Lorenzen Wright Demands Trade

[SkipToMy_Lou]

It's on RealGM, I can't copy the text as you need to be registed for some newspaper.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap/

[zmac]

Maybe he will go to New York, they need a Center?
New Yorked would have a huge off-season, losing HUGE cap with Houston, gettin Q and Lorenz, they have have a good 5 and a couple of benchers.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

I would've been posted this, but whenever I post something about the Grizzlies no one cares because the Grizz never get respect He won't definitely go to NY because the Knicks have nothing Memphis want especially with Thomas gone now. Since I'm registered to commercilappeal.com here is the article:

No room for Wright?
Veteran may be victim of cost-cutting measures

By Ronald Tillery
Contact
June 23, 2005

Lorenzen Wright and the Grizzlies apparently are headed for a divorce.

The center made public Wednesday a desire to dissolve his marriage with the team when he demanded a trade during an abrupt media gathering at a downtown hotel.

Expressing he would rather remain in Memphis long term along with regret that he feels compelled to make such a stance, Wright cited the Grizzlies' unwillingness to discuss a contract extension as the reason for his request to relocate.

"Don't get this twisted. I want to be here," Wright said, shortly after his afternoon press conference began. "I love playing for the Grizzlies. I love being here. I would love for the Grizzlies to sign me. I would love to sign here and be a Grizzly for the rest of my life. But when we went to them about signing an extension they didn't give me a chance to say what I wanted. They just said that we're cutting costs and we're not doing any business deals

"I wanted the chance to say will you give me $5 a day? But they said we're not doing anything. We're not going to do it now. We're not going to do it in sixth months. We'll talk after this season. So now I know that at the end of my contract I'm not going to be here. ... I don't see how I can feel good about playing for the Grizzlies when I know they're not going to sign me at the end of the year."

Wright, 29, is about to enter the final year of a contract that pays him $7.7 million for the 2005-06 season. He's played for the Griz since 2001, their inaugural campaign in Memphis.

Griz majority owner Michael Heisley has already stated that he wants to reduce the team's payroll, which exceeded $66 million last season. The Grizzlies also will endure more than $40 million in losses despite a new arena and their second consecutive playoff appearance.

Wright averaged 9.2 points and 7.7 rebounds for the Grizzlies this season. His play since January was a major reason the Griz earned their second consecutive trip to the postseason.

Griz president Jerry West refused comment to The Commercial Appeal but released a statement imploring Wright to honor his deal.

"We are very appreciative of all of Lorenzen's contributions to the Grizzlies," West said. "We are aware of his desire to extend his contract and we have had discussions with his agent. As we have in the past, we will honor our contractual commitment to Lorenzen who has one year remaining on his contract. In good faith, we hope he will honor his commitment to the team and the organization."

Grizzly insiders claim that the team decided it could not enter contract negotiations with Wright until a collective bargaining agreement had been decided with the league and its players. The team also wanted to conduct business following the NBA draft.

But Wright's agent, Robert Fayne, insisted the Grizzlies indicated that his client wasn't part of the team's future.

"Our interests and their interests are divergent," said Fayne, a Memphis native now based in New York. "We decided to make this announcement because we wanted to give the Grizzlies as much time as possible before the draft to consummate a transaction. We thought our decision is one that should be considered as the team approaches the draft and the rest of the offseason."

Fayne said he initiated contract talks a few weeks ago to determine Wright's future with the team given West's desire to make several changes to the roster. Wright also pointed toward the Grizzlies' history of rewarding players with extensions before the final season of their contract.

Jason Williams, Michael Dickerson, Mike Miller, Shane Battier and Pau Gasol were rewarded with contract extensions. The team has also invested in forwards James Posey ($24 million) and Brian Cardinal ($39 million) as unheralded free agents.

Why not show any reverence for Wright -- someone who has played well out of position at center and operated with a solid work ethic and character?

Wright and Fayne are dumbfounded by the Grizzlies' cold shoulder.

"They have categorically rejected the concept of entertaining an extension to his contract," Fayne said. "If they indicated that this was something they were prepared to do in the months ahead or weeks ahead then we would display far more patience than we're displaying right now. But because they rejected the concept of extending his contract, we were left to conclude that Lorenzen Wright is not apart of the Grizzlies' long-term future."

Wright, coming off arguably one of his best seasons as a professional, pointed to the Grizzlies' struggles last season with players in contract years. Bonzi Wells, Stromile Swift and Earl Watson were considered distractions at times last season.

"Guys that are playing in the last year of their contracts are playing for their livelihood and that tends to come off as selfish," Wright said. "I love playing team ball, but that doesn't happen when most players are in the last year of their deals.

"You have a lot of pressure when you're playing basketball. You don't want to have to worry about if you looked good in that game or that game. You just want to go out and play basketball."

Fayne expressed confidence that the Griz would honor Wright's request and pull the trigger on a deal as soon as Tuesday's draft.

"I have the utmost respect for Jerry West as a person and as a basketball executive," Fayne said. "Thus far, our relationship has been one of candor, openness and professionalism. I fully expect that will continue. I also expect that given how well Lorenzen has performed throughout his career and particularly this past season that there will be a number of teams interested in consummating a trade for him. ... It's a matter of commitment and stability for him."

Wright considered his announcement bittersweet.

"I'm not happy about this. I hate this. Everybody knows I love being here. I love this team," Wright said. "... This isn't something I want to do. It's something I'm forced to do."

Tip-ins: The Griz continued their draft preparation with workouts that included guards Ronnie Price of Utah Valley State and Anthony Roberson of Florida. Both players stand 6-2 and impressed Tony Barone Sr., Griz director of player personnel. Said Barone: "The two kids we had in were absolutely spectacular. We put them through an extremely intense workout. We made them do probably eight different NBA things that they'll have to do; fighting over screens, help and recover, shooting the ball at the end of the break – and they were absolutely outstanding. Both of these guys were very, very good."

-- Ronald Tillery: 529-2353

He really doesn't want to leave, but since the team doesn't have him in their plans long term for a new contract, he would rather for them to trade him and he let them know before the draft so they could possibly trade their draft plans. I don't really see the Grizzlies trying to go far in the playoffs with Wright as the starting center so I hope they can go ahead and give him his wish. He did pretty well when he was at Memphis as far as hustle and heart, but its time to move on I guess.

[Andrew]

I wonder if this will open the door for Stromile Swift to step into the starting lineup full-time. As far as the situation goes I can see both sides, I would hope Wright honours his contract while the Grizzlies consider his request to be traded.

[[L3]1101]

it's about time Swift became a starter, but i think it's too late for Stro. I have a feeling Stro will be moving on. Maybe Wright getting traded will change Stro's mind.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

I would like for the Grizzlies to keep Swift, but judging by all the rumors they are planning on doing a sign-and-trade with him. He has been given the chances of showing how good he can really be, and he showed some of that this year when Gasol was hurt and he started at PF, but then he got hurt and every since then he went back to the same ol' Swift. Memphis would still be looking for a bruising big man though so that's the only reason why I can't see Swift playing center.

[zmac]

He won't definitely go to NY because the Knicks have nothing Memphis want especially with Thomas gone now.

Wat do you mean with Thomas gone, where is he going?

[-BHZMAFIA-]

He won't definitely go to NY because the Knicks have nothing Memphis want especially with Thomas gone now.

Wat do you mean with Thomas gone, where is he going?

Kurt Thomas, not Tim Thomas. And if you haven't heard the news about Thomas being traded to the Suns then check the other threads in NBA Talk Thomas would most likely be the only player the Grizzlies would want from the Knicks due to his rebounding.

[zmac]

Ohhh yeh lol.......
Ive already forgotten about the two Thomas's in New York
Yeh i though u meant Timothy.

[Its_asdf]

I like Lorenzen Wright. I remember him destroying the Raptors when I watched Memphis beat the hell out of the Raptors. He seems like a guy with good heart and is a servicable big man. It would be bad for the Grizzlies if he left unless they manage to get a centre to fill the void left by him, since Swift is a bit undersized and like Batman said, he'll probably be traded, along with Williams.

[Cu/Clux/Clan]

yeah,wright is a good man,i dont want him to go to other teams.