Grizzlies Sign Iranian Center
There was a ton of speculation that the Memphis Grizzlies would sign Iranian center Hamed Haddadi, but then various “immigration” issues popped up putting the signing in jeopardy. The issues have been resolved though and Haddid has reportedly signed with the Grizz for next season.
From the Memphis Commercial Appeal:
Haddadi, 23, was the only player to average a double-double (16.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks) in Beijing Olympics. He competed in five games for the Iranian national team, which did not advance to the medal round. His best performance came Aug. 16 against bronze medal winner Argentina when he had a team-high 21 points and game-high 16 rebounds.
“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,” Griz general manager Chris Wallace said in a statement. “Our coaching staff is eager to begin working with Hamed.”
With the Darko-to-New York rumors hanging around, this signing adds depth, and possibly strengthens, the Memphis front line. After all, Haddadi led the entire Olympic field in blocks and rebounds in Beijing. Good move for Memphis.
Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal (and special shout out to reader David Brandon, who spotted this news right after it happened)
August 28th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Andy says:
Good move, lets pray the knicks dont take darko now…
August 28th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
A-Slam says:
Knicks probably will take Darko, Donnie Walsh doesn’t know his head from his own ass
August 28th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
rodnets says:
this guy is a sack of potatoes
August 28th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Ashlov says:
You’ll have to frisk him for a suicide vest before every game…
August 28th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
heartbreaker85 says:
since no one’s said it yet… FIRST!
*always wanted to do that* LOL
what’s up with the griz, are they trying to run or play half court? one big and 4 smalls perhaps?
marc + haddadi
if the iranian posts double doubles, then i’d hold up a “he’s my ha-daddi!” banner all day long
August 28th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
rodnets says:
hey i was not rude i meant to say that the guy was slow and dumb
August 28th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Three Stacks says:
How much are they paying him?
August 29th, 2008 at 12:04 am
tommy the cat says:
@Ashlov: Not funny and dumb.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:21 am
David_Brandon says:
hey…thanks for the shout out, guys. thats decent…you guys always take care of your own.
in other news, who’s memphis’ starting 5 now? is it conley, mayo, gay, love and haddadi?
August 29th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Blue says:
@ ashlov…
it was kinda fucked up, but it was funny…haha!
GO HEAT!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:39 am
QueSt??? says:
it smellssss like a really big bust!!! they should have let the government deny his passport, that way they would have saved the grizzlies from embarassment..oops too late!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:40 am
QueSt??? says:
dont let the olympic stats fool you. this guy sucks and he is gonna be a third string center
August 29th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Meica says:
Are the Grizzlies just going to pretend to be a good team their whole franchise (before they get shipped to Seattle to give those folks their team back), or what? Even when they had Pau Gasol, even when they made the playoffs, etc. no one has ever been foolish enough to think they’re legitimate contenders.
I mean, Haddidi is probably a serviceable center but doesn’t it seem like they’re grasping at straws? They’re like the new Milwaukee Bucks: usually competitive, but hardly ever realistic. Yi anyone?
August 29th, 2008 at 12:50 am
rodnets says:
that guy is a sack of potatoes
August 29th, 2008 at 12:52 am
rodnets says:
oh no wait the iranian will be the cornerstone of the franchise, will post 20 20s all over the place and be the 2009 version of georghe muresan
August 29th, 2008 at 1:02 am
Yomama says:
@ post 3
DUMBASS
August 29th, 2008 at 1:18 am
bamba says:
@ post 3
damn racist pig
August 29th, 2008 at 1:22 am
Joe says:
@ Ashlov
You racist fk.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:18 am
QueSt??? says:
memphis sissies
August 29th, 2008 at 2:26 am
Borgs says:
I could fall on to this keyboard and the result would be wittier than post #3.
I’m not sure about the credentials or potential of Marc Gasol, so Haddadi will help in some way. He needs to do some lifting, but the touch around the bucket and the shot-blocking is there. Why not take the punt?
August 29th, 2008 at 2:33 am
Luigi says:
man…dude Memphis is gonna have some sick yung guns next year. trade darko n Jarvaris for some draft picks
August 29th, 2008 at 5:04 am
solomon says:
looks like the iranina will purdue, IMO…
we’re out like banning players from iran
August 29th, 2008 at 5:05 am
solomon says:
that’s iranian will purdue, sorry for the typo
August 29th, 2008 at 5:05 am
heartbreaker85 says:
WHO’S YOUR HA-DADDI?
just had to post it again. lol
August 29th, 2008 at 5:24 am
solomon says:
LOL
August 29th, 2008 at 7:03 am
slicrick says:
LOL who’s your ha-daddi!!! JOKES !!!\
August 29th, 2008 at 11:01 am
FirstName says:
David_Brandon says:
hey…thanks for the shout out, guys. thats decent…you guys always take care of your own.
in other news, who’s memphis’ starting 5 now? is it conley, mayo, gay, love and haddadi?
Hey DB, Love is in Minnesota.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
David Brandon says:
@FirstName,
thats RIGHT! i knew somethin about that didnt seem right! good lookin, my man! next thing you know i’ll be saying something crazy like darius miles is goin to Boston or somethin’….oh wait…
August 29th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
AB_40 says:
so this is gonna be the most dunken on center trio since seatle ok it’s a tie now hiadidi, marc gasol, darko menn I feel bad for rudy gay. OJ mayo will get 12 and 3 and 4 nothing more nothing less
August 29th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
AB_40 says:
dunken=dunked my bad
August 29th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
doc says:
I’ll believe he’s good when I see it.I dont care what he put up in the Olympics.He should’ve put up more with that bum ass squad he had.
August 31st, 2008 at 6:03 am
Cammy Z says:
@ashlov
Not only was that a racist comment, but it was aimed at the wrong ethnicity. How many Iranians do you know of how have blown themselves up? That sounds more like stuff that happens in Palestine or in Iraq.
August 31st, 2008 at 6:03 am
Cammy Z says:
@ashlov
Not only was that a racist comment, but it was aimed at the wrong ethnicity. How many Iranians do you know of whom have blown themselves up? That sounds more like stuff that happens in Palestine or in Iraq.