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Memphis Trade Discussions Have Been Mild
Griz president Jerry West still is in the familiar predicament of trying to upgrade the front line. Although a last-minute transaction is possible, sources describe Grizzly trade discussions as mild and insignificant pertaining to a center with size and brute strength. Even interest in Lorenzen Wright and his expiring $7.7 million contract proved fruitless. The Griz are not interested in receiving a similar salary with more years attached. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Minnesota And Memphis Amongst Teams Interested In Steve-O
New York has the expiring contract of Penny Hardaway ($15.7 million) to offer, a move that would allow Orlando to drop below the salary cap and be active seeking players in the free-agent market this summer. New York also could be offering combo guard Jamal Crawford in a larger package. Denver might be willing to trade injured center Nene, power forward Kenyon Martin and/or reserve point guard Earl Watson. Smith admitted the parameters of a multi-team trade are in place, but he said he's not ready to commit to anything at this time. He added that even though the Magic now have five point guards -- Jameer Nelson, Keyon Dooling and Travis Diener are the others -- he doesn't feel pressure to trade Francis. In fact, Smith said he thinks such a deal is "still a long shot." "We're still evaluating, still using the phones and we have seven days to see what's out there and what we can do," Smith said, referring to the Feb. 23 NBA trade deadline. "Right now we have the team on the floor and we'll make evaluations as we go." Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Francis To N.Y. Unlikely
Francis and all his behavioral baggage, plus the $48.7 million he's due the three seasons after this one, may not be in Orlando by the NBA trade deadline a week from today. Yet, although the Knicks and Magic have talked, league sources indicated Wednesday it's more likely he'll end up elsewhere. That's because there's a theory throughout the league that Knicks president Isiah Thomas is generating talk about such big-ticket players to divert attention from his free-falling team. Thomas didn't speak to reporters Wednesday and didn't watch the Knicks snap their 10-game losing streak from his usual spot in the center-court tunnel. But with the NBA's trade deadline a week from today and his team flirting with the league's worst record, there's no doubt he's working the phones. Francis, however, is considered more likely to end up in Denver, especially if the Nuggets can unload Kenyon Martin. The Nuggets' forward has four years and more than $54 million left on his contract, plus a fifth-year option worth $16 million. Memphis is also reportedly pursuing Francis, a three-time All-Star. The ingredients of a potential Francis deal to New York also took a hit Wednesday when Orlando backup center Kelvin Cato was thrown into the Magic's deal with the Pistons for Darko Milicic. The Magic could substitute starting center Tony Battie's salary (about $3 million less than Cato's), but get less in return in a package that would include their former star Penny Hardaway's expiring $15.75 million contract. Martin was also reportedly offered to the Knicks earlier this month in a three-way scenario that also would have brought Nuggets backup point guard Earl Watson to New York. A straight Martin and Watson-to-New York deal all but died when the Nuggets insisted on Knicks rookie Channing Frye. Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Grizzlies Feb 2006 Archive
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The Grizzlies haven't been involved in any significant discussions and likely will stand pat, according to a league source familiar with the team's dealings. 
New York, Denver, Minnesota and Memphis are believed to have an interest in Francis.