"I feel really good about it," Speights said after the team's morning shootaround at the New Orleans Arena, shortly after being told about it. "I've got a fresh start so I just got to get back on the ground and be prepared to play. I know [Memphis] is a lot like us. They have a good coach in coach [Lionel] Hollins. I know them a little bit. They have coach [Henry] Bibby, who used to coach here a little bit."
Though a wonderful offensive talent, Speights battled conditioning and defensive problems throughout his career. His numbers dipped last season to an average of 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in just 11.5 minutes. Those numbers were down from those of his first two seasons.
Early in his first season leading the team last year, coach Doug Collins appeared to give Speights many chances to prove himself, but Speights never seemed quite up to the task. The 6-10, 255-pounder did not see any action this season.
"Any time you make a trade, for me as a coach, it's a tough thing," Collins said. "I probably invested as much time and energy in Mo as any player. When I took over the job, myself and [assistant] Michael Curry, we just really tried to connect and tried to get the best of him because we know how talented he is. For whatever reason I just wasn't able to get the best [out of him]."
A lot of that had to do with Speights, who showed up out of shape this training camp, a poor start to a shortened preseason due to the lockout. It no doubt irked Collins.
"You can never have enough big men," Collins said. "It's like pitching in baseball."
But with the way Speights struggled, a move appeared to be best for both parties.
