Draft Thoughts
Posted 6/28 at 2:14 PM
Pete’s recent posts
In the wake of the wildest draft night in Memphis Grizzlies history, I’m still dizzy from the dealing. Some thoughts on the events of the last week.
How things change! Four years ago I flew into Memphis to interview to be a Grizzlies announcer. It was the same day that Brian Cardinal was being introduced to the Memphis media as Jerry West’s latest free agent pickup. Four years later, BC is gone, traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves along with Mike Miller and Jason Collins.With Cardinal and Miller leaving the premises, all that’s left of the playoff Grizzlies teams is Hakim Warrick.
Yep, that’s right. Hakim Warrick is the grand old man of Memphis after just three seasons. How’s that for a remarkable makeover?
Let me give you an idea of how big this deal was: in two days I did a total of six interviews, two for ESPN alone.
It was also interesting how the deal was perceived locally and nationally. Locally, it was very well-received. The trades proved that majority owner Michael Heisley and GM Chris Wallace were willing to push the envelope. Selecting Kevin Love of UCLA was a solid, safe pick with which no one could really argue. As it turns out, Darrell Arthur was selected by Houston for the Grizzlies and Wallace and company effected a swap for Donte Green and a second round pick. If the night had ended there, it would have been a good night.
But presented with the opportunity of going the safe route, the Grizzlies made a bold move by acquiring O.J. Mayo. Yes, it meant getting rid of one of the very best shooters in the NBA and a good member of the Memphis community in Mike Miller. Will it turn the Grizzlies into an immediate playoff contender? Probably not. But it does set the stage for growth and doesn’t put the Grizzlies in financial jeopardy.
Best of all, the trade for O.J. Mayo gives Memphis some star power. I think that Mayo will help drive some ticket sales due to the strength of his personality and the incredible basketball promise he brings.
So, I like the trade. My immediate reaction was, “wow!” And I’m a big Kevin Love guy, but I think Mayo makes the Grizzlies a more exciting team.
Nationally of course, the Grizzlies got killed by the “experts” that believed that Memphis shouldn’t have given up Mike Miller in the trade and that the Grizzlies took back too much in the way of money. And all of a sudden, the “experts” had second thoughts about just how good O.J. Mayo would be. So without playing a game, he went from a fantastic player to a questionable one by the mere fact of being traded to the Grizzlies. Kevin Love was being hailed as a franchise-savior type player. Well, what about Darrell Arthur? No, not as good as Kevin Love, at least in the draft evaluation, but he plays the same position and was considered a lottery selection.
So with the trades, you pick up one of the most dynamic players in the draft in Mayo and replace the traded Love with Arthur. You do lose a great outside shooter, but you also cleave off the Cardinal contract and Jason Collins who (like Cardinal) wasn’t playing much. Marko Jaric didn’t post great numbers in Minnesota, but he’s a rotational player that can play both guard slots.
If Marc Gasol joins the Grizzlies, you essentially have picked up three lottery-level players: Mayo, Arthur (who slipped due to health concerns) and Gasol (who many believe would have been in the lottery this draft). That’s not too shabby.
The one issue that the Grizzlies have to address is their roster imbalance. Lots of guards, not a lot of bigs. But the Grizzlies have time and free agency on their side to figure it all out. They’ll also have to figure out how to make up for the double loss of three-point shooting of Juan Carlos Navarro and Mike Miller. Mayo is a good three-point shooter, but Miller was world-class in that department.
Can’t wait for summer league.
Posted 6/28 at 2:14 PM
I am so excited about Grizzlies basketball AGAIN, now that O.J. Mayo and Darrell Arthur will be wearing Memphis blue! If we don’t make the playoffs in 09’ I am sure we will see a significant improvement in the wins column!
I think that the Grizzlies did pretty well in the draft, but what I don’t understand is the fact that we haven’t signed anyone yet. Last season Chris Wallace was saying how he traded Pau Gasol to free up cap space. Why don’t the Grizzlies at least try to sign someone like Elton Brand, but don’t don’t sign anymore guards.
I think we did great in the draft. I will let Wallace do his thing and sort the team out. I dont think we will be in the playoffs but we’re headed in the right direction. Hats off.
Despite the Grizzlies’ record the past couple of years, this team has NEVER been a team that didn’t have talent since they’ve been here. If Iavaroni can put all the pieces together with Mayo, Arthur, Gasol combined with Gay, Conley, Warrick, and Lowry….this may be the makings of a SQUAD!