Sixers deal Marreese Speights
According to a league source, the Sixers will trade forward Marreese Speights today to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Sixers deal Marreese Speights
Bob Cooney
UPDATED: The three-team trade is official.
Here are reactions from those involved:
Marreese Speights: "I feel real good about it. I got a fresh start so just get back on the ground and be prepared to play. I know they’re (Memphis) a lot like us. They have a good coach in coach (Lionel) Hollins. I know them a little, they have coach (Henry) Bibby, who used to coach here a little bit.
Speights on what it will be like going to a new team: "I really don’t know. This is my fourth year in the league and I’ve been with the same core of guys, so it’s going to be hard to leave them, but it’s a job and I’m going to a new situation."
Doug Collins: "Any time you make a trade, for me as a coach, it’s a tough thing. I probably invested as much time and energy in Mo as any player. When I took over the job, myself and Michael Curry, we just really tried to connect and try to get the best of him because we know how talented he is. For whatever reason I just wasn’t able to get the best (out of him).
"He is incredibly talented. I want Mo to go to Memphis and I want him to play great there. I want them to sign him to a contract and I want him to do well and he knows that. Hopefully this will be a new start for him. I feel badly that I couldn’t get the best out of him. I think its fair to him to be able to go and get a new start.
"Hopefully he’ll get into the rotation. He’s going to a great spot, a playoff team. I feel good in that we piut him in a good position and I hope he does well."
Rod Thorn: “We wish Marreese all the best as he starts a new chapter in his career with Memphis. This trade will give us additional assets moving forward, including a trade exception, which will help us as we look to continue to improve our team.”
FROM EARLIER
NEW ORLEANS -- Sixers forward Marreese Speights will be traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team deal that would bring the Sixers a pair of second-round draft picks, a league source told the Daily News.
The deal has to be approved by the league, the source said, with a conference call likely taking place this afternoon.
The Sixers would trade Speights to the Memphis Grizzlies in return for their second-round draft pick in June's draft, provided it is pick 31-55. That means the Sixers wouldn't get the pick if the Grizzlies finish as one of the top four teams in the league. So it's a pretty safe bet they'll get that pick.
The Sixers would also get New Orleans' second-round pick in 2013 as part of the deal.
New Orleans would get guard Xavier Henry from Memphis. Henry has not appeared in any games this season because of torn ligaments in his ankle.
"I love my time in Philly. Y'all are some good fans I had a great time here. Love y'all. #showyaluv phillynation," Speights tweeted.
Said CEO Adam Aron via Twitter: "He wasn't getting playing time here and we got two draft choices back. We wish him well."
The Grizzlies have been looking for frontcourt depth and are in an even great need after news that Zach Randolph will be out 8 weeks. An MRI showed that he suffered a slight tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee when teammate O.J. Mayo fell on him during Sunday's loss to Chicago.
Speights has not seen any action thus far in the Sixers' four games. He played in only 39 games last season, averaging 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11.5 minutes. In his 3-year career, he is averaging 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds.
A very good offensive player, Speights has struggled with his defense throughout his career. He was selected as the 16th pick in the draft out of Florida in 2008.
More to come
makes sense. emergence of "vuc", other players available for garbage time.— KwaiChang
Comment removed.- The Mo Speights era has come to end in Philadelphia. A sad day.— brmorgen81
- Best sideline cheerer title is now up for grabs.— dawkins20d
- Ok, so if the Grizzlies are one of the top 4 teams in the league what do the Sixers get? only the 2013 pick and nothing else? or would they get the Grizzlies first round pick? I don't get it.. the Sixers are penalized if the Grizzlies do well with Speights? it should be the opposite.— hkhund07
- Another one of Stefanski's failures.— billro33
- this doesn't make sense to me. unless he is a problem in the locker room, then why not keep him in an abbreviated season? brand won't be able to play as much and other injuries happen. seems like thats worth more than 2 2nd round draft picks.— rbrogna1
- No Mo Speights. That's a first round bust, folks.— PhillySubsMac
- A big bunch of nothing for a former first round pick. Did Lurie, Banner and Roseman make that pick for the Sixers?— scootch
- Should have been Speights and a 1st round pick for Demarcus Cousins, imo.— wfiki
- ...and exactly why would Sacramento trade Cousins for Speights and a 1 regardless of Cousins supposed trade demand. Do you honestly think Sac can't get a better offer than Speights and a 1? SMH — Facts before ignorance
- A big bunch of nothing indeed. Seems like a rather pathetic "haul" for a 1st rounder ... albeit a flop.— CarpGuy
- possibly to make room on the active roster for Lavoy Allen?— ftwbuxton
- Comment removed.
- I HATED when they drafted him— blueye7
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
