Memphis Steps Out of Amare Derby

Memphis has been a team that has been a bit tangential to the whole Amare Stoudemire Sweepstakes -- there's been reported interest and/or contact, but the only rumor out there (Rudy Gay and Mike Conley as the main parts) seemed a bit too rich for the Grizzlies.

Apparently, Memphis management agrees. Ron Tillery of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reports Memphis owner Michael Heisley has rejected Phoenix's (supposedly firm) offer, and the Grizz are out of the Amare derby.

It's a mixed result for the Grizzlies, in my estimation. From one angle, losing cheap-and-young Gay along with cheap-and-young Conley for expensive-and-older Amare would be quite a price. Most teams seem unwilling to give up a high 2009 lottery pick for Amare; Memphis would have been giving up two players equivalent to that status. (For all Conley's struggles, you'd take him before any other point guard not named Rubio in the upcoming draft.)

But there's a dark side to Tillery's report, too: Heisley is making decisions. Unless you're still filled with enough sunshine that you believe the Pau Gasol trade worked out for Memphis, you do not want Heisley making decisions. His own pocketbook rates a little too highly in those discussions, if memory serves.

Maybe Memphis still gets involved as a facilitator -- it's the only team under the cap right now. But if it means taking on payroll while sitting at a record of 15-37, I have a feeling Heisley will balk. So much for the value of cap space.