Hakim Warrick Looking to Breakout This Season

Shapecity · Oct 3, 2008

Grizzlies forward Hakim Warrick had a good day.

No one knew that Wednesday more than teammate Mike Conley.
Soon after practice concluded, Warrick couldn't stop shooting off his mouth or firing basketballs at the rim as he and Conley engaged in a trash talk-filled 3-point shootout.

The entertaining sideshow ended in the first of many victories Warrick hopes to score this training camp.

On a day when Griz coach Marc Iavaroni described the power forward position as "open" and gave Warrick as good a chance as any to "to compete and win it," the fourth-year forward couldn't help but think about what his emergence could mean.

Warrick is eligible for a contract extension, and his agent, Bill Duffy, has asked for one. The Grizzlies countered with a wait-and-see message that Warrick is hardly taking personally.

He's even more motivated.

"I wasn't expecting it to be any other way, based on how things have gone throughout my career," Warrick said. "I'm not surprised. There have been a lot of changes. I can see why they want to wait and see which direction they want to go. I'll be patient. I'll go out there and have a great season. I think I can add some value. I have a great opportunity this year."

Warrick will earn more than $2.1 million this season. Oct. 31 is the deadline for consummating a contract extension this season. The parties will then have between the end of the NBA Finals and June 30 to work on a deal.

Undoubtedly, the Griz will also be faced with requests for contract extensions from Rudy Gay and Kyle Lowry next summer. If no extension is reached with Warrick by this time next year, he could be faced with accepting a $3 million qualifying offer for his fifth season. Accepting a qualifying offer would make Warrick an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2010.

Griz general manager Chris Wallace said there is "nothing definitive" about Warrick's contract status.

"We're just letting things take place here in training camp," Wallace said. "We value Hak. We're excited about seeing him this year. This should be a new and improved year for him. We'll see how things go."

The trade last February that sent Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers and an inability to acquire New York's Zach Randolph have left the Griz without a prototypical or incumbent player at that position.

Sure, the Griz drafted Darrell Arthur and ended up with veteran Antoine Walker. Warrick, though, isn't at a clear disadvantage.

"Hakim has learned in the past that you have to really bring it," Griz coach Marc Iavaroni said. "You have to bring it with effort. You have to start with defense because we know he can score. He's been really active not only defensively but on the glass. And he's been running and using his athleticism."

The common denominator with regard to Warrick's performances seems to be Gasol's absence. At the start of the 2006-07 season, Warrick stepped into the middle and delivered offensively while Gasol recovered from a broken foot. Warrick averaged nearly 16 points and 6.5 rebounds following the Gasol deal last season.

To his credit, Warrick continues to take criticism of his defense and rebounding to heart. Those areas were at the core of Warrick's offseason training. He has worked diligently at improving defensive principles of knowing where to be and when -- and holding his position in the paint with a 6-9, 219-pound frame.

"I have to go out there and show I can rebound," Warrick said. "Coach knows he can count on me for scoring. So rebounding is something I want to focus on in training camp. I want to show him I can defend and rebound consistently."

Though it's early, the mind-set is paying dividends for Warrick.

He at least feels like he has a legitimate shot at playing a consistent role on the front line.

"Even two years ago, the position was mine. but I was just keeping it warm until P.G. came back. Last year, you knew it was P.G.'s all the way. Now, I feel I have a really good shot at holding on and becoming the starting power forward."
Click to expand...

Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal

Log in or Sign up

Hakim Warrick Looking to Breakout This Season

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Hakim Warrick Looking to Breakout This Season

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

Share This Page

Useful Searches