THROUGH THE WIRE: NEWS (09/16/10)

It's taken them a long while to do it but the Memphis Grizzilies have finally sunk their claws into their rookies Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez. I Know Draft Picks are also called 'choices' but it's sure taken the Grizz a long time to 'come to terms' with these two talented players. Both Henry and Vasquez will sign contracts worth 120 percent of the NBA's rookie salary scale. The added 20 percent is tied to performance clauses. Team owner Michael Heisley was reported as saying "As far as I'm concerned, I'm happy the issue has been resolved...There's no question I'm doing what I should have probably done earlier." With talent like Henry and Vasquez there's for sure no doubt about that.



In free-agent news two hard working, veteran forwards are finding themselves new workplaces. After the departure of Tim Thomas the Dallas Mavericks are looking to fill that roster spot with the workhorse Brian Cardinal. Although the Mavericks are also interested in Bobby Simmons and Steve Novak they would definitely like to see the blue collared Cardinal wearing Dallas blue. While Dallas are still shopping around however the Orlando Magic have wasted no time in purchasing tough forward Malik Allen. Allen is a veteran of nine seasons and has also played with the 'other' Florida ballclub, the Miami Heat. Last year Allen played with the Denver Nuggets. Malik is a hard grafter off the bench. In other free-agent news the Toronto Raptors have acquired Ronald Dupree. The journeyman (who has played for Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota and Seattle in the NBA and with the Telekom Baskets Bonn in Germany last season) unpacks his bags up in Canada after an impressive summer league stint in Las Vegas with the Raptors where he averaged 10.0 points and 4.0 rebounds to help the squad to a perfect 5 and 0 record.



Some great news to report now. Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft and the Portland Trail Blazer owner is pleased to announce he is cancer free after recent tests. He was diagnosed with of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2009. We are pleased to report the news and wish him all the best health for the future.