Spitballing: Grizzly
The Question: Can Mike Conley Jr., OJ Mayo, and Rudy Gay be the backcourt of a winning team?
The Answer: Not without a great big man. And even then...
The Solution: This draft is turning into a nightmare for the Grizzlies. Ricky Rubio doesn't want to play in Memphis and I don't think many people in Memphis, outside of the Grizz front office, are that fired up about Hasheem Thabeet. There are countless roster options available to the Grizzlies because of their cap space, expiring contracts, and #2 pick but who knows how much owner Michael Heisley is willing to pay?
Would the man who dumped Pau Gasol really be willing to pay a max deal to Carlos Boozer or take on Elton Brand's contract from the Sixers? I considered a deal of #2, Rudy Gay, and Darko for #5, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison but I couldn't imagine being able to sell Heisley on spending 30 million for the core of the second worst team in the NBA. (They weren't even the best at being terrible.). The ideal Memphis free agent (quality player who won't break the bank) would be Paul Millsap but I'd assume that the Jazz would match any reasonable offer (just as the Hawks matched the Grizz's offer for Josh Smith last season). The latest rumblings out of Los Angeles made me think that a deal for Bynum could work. Yes, he makes a lot of money but if you're going to waste the pick on Thabeet, why not get a guy who can defend AND score?
Right now, I'd probably pull the trigger on the Bynum deal, shipping the #2 pick for Bynum. The Lakers can get Rubio or Thabeet while also dump some salary so they can re-sign Ariza and maybe add a free agent. I'd also look to see if the Hawks were interested in a Gasol/Darko-for-Josh Smith type swap. Gasol helps move Al Horford to the PF spot and Darko being an expiring deal gives them a better shot at re-signing Marvin Williams, Mike Bibby, and perhaps even bringing back Josh Childress.
That'd give you: Conley, OJ, Rudy, Josh Smith, and Bynum. There's definitely a lot of risk involved in that lineup but if it works out, the Grizz will finally be headed in the right direction. Also, I just don't have that much faith in Rubio or Thabeet and have even less hope that a legit free agent is going to choose to come to Memphis.
Even with all of the issues surrounding the Grizzlies, this is an offseason in which they should be able to make some noise. If they come out of it with just Thabeet and some second-rate signings, it would be yet another indictment against Chris Wallace as a GM. Yes, Michael Heisley isn't helping matters but Wallace has too many assets at his disposal to not be able to work something out.
