NBA Trade Rumors: Grizzlies Interested In Marreese Speights

The Philadelphia 76ers have been shopping Marreese Speights in recent weeks and it seems as if they may have found an interested party in the Memphis Grizzlies.

According to Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal, the Grizzlies had been looking to shore up their depleted roster even prior to an MRI performed on Monday that revealed a torn right Achilles tendon for forward Darrell Arthur. The injury will put Arthur out for the entire shortened 2011-12 NBA season.

In response, the Grizzlies are getting ready to sign Charlotte Bobcats restricted free agent Dante Cunningham to an offer sheet and are speaking with the Sixers about obtaining Speights. The most likely trade scenario based on Speights' expected salary would have Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez coming over from Memphis.

Of course, if the Bobcats manage to match the offer sheet for Cunningham, the Grizzlies could be even more desperate to find help before the season gets underway.

For more 76ers coverage, visit our team page, or our blog Liberty Ballers.

According to Sixers beat writer Kate Fagan, last year's starting center, Spencer Hawes, had tentatively agreed to sign the $4.1 million qualifying offer. By signing the qualifying offer Hawes remains a Sixer for the rest of this season, but becomes an unrestriced free agent at the end of the upcoming season. Hawes was a restriced free agent this off-season, meaning teams other teams could sign him to a contract, in which the Sixers could match. That didn't happen, and the Sixers didn't offer to extend him like they did Thaddues Young, so Hawes will return for one more year, with the rest of his future with the Sixers uncertain.

Hawes started 81 of 82 games for the Sixers last season, and the 23 year-old arguably enjoyed the best season of his career – still nothing to write home about. His offensive numbers were still below average by league standards, and he's had better offensive seasons with his former team – the Kings – but Hawes rebounded and defended better than he has his entire career during his first year in Doug Collins system. 

Still, Hawes is one of the worst starting centers in the NBA. I think it's safe to say that after the upcoming season the Sixers will have a new starting center, – whether it's rookie Nikola Vucevic or someone else. 

For more 76ers coverage, visit our team page, or our blog Liberty Ballers.

The big news out of Sixers camp yesterday was that small forward/power forward/spark-off-the-bench extraordinaire, Thaddeus Young, agreed to a five year extension worth 43 million dollars. Lost amongst all the Thad Young hoopla was the following tweet, tweeted by Sixers beat writer Kate Fagan:

The 76ers can't move Speights until @yungsmoove21 & Hawes situations are resolved. Once there's closure there, almost certain Speights gone.

For the most part, the 24 year-old Speights has been a disappointment during his time in Philadelphia. He had an excellent rookie campaign, as a big man who could come in and score off the bench, and also provide a necessary spark with his electrifying dunks and blocks. He continued to build on his rookie campaign in year two, and his future looked extremely bright. Then he suffered a minor knee injury. For whatever reason, he hasn't been the same since. The explosiveness isn't there, he settles for too many difficult jump shots, and doesn't play a lick of defense. His game as a whole, has been on a steady decline since returning from injury his sophomore year.

If retained, a decision would have to be made on Speights next off-season at the latest. The Sixers could either A) Extend him a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent the following season B) Re-sign him via contract extension or matching another team's offer sheet, or C) Let him walk.

If any value can be had for Speights services, trading him is now is probably the best decision for the Sixers. Not just because of his contract situation, but both parties clearly need a fresh start. In theory, a young, relatively cheap, uberly-talented big man like Speights should warrant at least a few decent offers from various suitors. Unfortunately, that won't be the case because of minor character issues (like work ethic and basketball IQ) and the lack of improvement shown during his three-year career.

For more 76ers coverage, visit our team page, or our blog Liberty Ballers.

The Philadelphia 76ers have reached a deal to keep free agent forward Thaddeus Young, according to a report (via Adrian Wojnarowski's Twitter). Kate Fagan confirmed (via Twitter) the report that Young and the 76ers have reached a deal worth $42/5 years.

As a restricted free agent, the Sixers would have been allowed to try to match an offer sheet that Young could have received from another team. The organization had said previously that they would match any "reasonable offer" (via Philly.com). Now that Philadelphia has reached a deal with Young, he can get to training camp, which began earlier today.

Young averaged 12.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 2010-2011. Young comes off the bench frequently (he played all 82 regular season games last season, but had only one start) as a wing player for the 76ers.

For more 76ers coverage, visit our team page, or our blog Liberty Ballers.

The Philadelphia 76ers are closing in on a deal to retain restricted free agent Thaddeus Young, reports Kate Fagan. The deal is not yet finalized or agreed to, but sources tell Fagan both sides are working towards it and there is optimism that the deal will get done. 

As a restricted free agent, Young could have signed an offer sheet with any other team and the Sixers would have had an opportunity to match it. But instead, Fagan reports the sides are hoping to forego that process and get a deal done so Young can participate in training camp, which begins today.

The Sixers have maintained all offseason that re-signing Young is their number one priority. The 23-year old averaged 12.7 points and 5.3 rebounds last season, being used almost exclusively off the bench. He finished third in voting for Sixth Man of the Year.

For more 76ers coverage, visit our team page, or our blog Liberty Ballers.