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Bench Warmer
A little more than a week into Allen Iverson's leave of absence, the Memphis Grizzlies appear to be looking elsewhere for veteran help in their backcourt.
The Grizzlies have begun serious negotiations with free agent Jamaal Tinsley, and could sign the veteran as early as Saturday, The Commercial Appeal of Memphis has reported.
Tinsley, who missed all of last season and much of 2007-08, was in Memphis on Saturday working toward terms for a contract, the newspaper reported.
The Indiana Pacers waived the 6-foot-3 point guard in July, and he became a free agent after clearing waivers.
"He's on the radar," Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said Saturday in a text message to the Memphis newspaper.
Iverson missed the preseason with a partially torn left hamstring and left the team for personal reasons late last week with permission from owner Michael Heisley.
Iverson had expressed displeasure that the Grizzlies had used him off the bench in the three games he played before leaving for his home in Atlanta.
Tinsley, a Pacer since 2001-02, has career averages of 10.4 points and 7.0 assists, but he has been hampered by injuries and legal problems in recent years. The Pacers told him not to report to training camp last season and did not allow him to play.
Tinsley was owed $14.7 million over the next two years from the Pacers when he was waived. Details of any resolution were not released.
Tinsley was connected with three late-night conflicts in a 14-month span.
He was there when Stephen Jackson fired several shots into the air before being hit by a car at an Indianapolis strip club in October 2006.
He faced a felony charge of intimidation and misdemeanor counts of battery, disorderly conduct and intimidation after a bar fight in Indianapolis in February 2007, but agreed with prosecutors last year that if he stayed out of trouble for two years, all charges would be dropped.
In December 2007, someone in a truck fired shots from an assault rifle at three cars carrying Tinsley's entourage outside a downtown Indianapolis hotel. Tinsley wasn't hurt, but Pacers equipment manager Joey Qatato was struck in both elbows as he sat in one of the cars.
The Grizzlies have begun serious negotiations with free agent Jamaal Tinsley, and could sign the veteran as early as Saturday, The Commercial Appeal of Memphis has reported.
Tinsley, who missed all of last season and much of 2007-08, was in Memphis on Saturday working toward terms for a contract, the newspaper reported.
The Indiana Pacers waived the 6-foot-3 point guard in July, and he became a free agent after clearing waivers.
"He's on the radar," Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said Saturday in a text message to the Memphis newspaper.
Iverson missed the preseason with a partially torn left hamstring and left the team for personal reasons late last week with permission from owner Michael Heisley.
Iverson had expressed displeasure that the Grizzlies had used him off the bench in the three games he played before leaving for his home in Atlanta.
Tinsley, a Pacer since 2001-02, has career averages of 10.4 points and 7.0 assists, but he has been hampered by injuries and legal problems in recent years. The Pacers told him not to report to training camp last season and did not allow him to play.
Tinsley was owed $14.7 million over the next two years from the Pacers when he was waived. Details of any resolution were not released.
Tinsley was connected with three late-night conflicts in a 14-month span.
He was there when Stephen Jackson fired several shots into the air before being hit by a car at an Indianapolis strip club in October 2006.
He faced a felony charge of intimidation and misdemeanor counts of battery, disorderly conduct and intimidation after a bar fight in Indianapolis in February 2007, but agreed with prosecutors last year that if he stayed out of trouble for two years, all charges would be dropped.
In December 2007, someone in a truck fired shots from an assault rifle at three cars carrying Tinsley's entourage outside a downtown Indianapolis hotel. Tinsley wasn't hurt, but Pacers equipment manager Joey Qatato was struck in both elbows as he sat in one of the cars.
