Antoine Walker's brief marriage with the Memphis Grizzlies has been officially annulled.
The Griz reached a contract buyout with the veteran forward Thursday afternoon and waived Walker so that he could pursue a team that would offer him playing time. A source close to the negotiations said Walker received roughly 95 percent of what remains on his $9.3 million salary. The Griz still maintain financial flexibility for trades and free-agent spending with Walker's salary due to be subtracted from their salary-cap figure next summer.
"Antoine Walker was a true professional during his time in Memphis," said Griz general manager Chris Wallace. "We wish him all the best in his effort to find another team where he can receive more playing time."
Walker, 32, never figured into the Grizzlies' youth movement after he was acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves with the draft rights to guard O.J. Mayo and guards Greg Buckner and Marko Jaric in exchange for the draft rights to forward Kevin Love , swingman Mike Miller , forward Brian Cardinal and center Jason Collins .
The 6-9, 245-pound Walker did not appear in a game with the Grizzlies during the regular season. He played in two preseason games.
"Hopefully with this buyout, the opportunity is going to be there for me," Walker said last Sunday when he last appeared in FedExForum. "Then maybe I can go and talk to a few teams and hopefully move on to a better situation very soon."
Walker, who won a championship with the Miami Heat in 2006, said he isn't certain which teams might be options .
"We wish him the best," Griz coach Marc Iavaroni said recently. "We want him to get an opportunity where he can play. Here, we are happy to see the development of Darrell Arthur . That took (Walker's) minutes. He was the odd man out."
Walker, in his 13th season, has averaged 17.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 35.3 minutes per game with the Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Minnesota.
The three-time All-Star (1998, 2002, 2003) ranks fourth among active players (10th all-time) in three-point field goals made (1,386) and second (sixth all-time) in three-point field goals attempted (4,264).
The Chicago native was originally selected by the Celtics in the first round (sixth overall) of the 1996 draft.
Memphis' roster stands at 13 players, the league minimum.
- Ronald Tillery: 529-2353
--------------------
Bobcats vs. Grizzlies
When, where : 7 p.m. today, FedExForum
TV, radio : Fox Sports Tennessee, WRBO-FM (103.5)
--------------------
