Grizzlies Draft Review
Posted 6/27 at 7:53 AM
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Chris’s postsI’m trying to understand exactly what happened last night. I went to bed around 11 p.m. after watching the entire NBA Draft for the first time in my life. I go to bed with the understanding that we have Kevin Love and Donte Greene. I get a text from my Dad at midnight informing me that Love and Mike Miller were traded for O.J. Mayo. I’m half asleep and too tired to look into it. Sadly, I toss and turn the rest of the night debating whether to get out of bed and go check on the trade and updates. I finally wake up on my own a little before 7 a.m. and decide to start my day. Here’s my breakdown of how the Grizzlies did.
I didn’t like the Donte Green pick at #28, but trading him and a future 2nd round pick for Darrell Arthur was a good thing. My only real knowledge of Arthur was watching him torch my beloved Tigers in the NCAA Championship game. He did enough damage for me to come away impressed, and satisfied we could get him for so cheap.
I’m still trying to break down the contacts involving the 8 players that were traded. From what I understand, Antoine Walker will be a huge expiring contract this year (just like Kwame Brown last year). Marko Jaric, who can play the either guard position, or even a little small forward, is signed through the 2010/11 season. I’m confused about Greg Buckner and how long he’s signed through. The information from ESPN.com and Hoopshype.com don’t match up.
Obviously, the key components of the trade were that the Grizzlies gave up Mike Miller and Kevin Love, and in return got O.J. Mayo. Jason Collins and Brian Cardinal were also sent to the T’Wolves. Mayo was considered the 3rd best prospect in the draft. I can’t recall a time the Grizzlies ever came out of the draft with the consensus 3rd best player. Rudy Gay is one of the two best players from his draft class at this point, but on draft night he wasn’t considered as such.
I’m excited to see if Mayo is the real deal. He was the player I originally wanted to drop to the Grizz at #5. I’ll be sad to see Mike Miller and Brian Cardinal go. It seems as though those two players were talked about in trade rumors for years, with nothing ever coming about. I don’t think I’ll know what to do now that Mike Miller trade rumors and the BC sign at Grizzlies home games won’t be a staple of my life. I suppose the BC sign guy can make some sort of Mayo sign instead.
I’ll get to the Miller departure later, as that deserves a blog of its own. However, for now, I see the Grizzlies roster playing out like this.
PG – Conley/Lowry/Crittendon
SG – Mayo/Jaric/Crittendon/Buckner
SF – Gay/Jaric
PF – Warrick/Arthur
C – Milicic/Gasol (assuming we sign him).
I think that a trade or two could still be in the works. While Jaric CAN play backup to Gay at the small forward position, I don’t think it’s ideal. He’s better suited to play shooting guard. The Grizzlies should still have some money to spend on a free agent. I think they’ll target a SF type player with some outside shooting. However, it appears as though the core of the team is set. Gay, Conley and Mayo, three top 10 picks, are the future of the franchise. Gay’s improvement over the last two years has led many to believe he can be a perennial All-Star. Mayo has the talent to be both an All-Star and superior perimeter defender, which this team needs. Conley is the biggest X factor. I see him developing into a steady point guard that you can trust to make the right plays on a consistent basis. If he reaches his full potential, there’s no reason to think he can’t turn into a similar player to Tony Parker.
The draft has come and gone. The Grizzlies got the 3rd best player. The last of the playoff veterans are gone. It’s definitely a new game.
Posted 6/27 at 7:53 AM
I’m sick to my stomach! Getting rid of Mike Miller was a bonehead move. Management has gone too far. I’m so hurt..he was named captain late last year and they deal him at the draft? Put me at the helm and I can guarantee the playoffs, but first move would be getting Miller back. I’m so hurt, I’m still debating on weather to find a new fav team.
Trading a guy like Mike Miller is the hardest part of following a professional team. I loved Mike, just like Shane before him, but have come to accept the reality that trades like this have to occur, especially when a team in involved in a youth movement. Hopefully the excitement of having O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay will be able to keep you onboard.
I watched the draft and was surprised to see the moves that were made after the 60th pick. I hope Memphis doesn’t hold the championship game against Arthur...I would have traded for him too. This is suppose to get better...and that’s what the team is doing. Looking forward to next season!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m very excited about getting Arthur on board. What this team needs more than anything is to end the 100pts allowed per game average of last year. We know we can score points, however our defense has had a very hard time. It is sad to see Mike go, no doubt. I wonder who will take the helm with PR?
*crying* wtf is Mchale thinking....they just lost another t-wolves fan....looking for a new team now....memphis seems to be “IT” love R.Gay, and now Mayo.....
Good job by the front office. In order to get something you have to give up something. Mike Miller was a good player, but he didn’t show up a lot of times when we needed him to. He also was a defense liability.
where’s the beef, i thought arthur looked good but dorsey had him dogged the whole game until derrick failed to follow coach and protocol. darko no beef..marc gasol no beef, keep kwame or andre for some beef..it’s a perimeter team, no beef
hoping our coaches and management will discover a brain. but then they do something completely wise like trading mike miller!!! congratulations to mike miller for getting to leave this team it has been going downhill for awhile, and the owners don’t seem to want to try to go uphill. sometimes im embarassed they are memphis’ nba team.
I like what the Grizzlies have done. Miller was good, but not getting any younger. And his defense was underwhelming. But now with a lineup like Conley, Mayo, Gay, Arthur, Gasol we may be on to something. A few more trades need to happen though, get rid of either Brown or go big and send Lowery and Mayo to Miami for Beasley.
Day of Mourning.Watched the Draft last night & thrilled our fav players were still GRIZZLIES!Then we awoke this AM-terrible news Miller, Cardinal & Collins had all been traded.First thought it was a bad dream! Our oldest daughter is a huge MM 33 fan is sad!It bothered us when Shane left but this really hurt.The new Timberwolves already have fans!
Trading Kevin Love and Mike Miller for O.J. Mayo was the wrong thing to do. Kevin Love would have been a perfect fit because of his outlet passing and inside scoring. The upside was trading for Darrell Arthur. I think the Grizzlies will improve by maybe five games, but unless we make some key signings, we could be in for another rebuilding season.
I will not support the grizz anymore! Why not trade wallace for a second round pick? The t-wolves will make the playoffs before the grizz will. Thats it for me.
Give me a break, stop complaining and being such fair weather fans, yall are rediculous...we get two great players from the draft and people are complaining? A Conley, Gay, Mayo trio will be fantastic, and we’ll get a big man from free agency, calm down. Creating a NBA championship team doesnt happen over night
I am a Mike Miller fan and I will root 4 him in minnesota. Having said that to get Mayo I would make that trade a million times. Miller played no D, he’s gettin older, and I dont think he is the one you should make your cornerstone player. Its a new era ya’ll get ready.
Most of you don’t know him, but Marc Gasol is not a Pau-like player. He’s pretty much as big as Pau, not as much genious, but very clever & strong, much more NBA player. You’ll be susprised how much he improved last two seasons.
I’m looking forward to watch Grizzlies games next season, we’re going to enjoy!!!
i think the Mike Miller trade was a great trade. don’t get me wrong, i have loved seeing Mike drain those threes but as derek taylor said when you want something good ,you have to give something good up. that makes me think that are offense should be flowing without Miller because he was showing up at the wrong time.
would’ve been funny to see a Gay Love combination though.. xD
Marc will be a powerhouse for the Grizzlies for years to come, and when they sign some free agents, it’ll make some of these trades look like good moves
i think the gay , love combination would be too much. love is not as aletic as gay and would’nt be able to get those fast break points with gay