Memphis Grizzlies
Owner: Michael Heisly
GM: Jerry West
Coach: Marc Iavaroni
Impending Free Agents: Chucky Atkins, Junior Harrington, Dahntay Jones (RFA), Tarence Kinsey
Draft Position: 4
Strengths: The Memphis Grizzlies may have missed out on the top pick this year, but judging from the roster, they have a strong shot to get to the top of the draft next year. Memphis could have the worst team in the league next year, which looks like it will be a tanking free year due to the dropoff in top prospects. The advantage Memphis has is trade pieces. They have three players who they can rid themselves of and get young talent to build around Rudy Gay with. Pau Gasol could bring in a legit #2 to build with Gay, as well as a future first round draft pick. Mike Miller can be traded to a contender, looking for a #3 scorer and a veteran who can hit the big shot. Then Damon Stoudemire can be peddled for a younger player, as he is a consistent veteran who can mentor a developing point guard. Stoudemire could start for a season, then take the role of coming off the bench. Memphis should be able to build a very good team this offseason, but there is no doubt there will be mistakes with such a young team. The report of Iavaroni joing on as head coach is a plus, all though their team isn't built for a run and gun offense. Iavaron should be there for years, a plus since continuity seems to work for a young team. With Jerry West leaving however, the Grizzlies lose one of the best minds in the NBA (as Kobe Bryant would confirm to you). Gay and Hakim Warrick look like they could be the center of a building Grizzlies team. Gay has the potential and the raw talent to be one of the better forwards in the league. His length, and teamed with Warrick, could make the Grizzlies into one of the better shot blocking teams, and exciting with their dunking ability. While it may not look good right now, the future is definately looking good.
Weaknesses: Where to begin? After the expected trades of Gasol, Miller, and Stoudemire, Memphis finds themselves with almost no consitent veteran presence. Trading Gasol will give them a big hole down low, where they have not found a replacement. Miller should be replaced easily, as it is much easier to find an average shooting guard to let Gay, Warrick, and their first rounder take most of the shots. The loss of Stoudemire, and the expected departure of Chucky Atkins via free agency, will leave a large hole at the guard position. Memphis finds themselves in a tough spot since the #1 point guard, Mike Conley Jr., is expected to be taken by Atlanta. The next best point guard prospect, Acie Law IV, definately doesn't warrant being drafted with the #4 selection. The depth in Memphis is definately weak and they have no second round pick (Seattle owns the rights, was traded for Lawrence Roberts), which definately makes it harder to fill out the roster. The lack of a veteran presence should hurt, but Memphis isn't building for next year, their building for the future. If Memphis is able to score a top three pick next year, they could rival Portland as one of the better young teams in the league. With the loss of Miller, their true 3-point shooter will be gone, but they can find a specialist easily. Memphis has a lot of problems, yet they can be filled quite easily.
Draft Targets:
Brandan Wright, F, North Carolina
Yi Jianlian, F, China
Corey Brewer, G, Florida
Memphis finds themselves in a very interesting situation this year. The next best player after Oden, Durant, and Conley is Brandan Wright. However Wright is similar to Warrick, and wont be able to play small forward so Rudy Gay can move to shooting guard. Jianlian is a 7' 0" small forward, who can hit the jumper and drive to the hoop effectively. Jianlian has the skills to be the next Dirk Nowitzki, yet he would be more of a risk because of questions regarding his transistion from China to the NBA, and he is a still a raw talent. Brewer on the other hand could come in and be a contender for the Rookie of the Year. His ceiling may not be as high as Jianlian's, but he could end up being a 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assist kind of NBA shooting guard. Brewer could start at shooting guard while Gay holds down small forward, and Warrick takes over the power position. Memphis definately will have a lot of debating in the war room come June 28th, the first team to really have to think of their selection. In the end, Memphis can't pass on the next Dirk, and selects China's Jianlian.
Potential Trades:
Trade #1
Memphis Recieves: Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood, and a 2008 1st Round Draft Pick
Washington Recieves: Pau Gasol and Damon Stoudemire and a 2008 2nd Round Draft Pick
Trade #1 Breakdown: Jamison could come in, and be the veteran leader fo a team of young guys. His salary comes off the books at the end of the year, so Memphis could keep him and have salary cap space, or get a ton of talent from a team looking to gear up for a championship run at the trading deadline. Haywood looks like the odd man out after a couple rounds of fighting with Etan Thomas, and would immediately be the starting center. Haywood is used to watching from behind and let the stars play, so he should see nothing different in Memphis. He'll give them 6 points, 8 rebounds, and a couple blocks every night. Memphis also continues to build for the future with the first round draf pick, that is likely in the 20-25 range. Washington could add a third All-Star to their team, and immediately become an Eastern Conference contender. Washington also adds a veteran backup point guard for Gilbert Arenas.
Trade #2
Memphis Recieves: 2008 First Round Draft Pick
Miami Recieves: Mike Miller
Trade #2 Breakdown: This is a plus for both teams, as Miami now has a better player then James Posey was in his role. Miller can come in, and have a much better impact then Posey had in his Miami career. Posey, Gary Payton's, and Eddie Jones contracts come off the books, so Miami now has salary cap room to fit Miller. Memphis gets yet another tool to build towards the future.
Free Agent Targets:
1. Steve Blake, PG, Portland
2. Earl Boykins, PG, Milwaukee
Memphis should re-sign Dahntay Jones and Lawrence Roberts, as they both have room to grow into productive NBA players. However, Memphis must sign one of the point guards on the list. Signing Blake would be the best scenario, as he is a guard who will distribute the ball to the young guys, and can hit shots when needed to. Blake could be the starting guard until they find a point guard project with one of their first round picks next year. Boykins would be the fall back to Blake, as he would be the true veteran presence in the locker room. But Blake would be perfect for the Grizzlies, and would be a mistake on the Memphis front office not to sign him.
Realeses:
Memphis does not need to release any players on the roster.
Final Roster:
1. Steve Blake (PG)
2. Brian Cardinal (F)
3. Rudy Gay (G/F)
4. Brendan Haywood (C)
5. Antawn Jamison (F)
6. Yi Jianlian (F)
7. Dahntay Jones (G)
8. Tarence Kinsey (G)
9. Kyle Lowry (G)
10. Lawrence Roberts (F)
11. Stormile Swift (F)
12. Hakim Warrick (F)
Starting 5:
Point Guard: Steve Blake
Shooting Guard: Rudy Gay
Small Forward: Antawn Jamison
Power Forward: Hakim Warrick
Center: Brendan Haywood
Final Grade: D+
Memphis decides to finish trying to win now, and start building a franchise for the future. Through the trades and draft, Memphis has one of the bettr futures in the league. Gay, Jianlian, and Warrick could be a deadly combination. Add a top draft pick and two late first rounders, the young base only gets better. Memphis could handle the Jamison situation much like the Antoine Walker and Atlanta experiment two years ago. Memphis can only improve it's future by trading him at the deadline, or by freeing money for a much better '08 class.
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05-30-2007 02:38 AM 
