Memphis and West: A Lesson in Failure

“Leaders establish the vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there; they cause change. They motivate and inspire others to go in the right direction and they, along with everyone else, sacrifice to get there.”
-John Kotter

Jerry West has tendered his resignation effective July 1st, 2007. After 6 years at the head of the franchise West has decided the team needs a new voice to lead the franchise going forward.

When West arrived in Memphis he stated his vision to make this a model franchise. While few people really knew what that meant he changed the way the franchise was viewed by the fans and the league with just his presence. He made his first major move when he fired Sydney Lowe only 8 games into the new season. Hubie Brown was hired. Brown brought discipline and a mentality that winning is a process not an end result. He coached the Grizzlies to a 28-46 record that year.

When Brown succeeded the crowds supported Brown not because anyone bought into Jerry West’s vision or even understood what his vision was. They bought into Brown’s vision because he communicated this every night in the press conferences. Jerry West was given credit for being behind everything if Brown was this successful as the coach. Who cares if no one knew what West was thinking in his box in the sky, the success on the court meant he had a plan and we should trust him.

‘Trust in Jerry’ became a popular phrase around Memphis.

The next season the Grizzlies caught fire and during a beautiful 50 win year the Grizzlies could do no wrong. West was a genius winning the league’s Executive of the Year. Hubie Brown won Coach of the Year. Things couldn’t have been better in Memphis. Who cares if no one knew what West’s vision was for the future, the Grizzlies were on the right path.

Then things started to go wrong. First, Brian Cardinal was signed to a free agent contract larger than James Posey’s, the previous year’s team MVP. West paid far over market value for Cardinal and it raised a lot of eyebrows. Players began to express unhappiness with the lack of playing time under Brown’s system that had 10 players basically playing for 24 minutes a game. It really got weird when Brown complained that West was spying on him with an equipment manager. Even though the team was moving into a new arena and coming off a 50 win season and the first playoff appearance in franchise history, it seemed no one was happy. No one was on the same page. There was no shared vision of the future that everyone was working toward.

Then suddenly Brown was gone.

Thanksgiving Day he told the team he was retiring effective immediately due to health problems. In 2 months the Grizzlies had gone from an up and coming NBA team ready to take their place in the upper echelon of the NBA to a team in disarray without leadership and without cohesion. Within 8 days West brought in another old school coach, Mike Fratello, to take over the team. The rumor was that West wanted a disciplinarian coaching the team to control the egos and to get the players to focus on team and not individuals. What was left unanswered was the question of how Fratello fit into Jerry’s vision. Granted Fratello had a reputation as a disciplinarian but how would his coaching philosophy mesh with the vision West had for the team?

Fratello won a lot of games with the Grizzlies but also upset players and fans. West sat alone in his suite watching intensely. Fratello seemed to be the anti-thesis of Brown. He was short and curt in press conferences compared to Brown’s rolling monologues on the game. While Brown seemed to enjoy educating the press about the game, Fratello seemed to be irritated. Gone was the personality on TV that had him called the “Czar of the Telestrator.”

Fratello totally changed the manner of play on the court as well. The Grizzlies went from an up-tempo team that attempted to wear down their opponents with pressure and the depth of their bench to the slowest team in the league that apparently wanted to lull their opponents to sleep. Still West was stoic. The strong man behind his Forum suite’s glass partition never came out and explained how this move was getting us closer to his vision of the ‘Model Franchise.’

The termination of Fratello and hiring of Barone brought along a pronouncement that the team would be changing again to a running up-tempo style and true to his word Barone did give the fans that. He played the youngsters and the team ran the ball. Barone joked with the media, with the refs and even his own players. West barely said a word about how this move fit into his vision of the future.

And no one knows yet what West saw as the future of the franchise.

West has always been quiet, reserved and shy. His press conferences rambled from point to point and he often left people with no idea what he really meant. He did not express his vision of the future of the franchise. No one knew his strategy to get the team there. He motivated people in the short run by reputation but by being too closed and guarded in his plans for the team he didn’t have anyone buy into his vision of the future. People didn’t work together because very few understood what direction they were going.

Hubie Brown coached the team to run and use their athleticism to outscore the opponents. He didn’t run just to run. Everyone had a place on the court and Brown expected them to be in the right place at the right time but pressure and speed were valuable keys to the team’s success. Fratello wanted to control every aspect of the team. He preferred to slow the game down to make sure that he controlled what was happening. The Grizzlies went from one of the higher scoring teams in the league to one of the best defensive teams in two seasons. Under Barone the team became one of the highest scoring teams again in a matter of weeks. At no time were the fans involved or educated about the reason for these moves. What was the vision? West had 4 coaches in 5 seasons (Lowe, Brown, Fratello and Barone-and that isn’t including the 4 game stint of Lionel Hollins) and another one on the way this summer. Where is the plan? One minute the team is running the next they are taking the air out of the ball only to have it refilled with Helium. Is it any wonder the fans turned away?

If leadership is establishing a vision of the future and establishing a path to get you there then West failed to lead this team. A lot of things can be blamed on the owner but the failure to communicate a vision of the future lies at one man’s feet. He may have had that vision (and I suspect he did) but he failed to get the players to buy into it. He didn’t communicate this vision so the fans and the players had a hard time buying into it. Without that commitment and motivation the sacrifices weren’t made to help it succeed.

West is right about the team needing a new voice. Hopefully this time it will be one people can hear both on the team and in the community. To turn this franchise around it will need sacrifice on a lot of people’s parts. Things must change. The team has to create an identity that everyone can rally behind and all of this comes from the leader’s ability to communicate his goals and visions.

West didn’t fail in Memphis because he didn’t have a vision. He didn’t fail because he didn’t make sacrifices along the way to succeed. He didn’t fail because he didn’t cause change. He failed because he kept the vision to himself. Without the understood vision all the sacrifices and effort, all the attempts to motivate and inspire eventually fall on deaf ears. One man can’t do it alone.

Grizzlies Review: A Season in Hell

It is always painful to write an end of season re-cap of player’s performances since this means the season is actually over. This season is not as painful as some but still hurts just the same. The team failed to live up to the lowest expectations of the fans and yet still managed to play entertaining basketball. Unsuccessful but entertaining just the same.

Pau Gasol: Season- 20.8 ppg, 9.8 RPG, 3.4 apg, 0.5 spg and 2.1 bpg
Career- 18.8 ppg, 8.6 RPG, 3.1 apg, 0.5 spg, 1.8 bpg

Gasol set career highs in scoring, rebounding, FG%, and tied his career high in blocks. He also set a franchise high in times being booed at home. An interesting dichotomy brought about by someone leaking a private conversation between Heisley and Gasol to the media. While definitely not Gasol’s fault for the story being leaked he was definitely made the whipping boy by the local fans who were upset that he was injured while playing basketball for Spain and missing the fist 23 games of the season.

What people seem to forget is that Gasol put up these numbers despite playing his way into game condition. His performance in 2007 was nothing short of impressive despite boos raining down from the rafters every time he made a mistake. Gasol averaged 21.5 ppg, 10.9 RPG, 3.65 apg and 2.3 bpg in 2007 that type of performance is comparable to Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitski and Kevin Garnett. There will always be critics who refuse to give Gasol credit this season but the reality is that he took his game up to another level despite playing 3 fewer minutes a game than he did during his all-star season of 05-06. While Gasol will never be as good as Duncan defensively, he could improve perception of his defense if the Grizz had a Point Guard who could stop dribble penetration which frequently left Gasol in difficult defensive situations.

Mike Miller: Season- 18.5 ppg, 5.4 RPG, 4.3 apg, 40.6 3pt%, 0.8 spg
Career- 14.4 ppg, 4.5 RPG, 2.9 apg, 39.8 3pt%, 0.7 spg

Mike opened the season as the team’s de facto #1 scorer and didn’t look good in that role. With Mike Fratello’s slow ball still the rule of thumb and the opponent’s not having to double team Gasol due to his injury, Miller was forced to play a style that doesn’t emphasize his best traits. His 14.0 ppg average was his season low in November. From that point on a different Miller emerged. With the return of Gasol and the firing of Fratello, Miller exploded out to average 19.7 ppg the rest of the season before knee tendonitis sidelined him at the end of March.

Miller was a long range sharp-shooter as usual but he also drove the lane more effectively than ever before. His confidence blossomed and with Gasol the team had two players capable of scoring 20 points on any given night. Never known as a defensive stopper Miller struggled to defend opposing SGs and was relegated to the SF role where his rebounding skills offset his lack of lateral quickness. While Miller’s season was his best statistically as a pro it also exposed the weaknesses inherent in his game. Those weaknesses may best be covered coming off the bench in the future rather than starting, especially with the rookies looking promising at SF and SG and the team’s desire to improve the backcourt in the off-season. Miller may be needed to be used as bait to get a deal done.

Chucky Atkins: Season- 13.2 ppg, 4.6 apg, 0.7 spg, 37.9 3pt%, 1.69 topg
Career- 10.8 ppg, 3.7 apg, 0.7 spg, 37.0 3pt%, 1.59 topg

Chucky was probably the most unpopular free agent signing this summer. Fans blamed Chucky for Jason Terry’s playoff explosion in the playoff sweep the previous season and didn’t want him back. A year later the attitude has changed dramatically. Now Memphis fans hope Chucky is back but he has more options available now and it is highly doubtful that he will return.

What Chucky did while in Memphis won’t be forgotten quickly however. His arrival in January, 2006 was a life raft to a season that looked to have been sunk when Damon Stoudamire went down with a patella tendon rupture. This season his impact was just as important. His excellent sense of humor and veteran presence insured the team remained upbeat even at the lowest points. His clutch 4th quarter shooting helped win games and his acceptance of his changing role with the team did much to enhance his stature in Memphis. His role was least appreciated at the start of the season but by the end he just may have been the team MVP.

Hakim Warrick: Season- 12.7 ppg, 5.1 RPG, 0.9 apg, 0.52 spg, 0.37 bpg
Career- 8.8 ppg, 3.8 RPG, 0.7 apg, 0.4 spg, 0.3 bpg

Hakim finally got to step on the court as a starter in the NBA when Gasol’s foot broke and he made a noticeable impact right away. He averaged 15.7 ppg in November as well as 6.1 RPG. Then Pau returned and Hakim’s minutes started dropping but his attitude stayed strong. He bided his time and when given a 2nd opportunity in the starting lineup he made sure he stayed there. His rebounding improved and his shooting punished teams intent on doubling Gasol. He became the #3 scoring threat on the team and seemed to grow more and more confident with each game. What Warrick didn’t seem to handle well was man on man defense. His inability to stop his man was one of the main reasons the Grizzlies went to the 2-3 zone that Warrick was familiar with at Syracuse.

With Warrick’s leaping ability there is no reason he should average less than half a block a game either. While his focus on rebounding improved during the season the defense he plays is not up to NBA expectations. He will need to improve his ball handling, his passing and his defense to be anything more than a spot starter in his career.

Rudy Gay: Season- 10.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.9 spg, 1.0 bpg, 36.4 3pt%, 42.2 FG%
Career- 10.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.9 spg, 1.0 bpg, 36.4 3pt%, 42.2 FG%

Rudy Gay entered the Grizzlies camp with the most fanfare of any rookie since Drew Gooden. He ended the season with as much fanfare as any Grizzlies rookie since Pau Gasol. Not a bad development from the 20 yr old. He opened the month of November with the ROM award for the Western Conference after averaging a paltry 8.7 ppg and shooting a terrible 35.9 FG% and 31.8 3pt%. Surprisingly he improved those numbers almost every month of the season but never won the award again. His best month was February when he averaged 15.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, shot 47.3% from the field and 47.5% from the arc.

The future is very bright for young Rudy who has admitted the strain of being a rookie in the NBA and having the onus to live up to Jerry West’s pre-season comments made it difficult to relax at first on the court. Rudy Gay struggled all season with playing multiple positions on the court and seems most suited for the SF position where his athleticism often will overwhelm other SFs in the league. His ball handling is a tad week to play the SG and that led many teams to start pressing the Grizzlies when he was playing in the backcourt. The effectiveness of those presses shows how much work needs to be done in this area. Defensively Rudy didn’t struggle nearly as much as would be expected from a rookie which should encourage the fans for next season.

Stromile Swift: Season- 7.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.15 bpg, 46.5 FG%
Career- 8.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 47.1 FG%

The Stro Show limped into town in shock from the draft day trade that brought him back to the Bluff City with Rudy Gay for Shane Battier. He didn’t seem to come out of the funk except for two periods all season. The first occurred after he returned from being with his mother who had suffered a stroke. He play had been sporadic since the beginning of the season as he complained of knee pain. Apparently his knee recovered nicely during the break with his mother. This time also corresponded with Mike Fratello being released and Barone hired and suddenly Stro was on fire. From Dec. 30 to Jan 9th Stro scored in double figures four times including a season high 26 pts against Golden St and was close to double figures in the other two games. Then another injury sat Stro for 11 more games in a row and when he returned he was not in the rotation (or out of doghouse). The last 4 games Stro scored in double figures in every game.

This is not what Jerry West envisioned when he reacquired Stro on draft day. Stro never looked comfortable this season either from injury or general dissatisfaction. His best friend on the team (Gasol) demanded a trade with management. For Stro that wasn’t necessary since the team was trying to trade him as hard as they could. No one seems interested in a MLE player who misses games with ‘phantom’ injuries and is moody. Not surprising really.

Tarence Kinsey: Season- 7.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 45.7 FG%
Career- 7.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 45.7 FG%

In a season filled with bad news and unhappy scenes, TK was a breath of fresh air to end the season. The 2nd rookie for the Grizzlies this season to win the Rookie of the Month award for the Western Conference, TK came out of nowhere to shock the league with his deadly accurate mid-range shooting and his on court intensity. Rookies aren’t supposed to play good defense. Undrafted rookies aren’t supposed to even play! TK took advantage of every opportunity he was given the year to suddenly be a serious contender for the starting SG role next season. Not bad for a player who had to fight thru a broken orbital socket suffered in training camp to even make the team.

Kinsey isn’t without his faults of course and the most glaring is his lack of a consistent outside shot. His mid-range game is excellent but when he gets to the arc his percentages drop like a rock averaging 18.8% from behind the arc in April alone. Very similar in appearance to a young Richard Hamilton without the pressure of being Michael Jordan’s first draft pick, TK really brought it the last month of the season averaging 18.8 ppg despite his long range woes. His play after Miller went down leads one to ask ‘just how invaluable is Mike Miller?’

Dahntay Jones: Season- 7.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.5 spg, 41.7 3pt%
Career- 5.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.6 apg, 0.4 spg, 33.0 3pt%

Dahntay Jones looked to have a real chance of showing the Grizzlies what he was capable of this season. Eddie Jones was injured to start the season and no one else seemed ready to fill the role of defensive SG on the roster and if he could improve his shooting the future starting role seemed to be his. 78 games later, with improvement in nearly every statistical category, there is a question whether the Grizzlies will even offer him his qualifying offer. After all, Tony Barone said Dahntay was the player most likely to give him an ulcer. Dahntay had his opportunity in December when he started 15 of 16 games, played 30 minutes a night and was given the tough assignments while covering for Miller defensively.

Unfortunately, while playing well it wasn’t enough to keep Rudy Gay on the bench when Barone took over. Dahntay’s minutes dropped from 30 to 20 immediately after Barone took over and eventually bottomed at 12 mpg in March before rising back to 29 mpg in April. With the de-emphasis on defense and the need for more scoring in the up-tempo offense Dahntay was cast aside and may not return despite the excellent play down the stretch.

Damon Stoudamire: Season- 7.5 ppg, 4.8 apg, 2.2 rpg, 0.8 spg, 39.1 FG%, 33.7 3pt%
Career- 14.0 ppg, 6.4 apg, 3.6 rpg, 1.1 spg, 40.8 FG%, 35.8 3pt%

Damon’s play after recovering from patella tendon surgery is nothing short of remarkable. Too bad that alone isn’t what people are judged for in the NBA. While he made significant progress toward regaining the use of his knee he regressed as a ball player and at 34 yrs old at the beginning of the season it may be a situation of too little too late. He simply may not be able to regain the strength robbed by the surgery in time to prevent the loss from age. From the beginning it was known that this would be a 2 yr recovery process but Damon also knew it was a race against time. At the end of the season it looked like time won.

Damon was unable to average 10 ppg in any single month this season. His shooting percentages are some of the worst of his career His assists only approached his career average in February. The up-tempo style only exposed the weakness in Damon’s leg. Without a shot, without an ability to break down defenders and without the height to stop people on the defensive end, Damon was merely a 5’10” aging PG with a bad wheel. Chucky and even Junior Harrington outplayed him down the stretch and we may have seen the end of Damon in Memphis, and possibly the end of Damon in the NBA. If the Grizz bring in a veteran PG via free agency then he is gone. If not then he has a chance for one more year.

Kyle Lowry: Season- 5.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.2 apg, 36.8 FG%, 37.5 3pt%, 1.4 spg
Career- 5.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.2 apg, 36.8 FG%, 37.5 3pt%, 1.4 spg

Quick, which rookie for the Grizzlies this season didn’t start a single game and was the most popular rookie for the year? If you remembered to say Kyle Lowry you would be correct. Rudy Gay started 43 games, Alexander Johnson started 19 games, Tarence Kinsey started 12 games and Kyle Lowry played in a total of 9 games all season but still everyone from Barone down to the fans of the team see Kyle Lowry as being a key component to the Grizzlies returning to respectability. Barone said at media day that Lowry may even be able to start the season at the point. Incredibly optimistic feelings from the fans and coaches for a player will almost no NBA experience.

Of course the broken wrist that robbed him of his rookie year is reportedly mended and the rehab has begun. He should be ready for summer camp and hopefully will get plenty of burn in the summer leagues as well. How well Kyle performs could determine how hard the Grizzlies search for a new PG. It is a dangerous play this way but one that could pay great dividends if Lowry is ready to go.

Lawrence Roberts: Season- 5.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 45.2 FG%, 0.67 spg, 0.24 bpg
Career- 3.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 45.2 FG%, 0.5 spg, 0.1 bpg

LRob is another player in a precarious situation with the Grizzlies. Since the Grizzlies have rights to match any offer, LRob may have to wait until the end of free agency to know where he will be playing next year if in the NBA at all. On the bright side are games like he had in Boston when he set a career high of 18 pts and the Charlotte game when he grabbed 11 rebounds in only 25 minutes and the 14 rebounds in only 26 minutes against Sacramento. On the dark side is the knee surgery to repair the meniscus in his knee following the Boston game and the cyst that developed on his other knee to prematurely end the season.

If Roberts can avoid the injury bug then the Grizzlies would definitely want him back but the risk is so high for a revenue strapped franchise. With Cardinal already guaranteed and sidelined with knee pain can the Grizzlies afford to resign another player with questionable knees no matter how high the potential seems to be. One aspect favoring a return by Roberts is that he was purchased with two 2nd rd draft picks. One of those picks is to be paid this season. That means the 1st pick in the 2nd rd won’t belong to the Grizzlies because of Roberts. That may be enough of a reason to keep him around a year or two more.

Junior Harrington: Season- 5.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.1 apg, 41.6 FG%, 26.9 3pt%, 0.72 spg
Career- 5.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.1 apg, 37.1 FG%, 27.4 3pt%, 0.9 spg

Junior was the last player cut from the team before the season began. He wasn’t the first point guard brought in after the team realized they needed help. He also started 8 games at the point this season. That tells you how weak the PG position has been this year. Actually Junior brought something to the point position that the team hadn’t had since their game in Cleveland. That is the ability to deny the opposing PG’s easy access to the lane. His defense helped the Grizzlies lower their team defensive scoring dramatically.

Brian Cardinal: Season- 4.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 40.9 3pt%, 49.4 FG%, 0.8 spg
Career- 6.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg. 39.7 3pt%, 42.5 FG%, 0.9 spg

Brian came out of camp being called the most impressive player of the camp. That either meant that the camp was really bad or that BC failed to live up to his pre-season play because he wasn’t the most impressive on the court during the season. BC’s knees are shot and it is doubtful that the season ending surgery he underwent is going to change that. If he comes back next season at anything less than 100% then he may become a target of fan dissatisfaction.

Alexander Johnson: Season 4.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.6 bpg, 53.8 FG%, 0.42 apg
Career: 4.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.6 bpg, 53.8 FG%, 0.42 apg

AJ was the shocking starting PF for 19 games in November and December. Then we became the forgotten man for the rest of the season. Most disturbing about this was his apparent lack of understanding on why that was the case. AJ averaged nearly 3 fouls every 13 minutes of court time. That means he couldn’t play half the game because of foul trouble alone. Once AJ learns how to play defense without fouling his future looks very bright in Memphis. He should know that is what he needs to work on this summer.

Eddie Jones: Grizz - 5.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.8 spg, 37.7 FG%, 29.7 3pt%
Season- 7.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.1 spg, 42.2 FG%, 35.1 3pt%
Career- 15.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.3 spg, 43.8 FG%, 37.5 3pt%

Eddie was apparently disappointed to be traded from a world class team like the Heat to Memphis last year. He was not going to play hard this season when it became apparent to him that this team wasn't even going to be competitive and he quit on the team. I can't blame him except he wore the C on his jersey. A team can't have the highest paid player and their captain quit so blatantly like Eddie Jones did.

Scott Padgett: Grizz - 0.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.14 spg, 14.3 FG%
Season- 1.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.16 spg, 28.6 FG%
Career- 4.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 0.70 spg, 41.0 FG%

The only question one has to ask about Scott Padgett is why does he have stats for the Grizzlies at all. Obviously a cost cutting move, one has to wonder why he got on the court 7 times for the Grizzlies.

Jake Tsakalidis: Grizz - 2.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.5 bpg, 40.0 FG%
Season- 2.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.3 bpg, 40.3 FG%
Career- 4.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.7 bpg, 49.0 FG%

Jake heard the Grizzlies were going to be running more this season than in the past, so he decided to lose about 30 pounds from his bulk for the new game. Unfortuantly he didn't get any quicker in the process. Nor could he jump higher, hold his position in the lane as well or set picks as strongly. His move was an obvious statement that the team doesn't see him in their future and the money they saved didn't hurt either.

Will Conroy- Grizz – 3 games, 0.0 ppg, 0.3 apg, 0.7 rpg
Season- 7 games, 0.0 ppg, 1.3 apg, 1.0 rpg
Career- 7 games, 0.0 ppg, 1.3 apg, 1.0 rpg

Will wasn’t here long enough to form an opinion. We hardly knew you and didn’t fall in love with what we saw.

May Day

Some people are confused as to why Michael Heisley has decided to set a May 1st deadline for the sale of the team. First off, let me clarify one thing. When Michael Heisley says the team is off the market that doesn’t mean Heisley won’t try to sell the team again. That doesn’t even mean he won’t try and sell the team in the next year. It just means that going into the draft, free agency and the summer league season that the team won’t be actively marketed for sale.

Still, the Grizzlies need to hire Jerry West’s replacement and if the team is on the market then no self-respecting person should take the GM job knowing that new owners could be brought in any day and since he wouldn’t be their choice for that role they may want to replace him. Likewise no serious coach would want to be hired with the ownership situation in flux for the very same reasons. The Grizzlies and Michael Heisley want to hire people who are capable of doing a good job in these roles. I believe Heisley likes working with professionals that can run the business without his being involved day to day so ownership needs to be settled in the eyes of prospective candidates to allow Heisley to hire the best available people.

So why is May Day the deadline for selling the team?

To no one’s surprise I don’t believe that the deadline has anything to do with a maypole or the rights of summer or even the Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago despite Heisley being a Chicago resident (Google it if you don’t know what this refers to).

I also don’t believe it is so the new GM would be present at the lottery although many people might make that association. That may be a small consideration but there is no reason not to assume that Jerry West or Michael Heisley won’t be in front of the cameras at that ceremony even if we do have a new GM in place. They are still the faces of the franchise and it doesn’t take a lot of brains to sit there with a smile on your face while you hear where you are going to draft in 6 weeks. The decision maker won’t need to be present for the show in New York City.

However May 1st is under a month from the beginning of the Orlando Pre-draft workout camps. The NBA has instituted a new rule that teams are not allowed to hold private workouts with potential draft picks until after the Orlando camp. Previously teams were allowed to begin the private workouts much earlier. With the new deadline it gives teams less time to develop opinions on players independently. That benefits teams in situations like the Grizzlies are presently in. Heisley will have 26 days to hire a replacement and to get him situated in his new surroundings. He would most likely have his first interaction with the fans at the draft lottery program being planned for the Forum on May 22nd while he runs the war room from the corporate offices.

Let’s not forget that Jerry West’s replacement isn’t the only position that needs to be filled this summer. The Grizzlies will also need to hire a new coach. By setting the May 1st deadline this allows Heisley to find the man who will be making the coaching decision as well. Assistant coaches will not be free to negotiate new deals until their team’s season is complete. The playoffs will only be 2 weeks old on May 1st. Most serious candidates will still be involved in their own team’s situations until well past that deadline. So this gives the Grizzlies, and therefore Heisley some time to find Jerry’s replacement prior to the Orlando camps and probably the opportunity to hire a new coach before the camps as well.

Both of these roles needs to be completed as soon as possible and the ideal situation would be to have both positions filled in time for the Orlando Camp. May 1st may be cutting it a little close but that is 2 weeks after the close of the regular season so any serious offer (or not so serious if Brian Davis puts up another bid) for the franchise will have time to be presented as well just in case someone is seriously considering making an offer. By putting the deadline ahead of the lottery Heisley also gets to keep the attraction of the top pick possibility in the offering price. After the lottery (where the Grizzlies have a greater than 50% possibility of getting the 3rd or 4th pick) the reality is what it is. Before the draft the 25% possibility still gets factored into the price.

Heisley isn’t dumb after all, greedy and self-serving possibly, but not dumb.

Sleepers

I'd like to take a look at a few players that might be flying under the radar right now, but will likely become solid players in the NBA by their 3rd year. Some of these guys are well-known college players that the "experts" are simply doubting (the Michael Redd/Gilbert Arenas/Carlos Boozer types) and some of them come from smaller schools, so they haven't received nearly as much coverage throughout their careers (the Anthony Mason/Dennis Rodman/Scottie Pippen types). Let's see what's out there, shall we?

Morris Almond (Rice) -- I detailed him in my draft analysis, but I really think that he could be a much more complete player than many scouts are predicting. His scoring ability is amazing, but with some work, he could be a legit starter with an all-around skillset.

Rodney Stuckey (Eastern Washington) -- Another great scorer, he's projected to be a combo guard in the NBA. He's also a solid defender, which brings to mind a younger, taller Bobby Jackson.

Ron Lewis (Ohio State) -- Lewis has proven that he's willing and able to take the big shot in end-game situations. That's a trait that every team is looking for in a player. He's also a good rebounder for his size and is a good defender on both the perimeter and in the post.

Alando Tucker (Wisconsin) -- Tucker wasn't able to lead his team to much success in the tournament after the loss of center Brian Butch, but that shouldn't have dragged his draft stock down as much as it has. He possesses great athleticism, which he understands how to use to its fullest advantage. He's a shooting guard who plays more like a power forward at times, using his strength to achieve an end result to his liking. He'll need to work on his perimeter shooting, but whichever team that winds up with him will likely be very pleased a few years down the road.

Glen Davis (LSU) -- He probably should have entered the draft last year, but c'est la vie. The absolute antithesis of a prototype power forward, his physique and skillset bring to mind another chunky rebounder who went by the name "Sir Charles". He'll likely never reach that level of accomplishment in his career, but if he can stay focused and mentally prepared, then Davis could be a guy who surprises a lot of teams.

Avis Wyatt (Virginia State) -- I've seen him play only once, but I think he'll figure out a way to find a place in the NBA, even if it means a stop in the D-League at some point. He's a good athlete with great defensive skills. He's too skinny to play in the post full time, but he displayed a solid mid-range game that could prove to be his ticket to sticking around at the next level.

Aaron Brooks (Oregon) -- A great scorer, but also more than a little selfish, Brooks will have to be drafted/signed by the right team or he'll never have a fighting chance in the NBA. With his lightning quick first step and sub-6 ft. height, he is reminiscent of a poor man's Damon Stoudamire. If he finds the right system, he could be a dynamic scoring threat as a sixth man.

You can mention anyone I might have overlooked in the Comments.

When Should the Logo Leave?

West said he had extended his deal and would be staying at least through July 1. He will work the draft and -- as he put it -- "put together a wish list of the players we would like to add." West didn't say if he'd have an active hand in recruiting those players, but it's hard to believe he'd cut all ties with the team now that he's finally put it in position to make some dramatic moves.
-Geoff Calkins, Commercial Appeal Editorial, 2/16/2007

Why?

This commentary from Geoff Caulkins has eaten at me for months now. Calkins wrote it in response to a question from a reader asking if Jerry would be continuing in his present role until July 1st or just with the organization. July 1st is the starting date to recruit free agents and with the Grizz having $6 to $10 million available under the cap (depending on things like re-signing their own free agents, the cap number and their draft location) this would appear to be the absolute worst time for a new GM to take over the reins. Ideally current ‘interim’ coach Tony Barone, Sr. would have returned to his role as Director of Player Personnel, a new coach would have been hired and the lottery selection all would have been done before the free agency period began. Right in the middle of this great upheaval of change the VP of Operations retires? That is not the most ideal timing.

Jerry West came to Memphis in April of 2002 with the goal of making the franchise one of the premier teams in the league. Lofty goals for a franchise that had never won more than 23 games in a season and had been called by one sports publication as the worst franchise in professional sports. Prior to this season he had come close to accomplishing that goal, being one of only 9 teams to reach the playoffs the last 3 years and finishing the 2005-06 season with the 4th best record in the Western Conference. Jerry accomplished this while battling constant obstacles. He had to change coaches in the middle of the season twice. At the end of the 3rd playoff season West had only one full time starter (Pau Gasol) remaining from the original squad that won 50 games and reached the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. With the core of Mike Miller, Shane Battier and Gasol, Memphis appeared to have reached the pinnacle of success the group could attain. Instead of allowing his last season as VP of Basketball Operations to slide quietly into history West orchestrated a draft day deal that sent local fan favorite Shane Battier to Houston in exchange for former Grizzlies player Stromile Swift and the eighth draft pick, Rudy Gay. Later the same night he traded a future second round pick for Alexander Johnson. Combined, those two moves and the drafting of Kyle Lowry, piqued people’s interest in what West was doing in Memphis. The expectations were that this was the first step in a more complete retooling of the roster.

The next major move never happened. The biggest move was re-signing Chucky Atkins to a one year deal. Rumors began to circulate that Michael Heisley had found a buyer for the team and all roster moves had been put on hold. If that actually happened the timing was rotten. The retooling was frozen mid-change. Pau Gasol then broke his foot playing for Spain and the season was basically over before it began. Throw in questionable injuries to Eddie Jones and Stromile Swift with the break in Kyle Lowry’s wrist plus the deterioration of Brian Cardinal’s knee and what was supposed to be a ‘step back to move ahead’ became a free fall.

It is understandable that West would want to atone for this season. However, using the top four lottery pick, picking the new coach and then turning over the keys is not the most beneficial series of events for a team. West would force the new GM to deal with West’s selection of a new coach and draft pick while putting the onus of finding the other missing pieces on the new GM. West must realize that selling a professional basketball player on a small market like Memphis is no easy task. The new GM must hit the ground running around the country talking to players. That means he won’t be in his office getting adjusted and building good will with the city and its fans.That isn’t leaving the team in a position to succeed. That is setting up his successor to fail. Memphis deserves better. West didn’t ask to have his contract extended and it would be difficult to turn his back on this salary once offered. However, West needs to make a decision. Either sign up for four more years and see these decisions through or, if West doesn’t plan on staying at the helm during the rebuilding, step aside after the last game and let a new GM make the big decisions. If West in fact chooses not to remain at the helm for the next few years then he should step aside prior to the draft lottery. If things don’t turn out well for the franchise it won’t look like West stepped down because of the outcome. Also, West doesn’t have to leave the franchise altogether. His contract allows West to stay on as paid consultant to help smooth the transition. West’s role would be to assist the new GM to continue to make this franchise one of the premier franchises in the NBA. West’s time in Memphis helped turn an embarrassment into a success. This last season won’t change that.

Now is the time for West to make the tough decision. Either stay on board past the July 1st date or let a new person take over while the exciting parts of the job are still to be determined. The next GM should be in his position for at least the next 5 years and hopefully longer. It will be far more interesting to a prospective GM that he be allowed to pick his own coach, his own draft pick and determine his own FA signing. That excitement and responsibility is what drives successful minded people to the job. Wait until after that time and the interest will drop dramatically. Currently, Heisley doesn’t care about anything but how much money he can get from the sale of the team. West needs to force Heisley’s hand and retire as soon as the last shot is taken in Minneapolis. Force Heisley to make a move to reinvigorate the team or sell the franchise for less money to the local owners. Don’t let Heisley continue this charade of concern any longer.

Anything less would hurt West’s legacy. He needs to be bigger than Heisley and do what is right for the franchise and the city.

Delving into the Draft

I detailed the players that I believe the Grizzlies should target if they wind up with a pick outside the Top 2 on the message board (quick recap -- Hibbert, Brewer, Horford, Conley). But now I want to take a more detailed look at who is out there in the draft, since many people have claimed that this is the deepest draft since 2003, 1999 or 1998, depending on perspective. These same people have also been clamoring for the Grizzlies to find a way to acquire a few more picks in the draft, often through whatever means necessary, no matter how short-sighted they might be. So let's find out who could be the next difference maker or role player. These are not in the order I see them being drafted necessarily either and I'm only going to discuss players I have seen in game action, so no Yi Jianlian, Nicolas Batum or Marco Belinelli here. Go check out one of the dozens of reputable draft sites for info on them.

Greg Oden (Ohio State) -- If you read my earlier post, then you already know what I think about him. The "next Bill Russell" is already a great shot-blocker and a solid rebounder who has shown that he can score in a variety of ways as well. He's #1 on the board with a bullet. The one thing he will definitely have to work on is his conditioning, which was absolutely abysmal during the NCAA tournament. Some time in the weight room, a personal trainer, a nutritionist and a personal chef wouldn't hurt either. You can afford those things in the NBA though.

Kevin Durant (Texas) -- While everyone wants to compare him to Kevin Garnett (something I don't understand now), in reality he is a more athletic version of Dirk Nowitzki.....with better range. Capable of leading his team in scoring, rebounding and dropped jaws, he will need to hit the weight room in order to survive in the NBA. His defense also needs a lot of honing, both one-on-one and help defensive tactics. There is some concern about how much he will need the ball to be effective, as well.

Corey Brewer (Florida) -- The prototype for an all-around swingman. He can shoot from anywhere on the floor, find open teammates and play suffocating defense. Perhaps the most NBA ready player in the draft, he is receiving favorable comparisons from nearly all the experts, with my favorite being referred to as a "young Eddie Jones". He's a good rebounder who is reputed to have an outstanding work ethic, which should make him very attractive for a lot of teams. His ballhandling is somewhat suspect (reminiscent of Rudy Gay in this respect) and he will need to learn how to create his own shot more effectively.

Brandan Wright (North Carolina) -- The first word from everyone's lips when discussing him is "potential". He could be the next Chris Bosh, LaMarcus Aldridge or Channing Frye. Or he could be a guy who never quite lives up to that "potential". That's why the draft is an inexact science. With his great athleticism, massive wingspan, ever-growing offensive arsenal and seemingly natural ability to do anything on the court, he is a tantalizing prospect who will almost certainly go in the Top 5 of the draft. Like many of the prospects, he is going to have to spend a lot of time in the weight room so that he doesn't get broken in half by midseason.

Julian Wright (Kansas) -- Surprised many by declaring for the draft, but I don't think another year in college (particularly under Bill Self) would help him develop into a better NBA player, so what does he have to lose? Another great athlete, Wright is an adept ballhandler, which has been somewhat detrimental to the development of his jumpshot, which is merely adequate at this point. He's a very unselfish player (perhaps to a fault) who rarely forces things. He has developed a nice post game, which will help him as he continues to increase his range on his jumper.

Al Horford (Florida) -- I've seen the comparison to Carlos Boozer repeated often and I think it fits with one caveat.....Boozer doesn't have the nasty streak that Horford does. His attitude reminds me of Charles Oakley or Anthony Mason -- a true regulator of the paint. An impressive rebounder with good athleticism and one of the few prospects who won't need as much time in the weight room to adjust, Horford is also an above-average defender and shot blocker. He needs to work on his mid-range game and improve his free-throw shooting, but will definitely be a solid PF for whatever team drafts him.

Roy Hibbert (Georgetown) -- A solid scorer and decent rebounder, Hibbert isn't much of an athlete. He reminds me a lot of Eddy Curry, but with a better work ethic (or maybe just Curry if he'd gone to college?). He has the one thing that you cannot teach or develop in the NBA: SIZE. At 7'2", 280 lbs., he is a beast to deal with for anyone in the league. He has great touch around the basket and is a very good free throw shooter, so any team looking for a center would be wise to give him a second (or third....or tenth) look. His conditioning will have to improve for him to excel at the next level.

Mike Conley, Jr. (Ohio State) -- He displayed his amazing level of skill and talent throughout the season and the tournament, impressing nearly all of the experts along the way. He has great athletic ability, as well as the poise that you demand from your point guard during crunch time situations. With a variety of ways to score, Conley is the threat that opposing coaches fear, since he isn't guaranteed to pass first, second and always with the game on the line. He will need to increase the range on his perimeter shooting to become an even more dangerous player.

Joakim Noah (Florida) -- The very definition of a high motor, hustle player, I think of Noah as a 7-foot version of Brian Cardinal. Ok, ok, Shane Battier. Needless to say, I'm not a huge fan of what he brings to the table in terms of all-around basketball ability. I mean, let's face it, would you spend a high lottery pick on a guy who looks like this:

I didn't think so. I appreciate the fact that he has great leadership skills and a high basketball IQ, as well as a good understanding of defensive principles. But he can't shoot and has a very limited post game, which presents problems for him in the NBA. Much like the case was with Mark Madsen (very good college player, very average NBA player), I see him as a valuable role player, a "glue guy" moreso than a guy you can run plays for with any consistency.

Jeff Green (Georgetown) -- Went from "Who???" to "that guy who just takes over games" to "The Magician (aka "The Disappearing Act") over the course of the season and tournaments. Green is a guy who isn't particularly great at any one thing, but is above average at practically everything. The consumate jack-of-all-trades, master of none, if you will. He does possess remarkable vision for a SF. The biggest areas he'll need to work on in the NBA are his perimeter shooting and his defense, which is only passable at this point due to poor fundamentals.

Derrick Byars (Vanderbilt) -- I'll admit that I only saw him play a handful of games this year (Vandy not being high on my basketball radar, after all), but what I saw from him did convince me that he'll be a solid pro. He's a good defender with no glaring weaknesses in his skillset. He has the versatility to play either wing position, plus he even ran the point some this season, which is always helpful. He's not active enough without the ball in his hands, but that is something that he can learn at the next level.

Thaddeus Young (Georgia Tech) -- Phenomenal athlete with unreal potential. He does have a few gaping holes in his game, though. His perimeter shooting needs a lot of work, as he only seems confident when he has his feet set under him. He's not that comfortable coming off screens or pulling up off the dribble. His ballhandling is very suspect as well, which is a problem if he intends to stay at SF at the next level. I see the same problems with Young that I witnessed with Shawne WIlliams at Memphis last season -- he does 2 or 3 things really well, but seems intent on proving that he can do 7 or 8 things really well. He doesn't go to his strengths nearly often enough, which has exposed his glaring weaknesses in his first collegiate season. He would be better served returning for another season at Tech, in my estimation.

Al Thornton (Florida State) -- To me, perhaps the biggest question mark in the draft. He's older than most (he'll be 24 in December), but is also far more athletic than most, too. He's been tagged with the dreaded "tweener" label, but I think his great mid-range game and unreal physical ability will be enough to allow him to squeeze into the top part of the draft. He needs to expand the range on his jumper and hone his ballhandling skills, as well as spend some time getting acquainted with the concept of "passing" -- one of the few weaknesses he has, but is it ever an obvious one. I see him becoming a poor man's Shawn Marion, who is also the best tweener forward in the NBA, so that's not a comparison to take lightly.

Acie Law IV (Texas A&M) -- A PG with good size (6'3") and a reputation for being clutch, Law has developed light years from what he was in his freshman season with the Aggies. He has the ability to play at any tempo and remains in control throughout the game. A solid playmaker, Law has also shown that he can be creative in shaking himself free for a shot, too. His defense will need a lot of work at the next level, but his mastery of the offensive side of the ball more than compensates for that. The Sam Cassell comparisons are very accurate, IMO.

Spencer Hawes (Washington) -- He has a great array of post moves in his arsenal and the ability to finish with either hand, which has left more than one defender with a sheepish look on his face. Hawes is also a skilled passer, drawing comparisons to Brad Miller and Vlade Divac. He can also step out and hit mid-range jumpers, even with defensive pressure. Something that has concerned many scouts is his low rebounding numbers, but according to a person who watches a lot of Pac-10 games, this is mostly due to the fact that one of Hawes' teammates is a rebounding machine. Judging by the numbers on their team page, I can only assume that player is sophmore Jon Brockman. Hawes is not a great athlete and is somewhat thin for a 7 footer (although not Shawn Bradley "stick man" thin), but he has managed to hold his own against several heralded big men so far. In any other year, he'd probably be the #1 center prospect in the draft.

Hasheem Thabeet (Conneticut) -- We go from "polished product" in Spencer Hawes to "raw block of wood" in Thabeet. If anyone wastes a first round pick on him, then they deserve what they get. I understand that he's doing it for financial reasons more than anything (his family is still overseas in Tanzania), but that should affect any GM's evaluation of him. He's a great shotblocker......and that's it. He can't score and doesn't rebound well. Much like other "projects" before him (Mutombo and Okafor come to mind), he needs 4 years of school to develop into an actual basketball player. Even one more season in college would help him tremendously.

Aaron Gray (Pittsburgh) -- BUST! Next! Ok, ok, I'll talk about him, even though he doesn't deserve the time or effort. Gray has a variety of post moves at his disposal, but shies away from physicality so much that he neglects to take advantage of them. He has also displayed a level of inconsistency that isn't going to be viewed favorably by many scouts. His games against players that he'd face in the NBA typically produced very poor results for him. He was completely shut down in matchups against Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes this year. I honestly believe that he lacks the heart and the toughness to last in the NBA.

Arron Affalo (UCLA) -- A very good all-around shooter, Affalo has also shown the ability to finish in traffic due to his body control and strength. He's also an underrated rebounder at 6'5" and a decent defender. His lack of great athleticism prevents him from being a great player at the next level, but he should be a solid player in the NBA for the next 10 years based on his solid fundamentals and understanding of the game.

Josh McRoberts (Duke) -- A poor man's Christian Laettner. Any questions?

Morris Almond (Rice) -- His picture should be next to the definition of "scorer" in the collegiate edition of the dictionary. He'll probably make his living in the NBA as a dynamite 6th man/occasional starter, as he is a bigger version of what Ben Gordon was coming out of UConn a few years ago. A lightning quick release from anywhere on the floor and the ability to create his own shot despite average athletic ability has given NBA scouts reason to pause and take notice. He should spend some time on his defensive fundamentals, which to this point have only received token interest, as well as his overall ballhandling skills. Teams in need of instant offense should definitely consider him.

Nick Young (USC) -- Only saw him three times outside of the tournament (twice against Arizona, once against Washington), but he reminded me a lot of both Antawn Jamison and Josh Howard in the way that he scored from unconventional angles and approaches. He is sneaky athletic, almost lulling defenders to sleep with his consistency from mid-range before surprising them with a quick move to the basket for an uncontested layup or dunk. I've seen him play great defense....and I've seen him play below-average defense, so he needs to work on consistency in that area. Another guy who should be a solid pro for the next decade.

I'll be working on a list of Sleepers next, so look for it sometime next week.

Who's to Blame

There have been a lot of articles and commentary recently about the state of the ownership of the Grizzlies. Why can’t a team with a decent core of young players in a brand new state of the art building and no competition from major sports franchises find a buyer? Granted the asking price of $365 million is not only high but a more than 16% above the Forbes valuation of the Franchise this season. Sure the team’s best player has been grumbling about getting traded and the fans have been lukewarm at best about the team but it is still one of only 30 such franchises a person can own. It is not like there are plenty of other options for the multi-millionaire to billionaire jet set to crow about owning.

So why was team sold relatively quickly in Seattle but the process continues to drag on in Memphis? After fighting their local and state government for two years to build a new stadium the owners decide new leadership was needed. The deal was closed with the Oklahoma City investment group relatively quickly afterwards.

What’s the hold up?

It has been speculated that the major hold up has been the local owners with the right to match any offer. Pitt and Staley have long wanted the team for themselves and have made it known publicly. Their right to match any offer for up to 60 days would slow down any attempt to sweep in by a new owner(s) but is that the real reason for the difficulty in selling the team?

I don’t believe so. First, the only way local owners like Pitt Hyde and Staley Cates would be seen as a hindrance would be if the owners secretly wanted to relocate the franchise. Under the current contract any attempt to move the team for the foreseeable future would be prohibitively expensive. Numbers nearing $1 billion in fines and penalties above and beyond the sale price would effectively kill any owners attempt to relocate at this time so it isn’t likely that someone would even enter into negotiations knowing about the leases (and no one is likely to offer $365 million for anything without knowing all of the particulars).

So the right to match by the local owners shouldn’t be a hold up for a serious candidate for ownership on the grounds that they would block the sale to prevent relocation. What about the idea that the local owners right to match artificially inflates the offering price? Surely the bid would have to be high enough to keep Pitt and Staley on the sidelines and their pockets are pretty deep. Does this right actually force a higher value on the team than is justified?

Again I don’t believe so. First, the Brian Davis offer was the asking price of current owner Michael Heisley. The offering price has not come down despite the collapse of Davis’ bid. The local owners want to pay less than $365 million for the team. Significantly less according to some accounts (no more than $300 million is one number I have heard but I believe it could be higher personally). That means there would be no need to offer an amount greater than the asking price to acquire the team. The local owners simply won’t match at that high an amount. They may take all 60 days to decide this but they aren’t going to pay that much for the franchise.

This brings us to the asking price as the main sticking point. Seattle’s owners sold their franchise to an investor group from Oklahoma City for $350 million and that included the Seattle Storm WNBA franchise. Seattle is a wealthier city than Memphis and larger as well so their populace is better positioned to support the new franchise than Memphis’ is. There is more competition in the form of the Seahawks football team and the Mariner baseball team and the stadium will need to be replaced at some point (or the team moved to Oklahoma City), but do those issues account for a $15 million lower price tag for an established team with a successful history?

Actually I don’t believe the price is grossly out of range. Personally I feel the Sonics have greater goodwill and should have been sold at a premium to the Grizzlies but that is just my opinion. So, what is the hold up in selling our franchise? Why has it taken us years to get a deal done and it only took Seattle a few months?

Perhaps it is the process of negotiations that make it so difficult. Michael Heisley can be very gregarious and charming. He is a successful businessman but he is successful because he knows what things are worth and buys and sells them at levels where both sides feel well served in the deal. He hasn’t gotten to where he is today by being unreasonable in contract situations. He has gotten to where he is today however by hiring a shrewd negotiator to handle negotiations. Stan Meadow was almost a deal breaker when the team was discussing moving to the Bluff City. The local owners wouldn’t sit in the same room with Meadows when discussing the deal. Michael Heisley has said publicly that he won’t conduct negotiations in public but that sounds more like Stan Meadows talking than Heisley. Is it any wonder that with such an unlikable person spear-heading your negotiations that people don’t want to buy the team?

For those that think I am being too harsh against Meadows and Heisley think of this. You can find many people that know or have done deals with Pitt Hyde and Staley Cates and no one speaks badly of them. There are many examples of people who have had issues dealing with Heisley and Meadows. The unfortunate off-shoot of this situation is that the community is being held ransom while Meadows attempts to squeeze every last penny out of any prospective buyer. The owners have a poisonous relationship, the front office is in flux, the coach is trying to get off the bench and the players seem to want to either get to the bench or on a trip out of town. How much longer can this franchise exist in this manner without a full-fledged meltdown and mass exodus?

The traditional avenue for differences such is this is to lock the parties involved into a room and force them to come to conclusion before you let them out. In this instance perhaps it would be better if the local owners and Stan Meadows were forced not to be in a room together or be able to communicate directly in any way. Let a messenger bring the offers and counter-offers but in no way should the two parties be allowed to speak directly to each other (or to the media for that matter). Or perhaps a mediator could be hired to work out an equitable solution which is binding on both sides.

One thing seems certain however. As long as Meadows and Heisley are involved directly, nothing is getting done anytime soon and with the team looking at hiring a new GM, Head Coach and staff in the very near future, having the ownership settled would seem to be a prima facie requirement to hiring the best people available. After all, would you take a job as a GM if you knew the team could be sold the next week and the new owners would want their own people in that job?

Pick a Coach, Any Coach

Lately, there has been a lot of discussion about who the Memphis Grizzlies are going to hire as their new coach for next season. The name on everyone’s lips first is that of Phoenix Suns assistant Marc Iavaroni. Over the weekend, Dick Vitale mentioned that Florida Gators coach Billy Donovan might receive some interest from the Grizz front office, as well. A few other names have been bandied about, too, so let’s explore the options out there.

I'm not in favor of bringing in a coach from the college ranks who has virtually no NBA experience as a player or an assistant, since the differences between coaching the two are miles apart in reality. That's why guys like Marc Iavaroni and Mario Elie are among those at the top of my potential candidates list, while Billy Donovan is on the outside looking in.

I know there has been a lot of talk about not wanting to hire a "retread", but some of these coaches could be good for a rebuilding team (and don't fool yourself into thinking that this team is anything other than that). Names like Rick Adelman, Alvin Gentry, Del Harris, P.J. Carlesimo, Paul Silas, Rudy Tomjanovich and Stan Van Gundy have been mentioned and were hastily dimissed by many fans who screamed for "new blood" at the position. This team is going to have to re-learn how to win after this season -- just like they had to initially learn how to win under Hubie Brown. Will a coach with limited head coaching experience be able to do that? Is it that we don't want to give these coaches another chance based on how the relationships ended with "dragged from the mothballs retreads" Hubie Brown and Mike Fratello?

I think we have to recognize that some coaches are put into situations where it is impossible for them to succeed, so we can't hold that against them in terms of their coaching record. By the same token, you cannot dismiss the mistakes made by those coaches who didn't do enough with the talent placed in their hands *coughDocRiverscough* on more than one occasion. It can be a fine line determining which party a coaching candidate falls into, sometimes.

A name that is starting to receive more consideration locally is that of former assistant Eric Musselman. Rumors abound that he is going to be let go in Sacto, putting him on the open market once again. Rumors from earlier this season mentioned that Jerry West wanted to fire Fratello in the offseason and promote Musselman to the top spot, but was denied the ability to perform this action by the team owners. I believe that Muss was unjustly let go from Golden State, where he achieved more than I thought was possible, given the team he had to work with, and I think that if he is fired from Sacramento it will be undeserved as well. If he were to become available, I'd put him in my top 3 with Iavaroni and Elie. I have a hard time determining why exactly they would want to get rid of him after just one season, though, given the injuries and distractions he has had to deal with. Think about how far Sam Mitchell (a guaranteed lock for the chopping block at the beginning of the season) has come in the space of just one year. Sometimes coaches just need to be given a little more time and patience to see what they can produce. And sometimes they need to be let go before an entire organization is left in ruins.

Right now, my candidate rankings look like this:

1. Marc Iavaroni
2. Eric Musselman
3. Mario Elie
4. Rick Adelman
5. Stan Van Gundy

Feel free to chime in with your own choices or thoughts on mine in the comments.

An Ode to Oden

You might think it is strange that I start off with a post about a player still in college, but bear with me. Having seen Greg Oden in person -- if he's a day younger than 30, I'd be amazed -- I can now unequivocally say that he is without a single doubt the player that the Memphis Grizzlies should select, if they are fortunate enough to get the #1 pick in the draft. Let me tell you why.

Oden is an otherworldly force of nature in the paint. He only played 18 minutes against Tennessee and still managed to wreak havoc on their post players every single second he was in the game. His two huge weakside blocks happened because of his recognition of what was happening on the floor and then he took the perfect angle to erase the shot from existence. On one, his teammate got a blocking foul called on him -- and a deep bruise courtesy of Oden landing on him, no doubt -- but the other block finalized a stirring comeback that resulted in a Buckeyes victory. That is the game-changing element that the Grizzlies have been lacking since they moved to Memphis.

I read a quote from the Sports Guy today where he referenced that end-of-game block, where it seemed that Oden kept rising up until it seemed that he was 12 feet off the floor. He also mentioned that many people have whispered about the fact that Oden hasn't been going 110% "all out" every game due to worries about his recently injured, still healing wrist. On both of those blocks, you saw the "real Greg Oden", not the guy who has been content to play each game with little to no concern about his touches or minutes, deferring to teammates at all times. In those two instances, you saw a guy who nearly killed two of his own teammates when he landed, making sure that the opponents' shots didn't have a chance at ever seeing nylon.

I know many of you are absolutely enthralled with the freakish dynamic that Kevin Durant brings to the table, and believe me, I think that he is something special, too. He truly is a hybrid of Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett, Julius Erving and many other NBA greats. He makes everything look so effortless that you're not even sure that he's trying hard. But when I look at NBA championship teams, I don't see the names of guys like that leading their teams. I see names like Russell, Chamberlain, Mikan, Parrish, Abdul-Jabbar, O'Neal, Duncan, Olaujuwon, Walton, Malone. The swingmen I see in leadership roles are hard-nosed competition junkies who would sooner slap their mothers than concede a single point in a playoff game. Guys like Jordan, Bryant, Pippen, Wade, Bird, Thomas. There are guys who were important to their team who made things look easy -- James Worthy, Clyde Drexler, Robert Horry, to name a few -- but they weren't the "leaders" of their teams that won titles. In fact, the only guy who did manage to make everything look easy while winning everything in sight was Dr. J, who was notorious for his mean streak on the court. His battles with Larry Bird in the early 80's were legendary for their intensity.

So, in saying all that, count me in with those who continue to believe that championship teams are built from the middle outwards. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen (future Hall of Famers and NBA Top 50 members) are the only ones to reach the pinnacle of the sport without the presence of a great center. And it took both of them to achieve that, which is what other players are starting to figure out -- like Kobe in L.A. for instance. Great big men make the game easier for everyone else on the team. They block shots and intimidate guards in shooting pull-up jumpers. They rebound, allowing for more fastbreak opportunities, which translates to easy points. They make an entire team's defense better just with their presence. Does anyone truly believe that Jason Williams suddenly became a markedly better defender upon his arrival in Miami? Or does having Shaq and Zo behind him make guards a little wary of going into the paint once they get around him?

Will I be unhappy if we have to "settle" for Kevin Durant? Not at all. Because that means that things were out of our control due to the "luck of the draft". But if we get the top pick, I don't see that there is any way we can pass up the prospect that is the answer to 85% of our problems with this team -- especially since fans have clamored for a "big man" since the moment the moving trucks arrived in Memphis. Or did everyone forget that?

Purpose

With more time on their hands than any normal person should ever experience, a few posters from the Memphis Grizzlies Messageboards decided to share their knowledge and opinions with the masses -- although I suspect there will be more of the latter than the former. So, I welcome chipc3 and Zack, as they will join me in bringing fans a wide variety of news, analysis, opinion, satire and a general enjoyment of the Grizzlies, the NBA....and a few other things.

Be sure and let us know if there are any subjects that you would like for us to cover, too.