gomemphis.com:
"We're going to be a tax payer," Heisley said, referring to the once dreaded luxury tax. "I've told Jerry that I want to build this team and make it as good as we can make it as soon as we can make it."
"This year, there's not a huge number of opportunities in free agency," Heisley said. "But we're going to get a couple of good players. Jerry knows I have complete trust in him. I'm a little bit more impatient than Jerry is so I'll probably be pushing him to spend the money more than he's willing to spend it."
Memphis needs a TRUE C... Jerome James?. He is still developing his game, but he got nice stats last season (sophomore) playing just 16 Mpg. BIG body (7¨1" and 272), impressive shotblocker, good rebounder.
Other candidates: Michael Doleac, Scott Williams... With mid-level exception ($4.5 million) and another $1.4 million Memphis cannot try to sign a big star (not a lot in the market this summer...), so I think Jerome James could be a good choice. Heisley wants "a couple of good players" from Free Agency... who will be the another one? and where will he play??.
Memphis has a lot of players now: 11 players under contract (Gill is in, and Buford, Fotsis, Long and Solomon are out) + Archibald, Owens, and Giricek... that´s 14 players, + 2 Free Agents... 16 players.
Memphis roster:
PG: JWill / Knight / Gill
SG: Dickerson / Person / Giricek (?)
SF: Battier / Owens
PF: Gasol / Gooden / Swift
C: Wright / Massenburg / Archibald
Memphis needs, by position...
PG?: We have 3, no one else is needed.
SG?: With Giricek (if he joins), Person and a healthy Dickerson, that´s enough (Battier can play SG if needed).
SF?: Battier is the man, Owens could be a good backup (Gasol, Gooden, Person and Dickerson can play if needed).
PF?: Overloaded... Gasol, Gooden, Swift (+ Owens, Wright and Massenburg if needed).
C?: Wright and Massenburg. Archibald could get some garbage minute. We can get a good backup from FA (If not, West will try a deal looking for a good starter).
Now Memphis has depth almost anywhere. This is not enough for Heinsley ("as good as we can make it as soon as we can make it."). So West will look for a young star (notice: Memphis still has the same starting 5 than last season). Probably he will trade for a good SG or combo guard (M Miller could be the first option).
New roster prediction (STARTERS/ bench):
PG: JWILL / New player or Knight / Gill
SG: NEW PLAYER / Person / Giricek / (Dickerson gone)
SF: BATTIER / Owens / (Gasol and-or Gooden will play minutes at three)
PF: GASOL / Gooden (Swift gone)
C: WRIGHT / New player / (Massenburg could stay, Archibald will not play).
