- The Grizzlies await an Answer that could come today.
While the Grizzlies continue to wait for an answer from free-agent guard Allen Iverson, the Minnesota Timberwolves today signed restricted free agent Ramon Sessions to a reported offer sheet of four years and $16 million. ESPN.com’s Chris Sheridan suggests that the Bucks — with point guards Brandon Jennings and Luke Ridnour under contract and with luxury tax concerns — are unlikely to match the deal. Under this offer, Sessions’ salary next season is likely to be very close to the $3.5 million the Grizzlies are reportedly offering Iverson for next season.
With the Grizzlies seeking a versatile ball-handling guard to give the team scoring punch off the bench, why wait for Iverson and not make a bid for Sessions, especially when the cost for next season would be roughly similar?
Iverson may well be the better player next season, but how far can the Grizzlies reasonably go next season? For a young team still at least a year away from playoff contention, what would bring more value? A 34-year-old Iverson (18 points and 5 assists per game last season, 15.89 PER) for one season or a 23-year-old Sessions (12 points and 6 assists per game last season, 17.65 PER) for four seasons? And this is without factoring in considerably less risk of turmoil from Sessions and less defensive liability. (Sessions is at least three inches taller)
