. But I've shown that it does you no good to just go out and spend huge amounts of money.

Q. Would you sell the team to anyone who intended to move it?

A. Let me put a close on something. There is a contract that holds the Grizzlies into Memphis for 17 years. People should get off of this. I can't move it tomorrow. It's like talking about something that cannot be. All people have to do is read the contract. I've never said anything about moving. I'm not ready to be sued and go to jail. The NBA wouldn't let it happen. What are we talking about? It's not possible. If somebody calls up, we tell them (moving) is not possible. Tell the people to wait about 10 years, let attendance never get any better and then they better start worrying. Right now, there's nothing to talk about.

Source: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/mar/08/owning-up/

He doesn't want to lose these guys for nothing and we know he isn't going to overpay.

i agree he's either trying to force a S&T or he's trying to scare teams away from making offers. or he's just lying to his season ticket holders to get them to renew.

crzymdups wrote:the same owner said last week that he would pay Rudy if people came out and bought tickets. i think you have to consider the audience here - he's not going to tell the people who actually pay for season tickets that the grizz can't afford to bring back Rudy.

i agree he's either trying to force a S&T or he's trying to scare teams away from making offers. or he's just lying to his season ticket holders to get them to renew.

Beat me to it, great minds think alike

jimimou wrote:

martin wrote:Anyone know how Memphis is doing financially?

Gay, Gasol and Brewer are up for extensions. Mayo, Conely and Thabeet and making good money for rookies. And of course Zach expires after 2011.

Somethings got to give. I hope the Knicks can pounce towards Gasol.

someone posted some stats a week ago or so about how much $ franchises have lost over the last few years. im gonna guess they are feeling economic pressure more than most being a small market team. to your point, they will not be able to resign everyone. also, since their playoff picture is still up in the air with most thinking they might miss this post season. although they have won 7 out of last 10, they are still 4.5 games behind the 8th seed with a pretty tough remaining schedule. that could also be a factor in what happens next year as if they dont make the playoffs, they lose a bunch more in revenue that comes w playoff appearances.

with that said, i think they keep gay and gasol and everyone else is up for sale....including the team.

the stats that they posted about memphis, were they formatted correctly with the CODE button with additional spaces added?

martin wrote:

jimimou wrote:

martin wrote:Anyone know how Memphis is doing financially?

Gay, Gasol and Brewer are up for extensions. Mayo, Conely and Thabeet and making good money for rookies. And of course Zach expires after 2011.

Somethings got to give. I hope the Knicks can pounce towards Gasol.

someone posted some stats a week ago or so about how much $ franchises have lost over the last few years. im gonna guess they are feeling economic pressure more than most being a small market team. to your point, they will not be able to resign everyone. also, since their playoff picture is still up in the air with most thinking they might miss this post season. although they have won 7 out of last 10, they are still 4.5 games behind the 8th seed with a pretty tough remaining schedule. that could also be a factor in what happens next year as if they dont make the playoffs, they lose a bunch more in revenue that comes w playoff appearances.

with that said, i think they keep gay and gasol and everyone else is up for sale....including the team.

the stats that they posted about memphis, were they formatted correctly with the CODE button with additional spaces added?

i have a servant who does that **** for me.....i'll give you a hint - he's from where you just were and has been known to walk the streets of manhattan barefoot

TMS wrote:

We've got the best front line in basketball.

Bynum, Pau & Artest/Odom might have something to say about that

What he meant to say was "we gave the Lakers the best front line in basketball."

And of course he's going to match any offer for Rudy Gay - unless he's talking to Mitch Kupchak, of course.

martin wrote:Anyone know how Memphis is doing financially?

Gay, Gasol and Brewer are up for extensions. Mayo, Conely and Thabeet and making good money for rookies. And of course Zach expires after 2011.

Somethings got to give. I hope the Knicks can pounce towards Gasol.

For 1 yr they probably endure financial burdens.... as they had already put a $50mil offer on the table for him this summer. Plus they were willing to trade Mayo/Thabeet for Monta(financially made more).

I don't think money is as big an issue for them at the moment.

The Grizzlies are doing what they should do for a team that probably wants to retain their talent. They will have to step up to the plate because he will get a Max Offer from 1 team.