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grizzhoops · 10-11-2003, 11:26 AM

Can anyone remember that list of four of five players that someone posted back in the spring that Jerry West felt were the core of the team at that time?

I remember that Watson, Gasol, Battier, and Miller were on that list but I think there was another name.

The reason that I am asking is because I think that there are going to be a couple of trades over this season that brings the roster down to 12 player with two of them having expiring contracts. The upcoming expansion draft and luxury tax worries are going have a impact on the balance of power in the NBA.

With the FedEx Forum opening, I think that Jerry is going to put the team in a position to have nine solid NBA contributors on the roster after the expansion draft, several picks in the 2004 draft, and load of cash to sign the free agents that will move the franchise into the upper echlon of the NBA. I can see Williams and Wright moving if they don't delivery big between know and the trading deadline. They get a big portion of the payroll, therefore they need to produce big to justify their continued employment in Memphis. Dickerson retiring, Person's contract expiring, and trading Wright and Williams opens up something like $28m.

I am a big fan of both players but there are solid up and coming players on their heels that are less expensive to employ.

I look forward to hearing everybody's responses to these idea.

**Dakota** · 10-11-2003, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Watson, Gasol, Battier, and Miller

I don't think that list is quite right. The Grizz should most defiantly have Williams on that list. Maybe the recent additions of Posey and Tsakalidis as well.

**talula** · 10-11-2003, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by grizzhoops!
I can see Williams and Wright moving if they don't delivery big between know and the trading deadline.

I'd hate for either one of those guys to be traded, but realistically I can see it happening. Earl Watson is one of Jerry West's favorites on the team, second only to Mike Miller. I think he and Hubie both believe that Wason will eventually be the starting point guard. Lorenzen Wright simply makes too much money to be riding the bench, which is a likely reason he could be traded.

On the other hand, I remember reading an article that had Jerry West stating that he was going to build the team around Pau, Mike Miller, and Jason Williams. I personally don't think we should trade a point guard that was second in total assists per game and second in assist to turnover ration (first among starters). Jason Williams also puts fans in the seats. And Hubie said after a preseason game last week that the Grizzlies weren't bad when Jason is running the show. But if they have confidence that Earl is a starting caliber point guard, then I guess he would be much cheaper and much better on the defensive end.

c_dog · 10-11-2003, 11:04 PM

I would hate jerry west if he trades JWill. He deserves the money. He's certainly a top 5 PG now. If you think his contract is big, look at Bibby's. Or how about Marbury's?

**MJG** · 10-11-2003, 11:37 PM

While I think calling Williams "certainly a top 5 PG" is a bit generous (Kidd, Marbury, Francis, Payton are the top four, and JW isn't a definite 5th), I do agree that there is no way they should try to trade him. You Memphis fans have seen Watson more than me so correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't see him being a capable starting PG at all. I've seen him play pretty well at times, but not well enough for me to think "Wow, this could could be really be something".

**talula** · 10-12-2003, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MJG!
While I think calling Williams "certainly a top 5 PG" is a bit generous (Kidd, Marbury, Francis, Payton are the top four, and JW isn't a definite 5th), I do agree that there is no way they should try to trade him. You Memphis fans have seen Watson more than me so correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't see him being a capable starting PG at all. I've seen him play pretty well at times, but not well enough for me to think "Wow, this could could be really be something".

At this point, I don't think Earl Watson is qualified to start. He's great defensively, but a definite liability on the offensive end, although he is improving.

Hubie Brown has had nothing but positive things to say about Jason, especially about how coachable he is. Like I said earlier, I see no reason to trade a point guard who is second in the league in total assists, and second in assist to turnover ratio, who can also score relatively easily and is still improving.

grizzhoops · 10-12-2003, 09:34 AM

Its the defensive liability thing that makes JWill questionable for the future. He can be an outstanding point guard but when you look at who has won champsionships over the past two decades, the only team that had a point guard that was worth talking about was the Pistons with Isiah Thomas and Lakers with Magic . JWill isn't in that catagory. The Bulls and the Lakers were both been PGless. And Tony Parker wasn't that imporant to the success of the Spurs. He disappeared in the finals.

Mike Miller and Pau Gasol make it difficult to keep JWill because none of the three play great defense but Pau and Miller are younger and better decision makers offensively.

I can see JWill being traded like Nick Van Exel was to strengthen the squad in a trading deadline trade to a team that is a point guard away from a run at the finals.

JWill is exciting and fills the seats but in time winning will be the only thing that fills the seats.

**talula** · 10-12-2003, 02:22 PM

I wouldn't feel comfortable with Earl Watson starting at point and Troy Bell being the backup currently. But that could definitely change next season if Watson keeps improving.

Jason Williams and Mike Miller are both steadily improving on the defensive end. Plus, we just overpaid James Posey to defend on the perimeter. So far the team hasn't been able to score well when Watson runs the point. I think losing Dickerson's contract and/or Lorenzen Wright's (or have him renegotiate to save our depth) would be enough to put the team in a postive financial situation.

I think the Williams/Watson rotation is really ideal for the Grizzlies.

c_dog · 10-13-2003, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MJG!
While I think calling Williams "certainly a top 5 PG" is a bit generous (Kidd, Marbury, Francis, Payton are the top four, and JW isn't a definite 5th), I do agree that there is no way they should try to trade him. You Memphis fans have seen Watson more than me so correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't see him being a capable starting PG at all. I've seen him play pretty well at times, but not well enough for me to think "Wow, this could could be really be something".

don't get me started. Jwill was a leader in all assist categories. i think he was 4th in total assists? and somethng like 2nd in apg or something.. correct me if i'm wrong, but i'm positive he was at least top 5

don't even get me started on steve francis. the guy is overrated. he hasn't done a better job than Jwill at leading the rockets. both teams are/were lottery teams. he's a shoot-first mentality guard, and not much better than Baron Davis. Funny how you mentioned him in the list of Kidd, Payton, and Marbury

I'll give you those 3, but I say JWill is not too far off from them. He was ahead of Marbury in terms of apg(tied with Payton), if i recall correctly. And he would probably have beaten them in total assists had he played more games. nobody can touch these players when it comes to assists. Look at Steve's measley 6.2 apg?? no wonder he has the rebutation of being a ball hog. or how about Nash's 7.3? I say Jwill IS a top 5 pg. yes his fg% isn't that great, but i think his passing skills more than made up for it. expect jwill to make a difference this season.

grizzhoops · 10-13-2003, 05:44 AM

Everybody knows that JWill can handle and pass the ball with the best but the question is can he stay under control in crunch time, shoot the because he is wide open and can he defend. There a terrible picture of him looking like a revovling door as Tony Parker is going past him from the Spurs game. He has to defend as well. Possey can't defend the one and the two and until we have a defensive stopper in the paint the guards have to keep their man out on the perimeter.

**Dakota** · 10-14-2003, 01:44 PM

Does anyone think 1.46 steals last year was a good average for steals in a season. That is what Jason averaged last year.

His first year he averaged 1.90. I think Will can play defense when he wants to, but he just doens't do it often enough. Yes, he needs to improve his defense quite a bit, but I don't think 1.46 steals is a bad average when you consider he doesn't play that much "D".

Petey · 10-16-2003, 12:28 AM

I really like Williams as a player. If he is traded I hope it brings back some real talent, not a project. I remember when Bibby was traded for Williams. Everyone blew it off as a bad trade. Can't do that again. With the Grizzles having young players, whom are already establishing themselves (Miller, Battier and Gasol) I think it would really stunt their growth as a team.

Many may not remember but when Cassell was a Net, he lead us to the playoffs, and he was in part traded for Marbury whom couldn't do it (I think in part due to youth, and not finding himself as a player yet). After trading for Kidd, we were there again (a guy whom has know his style for years now).

-Petey

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