PRIMARY OBJECTIVE
Memphis Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien says his most important task now is to re-sign Tony Allen.
Memphis Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien is turning his attention to free agency.
He made clear the team’s No. 1 priority is resigning Tony Allen.
Levien said the team will be aggressive in trying to sign the veteran shooting guard and dean of the Grizzlies’ top-rated defense when free agency begins this week.
NBA teams are allowed to discuss contracts be- ginning Monday through July 10 when a moratorium ends and contracts can be signed. Levien planned to contact Allen after midnight EDT, which was 11 p.m. in Memphis, when teams are first permitted to start talking to free agents.
“It’s readily apparent to everybody that Tony is a big part of our DNA and our culture,” Levien said. “The effort and energy he brings … I would match that against anyone in pro sports. His unselfishness resonates with us. Were anxious and excited to bring him back. We’re fortunate that Tony has connected so well with this community.”
The Grizzlies can offer Allen the most money of any suitor because the franchise owns his Larry Bird rights. But that doesn’t mean the Griz will be without competition for Allen. Indiana, Portland, Oklahoma City, Atlanta and the Los Angeles Clippers are all interested.
Those teams, with the exception of Atlanta and Portland, could only put pressure on the Griz by
offering a full mid-level exception starting at $5.1 million over several years.
Would a four-year offer worth more than $20 million to Allen give the Griz reason to pause? How willing would the Griz be to walk away from the gritand-grind movement Allen orchestrated over the past three seasons?
Those are just a couple of questions worth asking. Allen, who has a history of knee injuries, earned a little more than $3 million last season.
He undoubtedly will be looking for a significant raise after earning a place on the league’s all- defensive team every year he’s played for the Griz, i ncluding a f i rst- team nod in each of the past two seasons.
NBA general managers have deemed Allen the best perimeter defender in the league. Allen backed up that tag by earning the most Defensive Player of the Year votes of any guard.
Allen, 31, has repeatedly said that he would like to retire in a Grizzlies uniform.
Allen switched agents during the past season and signed with Raymond Brothers, who also represents Griz forward Zach Randolph. Brothers negotiated a contract extension for Randolph during the 2011 playoffs.
Levien indicated that he would like to come to terms with Brothers before Allen leaves for his honeymoon. Allen will marry his longtime girlfriend, Desiree Rodriquez, on July 13 in Boston.
Whatever else the Griz do during the free agency period, barring a bold trade, could be viewed as relatively minor. Jerryd Bayless contributed to the calm before the storm by pick- ing up his player option for $3.1 million to return next season.
Without Allen signed, the Griz are looking at a payroll of about $61 million for 10 players. The league’s luxury tax threshold is projected to be $71 million, which would suggest that the Griz won’t have much wiggle room after signing Allen and addressing their other free agents.
Decisions must be made on Austin Daye, Jon Leuer and Keyon Dooling. The Griz won’t tender Daye’s $4.1 million qualifying offer but will look to resign the forward at a reduced rate for his 3-point shooting. Leuer, who was acquired from Cleveland in a deal for Wayne Ellington and Maurice Speights, could very well receive his roughly $1 million qualifying offer or sign a long-term deal. Leuer is a deft-shooting forward highly regarded by Griz vice president of basketball operations John Hollinger.
Dooling, an unrestricted free agent, would likely sign for the veteran’s minimum if he returns.
The Griz also have at their disposal the full mid-level exception and a trade exception worth about $7.5 million as a result of the deal that sent Rudy Gay to Toronto.