Grizzlies sign F Miles to second 10-day contract

I'm not saying that makes it a good trade, although it is for Memphis, because they were going nowhere with Pau Gasol. A mutually good trade for both teams. But the point is that just based on the visual stat check, that should warrant the trade not being so lopsided that the NBA should have denied it. And even that is ignoring that there should be further development from Gasol and Arthur, and the Grizzlies should get something nice as a result of the cap relief.

Say they sign Ben Gordon (they won't because of his position in reality) this summer in free agency as a result of their cap relief.

Ben Gordon + Marc Gasol + Darrell Arthur + 2010 Draft Pick. Is that really a lopsided trade? They were 22-60 two years ago, and were 13-33 when they made the trade.

Grizzlies needed a trade that could help improve their franchise. Getting a good young prospect back, and then cap relief, where they can get an established player to add to their young core is a good way to do that. Much better than taking on Chicago's young prospects, an overpaid Andres Nocioni, while receiving zero cap flexibility form the trade.

 

That trade had nothing to do with improving and everything to do with saving a buck. Making other arguments is almost incomprehensible.

This quote from the Grizz owner tell you all you need to know about his basketball acumen and how tightly the organization is run:

“I don’t know if I got the most value,” Heisley confessed. “Maybe our people should’ve shopped (Gasol) more and maybe we would’ve gotten more, done a better deal. Maybe Chris did call every team in the league. I don’t think he did, but maybe he should’ve…” - Michael Heisley

 

Yea, but Gasol wasn't holding the development of other players back. The fans were booing because the team was losing and Pau was the team leader. Addition by subtraction is what I'd call trading Iverson or similar "black hole" players.

 

who did they pick up?

 

They have been saving the cap space so they can offer Miles a huge contarct this summer.

 

Yeah, the Memphis trade was not fair. Their own owner questioned whether Chris Wallace got enough for Gasol, and believed he could have if he waited it out a little more.
The Grizzlies are not attracting any big-time FAs like Wade, LeBron, Bosh or whoever their dream is. Cap space = overrated, especially for really bad teams.
The only FAs they attract are washed-up guys looking to make a comeback like Darius Miles. Mayo and Gay are going to bolt the first time they get the chance to. Fans are tuning out of their place as they're second to last in the league in attendance.

 

They're paying it, but it's not on their cap.

Again, no one is trying to deny Miles the money he's entitled through on his contract. No one is trying to keep him from earning a living. We're trying to keep the money that was off our cap from wrongly being put back on.

I'll give you one other scenario. What if--because he didn't retire--we demanded that he play 35 minutes a night and participate in every practice because his contract says he has to earn his money? What if Miles' knees agressively deteriorated because of it? What if he required two knee replacements before he turned 30? Regardless of the fact we didn't want him, the Blazers, the NBA and the NBAPA were acting in Darius' best interest. The fact he doesn't wish to avoid knee replacement surgery is neither in the Blazers' control nor is it their fault, yet their the ones paying the price for Miles' irresponsibility.

 

Darius Miles.

 

let's stop this talk about the gasol trade not being fair. it absolutely was fair. memphis got a couple of prospects, a pick, and expiring contracts. that is exactly what memphis wanted to get. what better deal was there for them?

 

Ask Heisley. He apparently has the same question.

 

Who is to know when the Grizz made the trade weeks before the trade deadline? The best deals usually only present themselves at the very last moment.

After the trade went down, there were lots of quotes from unnamed NBA execs saying if they had known they could have got Gasol for so "cheap" they would have made an offer, but that previously Wallace had been demanding too much (much more than what he ended up accepting) and was rebuffed.

Wallace to GMs - "I demand a prime All-Star in return".

GM's - No

Wallace to GMs - "I demand full cap relief and your best young player in return."

GM's - No

Wallace to Lakers - "Give me partial cap relief and a couple of low picks and a young player getting little time on your roster"

Lakers - "Ok"

Who questioned this deal? Almost everyone. Popovich. The owner of the Grizz. Every NBA writer on the planet.

 

what a bunch of whiners here. Any deal that two teams agree to is a fair deal. Was the Shaq to Miami trade fair? Was LMA for Tyrus Thomas fair? Was KG to Boston fair? It doesnt matter what Popovich thinks or any other unnamed GM who "would have" made a better offer think. It has nothing to do with them

Face it, if the it was different team than the Lakers, you wouldnt even be talking about this still.

 

if he was demanding too much and other teams didn't bother to make offers, they have no one to blame but themselves.

the grizzlies got marc gasol, crittendon, two late firsts, and a 9 mil expiring contract for gasol. i'm not sure there was another offer out there that would have gotten memphis two young prospects, two picks, and a large expiring contract like this did.

 

Didn't Memphis already trade away Crittendon?

 

Yes.

 

So giz fan . . . what do you think the griz are going to do with Miles?

And was this a legit signing or messing with the Blazers?