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**thaKEAF** · 02-09-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

NEW YORK -- Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace went on the offensive against his critics on Thursday, calling the unattributed criticism of the Pau Gasol trade from other general managers "pillow talk" and daring any league executives to go on the record against the deal.

Before Friday night's game against the Knicks, Spurs president and head coach Gregg Popovich did just that.

"What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension," said Popovich. "There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense. I just wish I had been on a trade committee that oversees NBA trades. I'd like to elect myself to that committee. I would have voted no to the L.A. trade."

When told that Wallace had challenged executives to criticize the deal publicly, Popovich replied, "Well, there you go. I'm on the record."

To acquire Gasol, the Lakers parted with forward-center Kwame Brown, rookie point guard Javaris Crittenton, the rights to Pau's younger brother, Marc Gasol, and first-round picks in 2008 and 2010. The deal gives the Grizzlies salary-cap relief -- Brown is making $9.1 million in the last year of his deal while Pau Gasol is owed $49 million over the next three years -- but little in the way of established NBA talent.

Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley said the move was purely a basketball decision and not a way to cut costs to make the team more attractive to prospective buyers. The Grizzlies were 13-33 when they traded Gasol, the franchise leader in 12 statistical categories.

"The strategy sure as hell isn't to try to wreck the team," Heisley told the Memphis Commercial Appeal last week. "Quite honestly, if it was in my power to turn the Grizzlies into the San Antonio Spurs tomorrow, I'd do that. I don't think anyone appreciates how painful it is to be the owner of a team that's losing and have people criticize you."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ml?eref=si_nba

Chan · 02-09-2008, 02:59 PM

But ol' Popvich was hatin', with his punk ***.

Of course he was against it. Now he's not gonna win the west.

**MemphisX** · 02-09-2008, 03:42 PM

People are still going to have to explain to me how having a team with very little talent and a sagging attendance is more attractive to buy.

**Cinco de Mayo** · 02-09-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MemphisX

People are still going to have to explain to me how having a team with very little talent and a sagging attendance is more attractive to buy.

Maybe Chris Wallace will break it down after he trades Mike Miller for nothing next week.

**croco** · 02-09-2008, 03:50 PM

I'd rather trade my star for little than shut him down when he is healthy again.

**thaKEAF** · 02-09-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MemphisX

People are still going to have to explain to me how having a team with very little talent and a sagging attendance is more attractive to buy.

I was wondering the same thing when I first read responses to the trade. I thought having Gasol with bad attendance would be better than not having Gasol with terrible attendance when it came to selling the franchise.

Vuchato · 02-09-2008, 05:16 PM

Pops gonna be eating his words when Critt turns out to have a better career than Gasol.

**Cinco de Mayo** · 02-09-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vuchato

Pops gonna be eating his words when Critt turns out to have a better career than Gasol.

I doubt that very much.

hroz · 02-10-2008, 02:29 AM

I thinkyou guys hsould play small ball

Milicic/Brown
Gay/Warrick
Miller/Warrick-Jacobsen
Navarro/Jacobsen
Conley/Lowry

High octane basketball would atleast bring a few more people to the arena?????????

**MemphisX** · 02-10-2008, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hroz

I thinkyou guys hsould play small ball

Milicic/Brown
Gay/Warrick
Miller/Warrick-Jacobsen
Navarro/Jacobsen
Conley/Lowry

High octane basketball would atleast bring a few more people to the arena?????????

Honestly, it doesn't matter at this point. We simply do not have enough talent and this was the problem with Gasol. Style of play is a message board and talk radio thing. If San Antonio decided to play uptempo, they would still be contenders because they have good players. If Phoenix slows it down, they will still contend because they have good players. We have bad players. We have about 6 players that should be getting rotation minutes in the NBA and all of them are in to important of a role for their skill and/or experience.

On a contender:

Rudy Gay would be a third option
Mike Miller would be a spot up shooter.
Darko would be a backup center.
Conley would be a backup PG.
Lowry would be a backup PG.
Juan Carlos Navarro would be a off the bench shooter ala Brent Barry.

So we have two players that are starter quality on good teams. That is why we suck.

So are hope is for Conley to develop into a starting level point guard. Rudy Gay to mature into a viable 1st/2nd option. Draft Michael Beasley to be our 1st/2nd option. Sign a wing player that can be our 3rd option (Iguodala) in the summer. Hope Darko develops into a starter. Draft a capable backup PF/C with the Lakers pick or trade for one.

PG Mike Conley, Kyle Lowry
SG Andre Iguodala or Mike Miller, Javaris Crittenton
SF Rudy Gay
PF Michael Beasley
C Darko Milicic

This gives you the option of using Mike Miller and Hakim Warrick in a sign and trade for Iguodala or trading Mike Miller and Hakim Warrick for a veteran, physical power forward(Chris Wilcox, Udonis Haslem, Fabrico Oberto, Craig Smith) if you miss out on Beasley this summer.

**thaKEAF** · 02-10-2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MemphisX

Honestly, it doesn't matter at this point. We simply do not have enough talent and this was the problem with Gasol. Style of play is a message board and talk radio thing. If San Antonio decided to play uptempo, they would still be contenders because they have good players. If Phoenix slows it down, they will still contend because they have good players. We have bad players. We have about 6 players that should be getting rotation minutes in the NBA and all of them are in to important of a role for their skill and/or experience.

On a contender:

Rudy Gay would be a third option
Mike Miller would be a spot up shooter.
Darko would be a backup center.
Conley would be a backup PG.
Lowry would be a backup PG.
Juan Carlos Navarro would be a off the bench shooter ala Brent Barry.

So we have two players that are starter quality on good teams. That is why we suck.

So are hope is for Conley to develop into a starting level point guard. Rudy Gay to mature into a viable 1st/2nd option. Draft Michael Beasley to be our 1st/2nd option. Sign a wing player that can be our 3rd option (Iguodala) in the summer. Hope Darko develops into a starter. Draft a capable backup PF/C with the Lakers pick or trade for one.

PG Mike Conley, Kyle Lowry
SG Andre Iguodala or Mike Miller, Javaris Crittenton
SF Rudy Gay
PF Michael Beasley
C Darko Milicic

This gives you the option of using Mike Miller and Hakim Warrick in a sign and trade for Iguodala or trading Mike Miller and Hakim Warrick for a veteran, physical power forward(Chris Wilcox, Udonis Haslem, Fabrico Oberto, Craig Smith) if you miss out on Beasley this summer.

I've never really sat down and looked at it like that, we need ALOT of work.

I see I'm not the only one who would love to get Iguodala brought in. Not too sure if Philly is willing to pay him the bucks he'll be wanting from them.

Chan · 02-10-2008, 03:19 PM

Mike Miller is a lot better than just a spot up shooter. He can do other stuff with the ball. Good stuff.

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