Cute Trade, but Did Grizzlies Improve?

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Marquita had some questions. She was working behind the counter at the Grizzlies store at FedExForum. A reporter told her she might have to start marking down the Jason Williams stuff.

"Why?"

"He's been traded."

"Anyone else?"

"James Posey."

"Anyone else?"

"Andre Emmett."

"Wow."

Marquita pondered all this.

"Who are we getting back?"

"Eddie Jones."

Pause.

"Is he cute?"

He's not that cute, Marquita.

He is not cute enough to make this a celebratory day for most Grizzlies fans.

The Grizzlies traded Williams, Posey and Emmett as part of a five-team deal that requires a flow chart to understand. The only part that matters?

J-Will, Posey and Emmett are going to the Miami Heat.

Jones is coming to Memphis.

Actual question posed by an irate fan over the telephone: Whatever happened to the Jerry West that other general managers were afraid to deal with?

Which may not be fair to West. Let's try to look at the summer in the most positive light.

The Grizzlies got rid of the three players most responsible for running Hubie Brown out of town, J-Will, Bonzi Wells and Posey.

They added Jones, Bobby Jackson (in a previous trade for Wells) and Damon Stoudamire (who they will sign as a free agent as early as today).

Those are three solid pros, three players unlikely to engage in screaming matches with coach Mike Fratello.

There.

That's the summer in the most positive light. You running out to buy season tickets?

Didn't think so. </div>

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