Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins wanted Hakim Warrick back with the team. After all, he was the Grizzlies' sixth man, a guy who scored points in a hurry and often jumpstarted the team after starters sleepwalked through first quarters.
Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace wanted Warrick back, because of his on-the-court contribution and the fact he was a solid locker room guy. Apparently, those positive attributes weren't enough for Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley. He renounced the team's $3 million qualifying offer to Warrick, a restricted free agent. He then signed with the Bucks.
Heisley said he didn't re-sign Warrick because he wanted to free more cap space, something he has done over and over the last two years. And he said it wasn't done to have the funds to sign free agent point guard Allen Iverson.
"We wanted some flexibility," Heisley said. "I think Iverson is trying to get with a team like L.A. (Clippers) or Miami. I've tried to tell everybody that I don't think we're at the top of Iverson's list, but no one wants to listen. All it is, we're basically opening up cap room for us."
The Grizzlies were about $8 million under the NBA's $57.7 million salary cap for the 2009-10 season even before rescinding their offer to Warrick. They would have remained well shy of the cap had they signed him for another season, and they already had enough money to pursue Iverson. The Grizzlies offered the 10-time All-Star a one-year deal for $5 million.
Without Warrick, the Grizzlies' second team now consists of rookies Hasheem Thabeet, Sam Young and DeMarre Carroll, second-year forward Darrell Arthur and possibly free agent point guard Marcus Williams if he signs.
