Foshan has made an offer of up to $200,000 a month to the center that includes an opt-out clause if the NBA lockout ends during the season, according to NiuBBall.com.

The talks have progressed beyond the initial stages but it is still unclear that when Haddadi will make a decision.

 

Haddadi signed a three-year deal, including a team-option for a fourth season, with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2008 worth $4.8 million.

 

“Now, we are in talks for him to play in China,” said Haddadi’s agent, Marc Cornstein. “There are some good opportunities there and, the more he plays, the more he will develop.”

 

Since Haddadi is an Iranian, he has been considered Asian by FIBA and could join the Chinese teams without counting against their quota of foreign players.

 

MH/GJ

END

MNA

Source: Mehr News Agency

Iran’s Memphis Grizzlies center Hamed Haddadi is likely to join a Chinese team, according to Haddadi’s agent, Marc Cornstein.

Hamed Haddadi

In three years with the Grizzlies, Haddadi appeared 86 times for the team, averaging 2.2 points, but has always said that he is hungry for more in the NBA team.

“Now, we are in talks for him to play in China,” Cornstein, told Sporting News. “There are some good opportunities there and, the more he plays, the more he will develop.”

Since Haddadi is an Iranian, he has been considered Asian by FIBA and could join the Chinese teams without counting against their quota of foreign players.

Recently, the 7-foot-2-inch player lamented that the Iranians don’t know about the U.S. basketball, saying, “Most of Iranian people don’t know about the NBA and it’s while they have so much information about football. They even have information about the Maldives’ third division football and the coaches who have worked in Iran in the past years,”

The 26-year-old Iranian player averaged 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 31 games for the Grizzlies last season.

Grizzlies extended a qualifying contract offer to Hamed Hadaddi in June, officially making him a restricted free agent.

… Payvand News – 07/30/11 … —

In three years with the Grizzlies, Haddadi appeared 86 times for the team, averaging 2.2 points, but has always said that he is hungry for more in the NBA team.

 

“Now, we are in talks for him to play in China,” Cornstein, told Sporting News. “There are some good opportunities there and, the more he plays, the more he will develop.”

 

Since Haddadi is an Iranian, he has been considered Asian by FIBA and could join the Chinese teams without counting against their quota of foreign players.

 

Recently, the 7-foot-2-inch player lamented that the Iranians don’t know about the U.S. basketball, saying, “Most of Iranian people don’t know about the NBA and it’s while they have so much information about football. They even have information about the Maldives’ third division football and the coaches who have worked in Iran in the past years,”

 

The 26-year-old Iranian player averaged 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 31 games for the Grizzlies last season.

 

Grizzlies extended a qualifying contract offer to Hamed Hadaddi in June, officially making him a restricted free agent.

MH/GJ

END

MNA

There’s a new Change.org petition urging the Memphis Grizzlies to film a video for the “It Gets Better” campaign.

“It Gets Better,” launched by Seattle newsweekly editor Dan Savage, features YouTube videos of celebrities reassuring LGBT youth that life improves over time. The campaign began in response to the rash of gay teen suicides last year.

Plenty of well-known celebs, such as Ke$ha, Tim Gunn, Colin Farrell, and Sarah Silverman, have lent their images to the campaign. Even President Barack Obama has an “It Gets Better” video. And recently, several professional sports teams, like the San Francisco Giants and the Boston Red Sox, have made films.

Local LGBT activist Michael Hildebrand started the Change.org petition asking the Grizzlies to star in their own “It Gets Better” video. Click here to sign.

To get an idea of what a Grizzlies video might look like, check out this one with the Chicago Cubs.

Grizzlies assistant coach David Joerger agreed to a two-year contract with the team today and was promoted to lead assistant.

Joerger just completed his fourth season on the Grizzlies’ bench after arriving with former head coach Marc Iavaroni in 2007. Joerger excelled this past season as the coach tabbed to implement head coach Lionel Hollins’ defensive principles.

Memphis made significant strides defensively this season with the addition of guard Tony Allen and a stronger commitment to team-oriented schemes.

The Grizzlies led the NBA in steals (9.4) and forced turnovers (16.5), and were second in points off turnovers (19.4). Memphis ranked seventh in blocked shots (5.4).

“I’m happy for (Joerger), our staff and our team,” Hollins said. “He was instrumental in us being successful. Keeping him gives me a little peace of mind.”

Hollins lost two assistants following the Grizzlies’ most successful playoff run in franchise history. Assistants Johnny Davis (Toronto) and Damon Stoudamire (University of Memphis) took other jobs after the Griz were eliminated in Game 7 of the Western Conference semi-finals.

Davis was the lead assistant under Hollins.