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hroz · 06-02-2007, 10:59 PM

The draft is deep in 03 Wade went at 5. In 96 Kobe went at 13.

Deep drafts are fun.

grizzhoops · 06-25-2007, 03:49 PM

A defensive oriented big is what the team needs. An experienced pg that can work things is the other need. Players that know how to win is the other important factor of Grizzlies.

Horford, Noah or maybe Conley are best options. With Noah and Billips, the Grizzlies are as good as anyone assuming Billips can play well in an uptempo system.

The Grizzlies lack a defensive stopper in the painter. Someone who wants to be champion. They lack a point guard that give the younger players confidence when the going is tough. And they lack someone who wants and hits big shots. Noah and Billips with the rest of the squad equals the best Grizzlies team ever.

And if we want to just wait another year by not signing Billips and draft someone with more upside than present, Rose would definitely be a big piece.

carlos710 · 06-27-2007, 10:16 AM

How about this offseason plan:

-Draft conley with the #4 pick and keep him
-Make a rush at darko from the magic (the magic may be willing to let him go if they feel they can get someone like vince or rashard lewis)
-try to trade damon for someone like hasell from the wolves (damon has 1 year less in his contract, and if the wolves trade garnett i guess they will also try to move some contracts to have cap space as soon as possible) or just hope kinsey improves.
-sign joe smith or antonio mcdyess (or any veteran big that can play)

We would endup with this:

Darko/Swift/Joe smith
Gasol/Cardinal/Joe smith
Gay/Warrick
Hasell/Miller
Conley/Lowry

It would be great if we can make the playoffs even as the 7th or 8th seed. I know what you are thinking: you dont want to reach the playoffs just to get sweeped once again. However, this time it would be different IMO.

Last time we made the playoffs, our main 5 players looked like this:
Atkis/Jones/Miller/Battier/Gasol

We had 2 players already over the hill (atkins, jones) our best center was lorenzen wright, and we didn't had a lot of potential. Mike miller and battier already have peaked (gasol is a little better now). The new roster would have a lot more of potential, they only would need some valuable experience that they can get from a couple of playoffs fights.

Remember the kings of a couple of webber-divac ? They didn't became elite in 1 season, they first reach the playoffs as the 7th seed, the next year the 8th seed and by their third season (when stojakovic emerged as an star) they finally became a top team in the west. I think we would have that kind of potential with this roster.

Conley can create for himself and for others, hasell would be our defensive specialist, gay can do a little bit of everything and may become an all-star in a couple of years, gasol is one of the best PFs in the game and darko is a very good shot blocker with good offensive skills. From the bench lowry can change the tempo in any game, mike miller can provide instant offense, and players like warrick, cardinal and joe smith only would be asked to hustle and put their best effort.

Finally, with this roster we would have a lot of potential and time to check who deserves to stay, who should go, and what kind of players we need to get to become a top team in the west.

So, could this work?

**croco** · 06-27-2007, 11:14 AM

I don't think the Grizzlies will be in the playoffs next year no matter what they try to do in the summer. The West is just too stacked and the only team that might be worse in the short term is Minnesota.

I don't think going after Milicic would be a good idea, yes he is still young, but he hasn't shown any desire to get better or the will to become a star, heck even a solid player. As long as you have some cap flexibility, you should keep it unless there is someone on the market who is more reliable and good for the long term.

The more I think about Conley the more I like the idea if the Hawks pick Horford. Lowry and him could tweak the minutes and then and go full speed for 24 minutes each, of course depending on foul trouble and other things during a game. I don't think there are many teams who can deal with two very fast point guards over the course of a game. Still, that won't get the Grizzlies in the playoffs, but after Oden, Durant and Horford there are no surefire big men in the draft. At least it would make the games exciting again, but I'm sure it would be a whole lot more than that.

grizzhoops · 06-27-2007, 01:29 PM

The idea of drafting Conley is growing on me too.

The more I read about Wallace, the more I like him. The Grizzlies are a poor, small market franchise that has to make the most of its picks. He is a hard working basketball fanatic who will scout players and find us good draft pick and rookie FAs. He will be so driven to succeed because if he doesn't he may never get another chance. And Jerry will probably be in the background mentoring him.

carlos710 · 06-27-2007, 01:58 PM

I think the grizzlies will try to compete next season. Iavaroni will try to make a good impresion on his first job and wallace always has been some kind of "win-now" GM. He is an awful GM but he is not scared to trade young players to try to win as much as possible.

Another scenario:
-Draft Noah (or wright)
-Sign Mo williams

Williams/Lowry
Hasell(trade)/Miller
Gay/Warrick
Gasol/Cardinal/Smith
Noah/Swift/Smith

Whats the other plan ? just tank every season until we get luck in the draft? Remember that no big name FA (like arenas next season) will want to come here if we dont improve.

With this plan, at worst we will suck once again and we'll get another lottery pick next year. But at least we will have more talent and a young core to trade for the right pieces.

**ChadWick** · 06-27-2007, 10:00 PM

you actually think you could make the playoffs with that?

Zuca · 06-28-2007, 06:48 PM

What do you guys thought about selecting Mike Conley Jr?

**MemphisX** · 06-28-2007, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zuca

What do you guys thought about selecting Mike Conley Jr?

Great pick!

**croco** · 06-28-2007, 09:31 PM

I think Conley was the best player available, he fits in, he is a high character guy and I also believe he has the potential to become a Top 5 point guard in the league. It might not be the most popular pick, but Conley is more special than people realize.

**Cinco de Mayo** · 06-29-2007, 01:17 AM

Best player available...and at a position of need.

I've warmed up to Conley since the athletic drills. I think he'll wind up being really good - borderline All-Star quality - and with the direction this league is headed, a good point guard is practically a must in order to have a contending team.

Good to get Conley now instead of drafting a guy like a Wright or a Noah, good players at a NBA position that is loaded with good players, than waiting another year hoping the ping-pong balls bounce our way to get a Mayo or a Rose. If we do happen to have one of those guys land in our laps next year, then so be it, but I'm glad I'll finally be seeing some real point guards in Conley and Lowry in Grizzlies uniforms.

**HKF** · 06-29-2007, 02:22 AM

I think ultimately they will regret it. I am not sold on Conley and realize Lowry is only two years older than him. I really wish Kyle didn't get hurt because then they would have selected Brandan Wright.

o.iatlhawksfan · 06-29-2007, 09:52 AM

Wow you guys reached for Mike Conley, big mistake, ya'll were the worst team last season, you guys might not make the playoffs. What ya'll should've done is picked the BPA, and picked the PG of the future next year. DO you guys know a player name Derrick Rose, he'll be playing in Memphis(college), so yeah you'll get to see alot of him. It's sad the best PG in Memphis is in college, not the NBA.

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