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**MemphisX** · 07-27-2006, 05:49 AM

Youth will be served for Griz, and quickly

Quote:

While Fratello later would say that West has not issued a "directive" to play young players over veterans regardless of performance, the Grizzlies clearly are now operating on a long-term plan rather than a near-term one.

After three straight playoff seasons and 12 consecutive playoff losses, there is nothing to be gained by maintaining the status quo. That's why the Grizzlies traded face-of-the-franchise Shane Battier for the rights to Gay (the eighth overall pick from Houston) and Stromile Swift.

Sometimes to get better, a team must first be willing to get worse. This is a burden that West is now willing to bear.

"We are a very talented team," West said, and he's sky-high on Gay, a forward from Connecticut that The Logo already is predicting can become an annual All-Star. "Talent doesn't always equate into victories. But we are a very talented team up front.

"I think our fans are going to be very pleasantly surprised. We don't know when, but they're going to be very pleasantly surprised."

Quote:

Gay, who is 6-9 and 220, figures to get every chance to be the starting small forward on opening night. And if you're wondering what this might mean for second-year forward Hakim Warrick, here's one guess: He looks like the perfect bait to lure a veteran point guard in a trade. The Grizzlies still need insurance behind Damon Stoudamire, who is coming off major knee surgery.

Although no one is going to say there is a mandate to play Gay a certain number of minutes, the future of the franchise is brighter if Gay plays well enough to earn 25-30 minutes a night.

Fratello, recalling the playing time Gasol enjoyed as a rookie, said: "Most times, that's going to be a plus somewhere down the road for the player -- regardless of whether or not they're leading their team to 45, 47 or 50 wins or not."

Translation: If the coach has to play the highly touted rookie, and if the rookie is slow to develop, don't be surprised if the win total drops.

Heading into training camp, Fratello says he's keeping an open mind as to who plays, how much, and where.

"Things tend to work themselves out once you start practice," the coach said. "There's usually a separation somewhere at some point. Sometimes, it happens early. Other times, it's the sixth or seventh exhibition game or the fourth game of the regular season that the picture clears up.

"You have to give people a chance to develop," Fratello continued. "A lot of it has to do with, who are the pieces in front of them? Unless a directive came down where you're told, 'we don't care about the veteran guys, just play young guys,' which has not happened ...

"The goal is you're supposed to try to win," he said. "Now, you get into competition at practice every day. Who's the better player? Who gets these minutes? If you're not playing by these rules, you're gonna have disgruntled veterans who know they're better than the guy you're shoving in ahead of them, just giving them minutes to be giving them minutes."

All true.

Yet, all outward signs point to the Grizzlies giving the young guys every "opportunity."

Gay is expected to be a star.

I would not be mad if this is our depth chart:

PG Stoudamire, Lowry
SG Mike Miller*, Eddie Jones*, Dahntay Jones*
SF Rudy Gay, Hakim Warrick*
PF Alexander Johnson, Lawrence Roberts, Brian Cardinal^
C Pau Gasol, Stromile Swift*, Jake Tsakalidis*

* Trade bait
^Give to anyone taking

Players I am interested in bringing in: Luke Ridnour and Josh Childress.

bbasok · 07-27-2006, 06:44 AM

that means Fratello going for Oden by playing with rookies?

osman · 07-27-2006, 07:30 AM

Who are these young players that are developing other than Gay, and Lowry? Are those the two he is refering two?

**Cinco de Mayo** · 07-27-2006, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osman

Who are these young players that are developing other than Gay, and Lowry? Are those the two he is refering two?

Alexander Johnson, Hakim Warrick and Lawrence Roberts.

**Cinco de Mayo** · 07-27-2006, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MemphisX

Youth will be served for Griz, and quickly

I would not be mad if this is our depth chart:

PG Stoudamire, Lowry
SG Mike Miller*, Eddie Jones*, Dahntay Jones*
SF Rudy Gay, Hakim Warrick*
PF Alexander Johnson, Lawrence Roberts, Brian Cardinal^
C Pau Gasol, Stromile Swift*, Jake Tsakalidis*

* Trade bait
^Give to anyone taking

Players I am interested in bringing in: Luke Ridnour and Josh Childress.

MemphisX, this article is basically a summary of everything you've been pushing for for going on two years. I guess Jerry West and Mike Fratello finally see your point.

That's the lineup I'd like to see as well. Possibly Lawrence over AJ for now...I don't see a huge amount of difference in the players at this point - AJ's bigger and can push people around more while Lawrence is probably the better rebounder. Tony Luftman might cry himself to sleep every night if Eddie "The Savior" Jones takes a hit in playing time though.

We also still need another point guard. I wouldn't mind Ridnour. He seems like, in this system, he'd be a more-easily-coachable JWill who can't shoot threes.

**Diable** · 07-27-2006, 11:47 AM

That would probably be the best course for Memphis,but if you're going to do that you should decide who fits in long term and get something out of the guys who don't.I don't know about Alexander Johnson,but Hakim Warrick probably isn't going to be much long term and neither is Lawrence Roberts.You don't gain much more than getting them to be ordinairy reserve type players.If you acknowledge the fact that you're not likely to win a title with Stoudamire then you should probably try to get something of longterm value for him.I don't know how good Lowry can really be,but you may as well throw him off the pier and see if he can swim.

Zuca · 07-27-2006, 03:17 PM

Good to see that Grizz is trying to take the so much needed next step trying to become an elite team... I wish Grizzlies good luck!

bwell · 07-27-2006, 07:22 PM

Let me say that I will enjoy my time at the Forum more this season than last because they are playing the young guys. Now I can watch players progress and say, "In a little while these guys are really going to be good." Before it was like what's the point of going? Slow down ball with non athletic players winning 49 games is worse than uptempo youngsters winning 40 games.

**HKF** · 07-28-2006, 11:52 AM

I like this. At the end of the day West understands basketball is meant to be won and entertaining. The two should be symbiotic.

HB · 07-28-2006, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKF

I like this. At the end of the day West understands basketball is meant to be won and entertaining. The two should be symbiotic.

Two of your fav players on this team, you will probably be paying the grizz more attention this year.

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