New Season just ahead.

I have only been able to attend one of the home preseason games this year. Wasn't very impressed by the performance of the team that night. Am anxiously awaiting though the start of the regular season. Will be updating the blog throughout the season so please check back often. Read more!

Grizzlies acquired Zach Randolph

We have known that this was coming for a while now, but on Friday it became official. Here is a link to the story on the Grizzlies website.

http://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/grizzlies_acquire_zach_randolph-090717.html

I have read articles and fans comments regarding this move and how crazy they say it is. I am willing to agree with some that we are taking a risk, but the Grizzlies are a franchise that needs to take a gamble or two.

This move finally gives us a legitimate 20-10 player down low. Ever since we traded Pau away, we have not had an inside scoring presence. I believe this move gives us the inside presence that will allow us to better use Mayo and Gay to their abilities. It will be a tough job though for Coach Hollins and Mike Conley to get these 3 players to play together well and to distribute the ball so that each player gets the touches and shots they need.

As a fan of the team, I come into this season with a brighter outlook to the future because of this move. If the gamble doesn't pan out for us, well then next season we will have a big expiring contract that could be a valuable trade piece or else at the end of the 2011 season, we will have a big chunk of cap space available again. If the gamble pays out for us, then this move could push us much closer to competing for a playoff spot.

I believe the glass is half full, now Chris Wallace, please finish filling it up. Read more!

Grizzlies get Randolph

There is a story on ESPN that the Grizzlies have traded for Zach Randolph.
Here is the link to the story.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4301324

This is an interesting move for the Grizzlies and one that must leave some national media shaking their heads. The Grizzlies made a move that wasn't a salary dumping move. We are actually spending more money than we have to. This is a move that will make the Grizzlies better.

I am glad to have an offensive power forward to start the season with. It will be interesting to see who the backup will be. Will they resign Warrick who is a bench scorer or will they go with Arthur who is more of a rebounder and defensive presence.

Our starting lineup now has 3 guys who could average 20 points per game and 2 others who could average around 10 or more. Will we win the NBA championship this year? No, but I can see us closer to making the playoffs than I could 1 or 2 years ago.

Now let us wait and see what moves Chris Wallace makes in obtaining a back up point guard for Mike Conley. Read more!

What are the Bucks Thinking?

ESPN is reporting that the Bucks have not made a qualifying offer to Charlie Villanueva. I am not understanding what their mind set is on this. A qualifying offer was only 4.6 million. In only 27 minutes of playing time, Charlie was the 3'rd leading scorer at 16.2 ppg and the 2'nd leading rebounder with 6.7 rpg. He shot 34.5% from 3 point range and was at 83.8% from the free throw line.

As a Bucks fan, I would have to really question the logic in allowing a player of that talent to walk for nothing. I do realize that the Bucks are over the salary cap. So the Bucks are going to say goodbye to a steady contributor to their team.

Here is where the Grizzlies come into the equation. We need a Power Forward. We need 3 point shooting on this team. We are dealing with a 3 year plan in which we are looking for younger players that can learn how to win together and be there in the future. So how does the Grizzlies and Charlie match up together.

1. Charlie is a 6-11 232 pound power forward. Though maybe just a few pounds on the slim side for his height, he does fit the position we are shopping for.

2. The Grizzlies need 3 point shooting. Charlie last season made 89 3 point shots while shooting 34.5% from 3 point range. That is a much higher percentage than any other power forward the Grizzlies have had.

3. The Grizzlies 3 year plan with younger players. Charlie fits into the 3 year plan as well. Charlie turns 25 this August. So he is young enough to grow with the franchise and be coming into his prime when our other stars are coming into their prime.

I am not saying that if we sign Charlie V that he is the Power Forward to lead the Grizzlies to the NBA Championship. But Charlie does fit the position and some of the needs that our team has at this time. Charlie would be a big improvement for the Grizzlies at the starting power forward position. I am slightly worried about his rebounding numbers. In 27 minutes last season he only averaged 6.7 per game. I would hope playing with the Grizzlies he would be playing around 34 to 36 minutes. In that amount of minutes, we would need him to be averaging 10 rebounds a game.

A starting lineup of Conley, Mayo, Gay, Villanueva, Gasol would be a nice starting lineup with 5 guys capable of averaging in double figures. That would also leave some scorers on the bench. The addition of Charlie V along with the draft picks I believe would allow us to compete for 35 to 40 wins next season. Read more!

Chris Wallace's Comments

Unfortunately for me I had ACL surgery on Thursday. This meant that I missed the Draft Party and the FedEx Forum and the press conference the following day. I emailed Chris Wallace in regards to the draft and am posting his comments here.

We are happy with the draft. Thabeet is the defensive presence the team has always lacked. He and Gasol will compete for the starting center spot. No one is handed anything, this is a competition. Haddadi will be given a shot as well. He is currently working out with us and is scheduled to return agaon in late August which should be a real benefit. Remember, he came in last year within three days of training camp.

We feel the additions of Young and Carroll will bolster our weak bench from a year ago. Young will play both the off guard and small forward positions while Carroll is a small forward and versatile enough to flop over to power forward when we size down, as they say in the NBA, and go small.

We are upbeat on Arthur's future and look forward to seeing him in summer league.

Blair was ranked below Young and Carroll with us, however, if Young had been select prior to 36 we would have picked Blair as he was the highest ranked player still available at the point. So we were very close to getting him.

We will be aggressive seeking out trading opportunites but it is too early to forecast what awaits us on that front.

Go Grizzlies!

Chris Wallace

I want to thank Chris Wallace for taking time to give me these comments regarding the draft.

David

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