Interbasket

Well, that didn’t take long at all.

Just over a week after Hamed Haddadi (ha-MED ha-DAHD-dee) was cleared to talk and negotiate with NBA teams, the 7-2, 254lb center from Iran reportedly has signed a contract with the Memphis Grizzlies.  If Haddadi makes the team, he will become the first Iranian player in the NBA.

It was reported last week that NBA teams were barred from dealing with not just Ehadadi, but any player from Iran.  The ban was lifted after the NBA was able to obtain a license from the US Government.

Haddadi averaged 16.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks for the Iranian national team during the 2008 Olympics, including a 21 points and 16 rebounds against Bronze-medalists Argentina.  In fact, Haddadi led all Olympic players, including Yao Ming and Dirk Nowitzki, in rebounds and blocked shots.  Despite his team losing all five games, the 23-year old centers play in the pivot opened many eyes, and interest in the Saba Battery club player was high.

“We are pleased to sign Hamed,” said Chris Wallace, the Grizzles GM. “He is a young center who was very productive as a rebounder, shotblocker and scorer at the Rocky Mountain Revue Summer League in Salt Lake City, Utah, the 2008 Olympics and the FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament in Nanjing, China prior to the Olympics. Our coaching staff is eager to begin working with Hamed.”

Links and Resources: NBA Teams cleared to sign Hamed Ehadadi, Iranian basketball players (Interbasket), Grizzlies sign Iranian Hamed Haddadi (Yahoo!), Grizzlies sign Iranian center Hamed Haddadi (NBA.com)

Just days after news broke that the NBA had disallowed any teams to talk or deal with Iranian superstar Hamed Ehadadi, as well as other Iranian basketball players, due to the lack of the correct license from the US Government, reports are that the NBA has been approved for the license and the restriction has been lifted.

Teams are now open to negotiate with Hamed Haddadi (also spelled Hamed Ehadadi).

Ehadadi is a 23-year old, 7-2 Persian center with great potential.  Many basketball fans and scouts were able to see Haddadi for the first time in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in which the Iranian National Team participated.

Though Iran’s team was by far the weakest of the twelve teams, and didn’t win a game in five games in group A, Hamed Ehadadi opened a lot of eyes with his play during the preliminary rounds.

Ehadadi averaged 16.6 points, good for eighth overall, and was the only non-NBA player in the top-ten in rebounds with 11.2.  In fact, the Iranian center led all players in rebounds through the first five games.  Ehadadi also led the field in blocks (2.6) and tied Yao Ming with the most double-doubles with two.

When NBA General Managers called to inquire about the center a little less than a week ago, the NBA put a halt to the communication because the league needed a license from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control before proceeding.  Today, that license was granted.

Whether Ehadadi will field or entertain this overtures is unknown.  Hamed was once offered a significant deal to sign with KK Partizan, a Serbian club, but he eventually turned it down.

In addition to Ehadadi, NBA teams have also shown interest in Mohammadsamad NikKhah Bahrami, the Iranian shooting guard that led Iran in scoring (17.2) on 50% field percentage.

Links and Resources: Politics and sports - Hadadi banned from playing in the NBA (Interbasket), NBA Teams cleared to negotiate with Iranians (Yahoo!), NBA seeks clearance to sign Iranian (Yahoo!), Iranian Prospect Barred from NBA (AOL Fanhouse), Hamed Ehadadi, the next big thing (INterbasket)