[Haddadi in traditional garb]The Memphis Grizzlies have signed 7-2, 250 lb Iranian center Hamed Haddadi. Haddadi was the only player to average a double-double in the 2008 Olympics, posting 16.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. Despite Haddadi's performance, Iran went 0-5 in pool play.
Haddadi originally went undrafted in the 2004 NBA Draft when relations with Iran were less strained. The US Office of Foreign Assets gave NBA teams the go-ahead last week, and the Grizzlies jumped at the offer.
The Grizzlies, a team which has become the laughing stock of the NBA over the last couple years, posted an awful 22-60 record last season. Desperation must've set in for the Grizzlies didn't improve a single game from the 06-07 season to 07-08.
Haddadi is unproven at the NBA level, and his Olympic numbers may be a bit skewed because the Iran national team is quite weak (FIBA Rank: 23) and his teammates continually fed him the ball. However, he did post respectable numbers at the 2008 Rocky Mountain Revue Summer League games which pitted the Iranian team against NBA talent.
Only one thing is to be sure, there will be increased security at all Grizzlies games from here on out.
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