Xavier Henry

This was floated on another board.

I don't know if you guys know this or not, but the Memphis Grizzlies are unwilling to pay Xavier Henry the max allowed contract under the CBA for a rookie drafted in his spot. They're basically unwilling to pay him an extra 300k, which seems ridiculous since they just paid Rudy Gay 80M, but I guess each situation is different.

Here's the story: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/07/25/grizzlies-standoff-with-xavier-henry-continues/?sms_ss=tweetmeme

I think Xavier Henry would be a great pick-up if we can somehow trade one of our trade exceptions to Memphis. I don't think it's worth giving up additional talent to get him.

Memphis has a surplus of wing players, including Mayo, Gay, Allen, Carroll, and Young. This is probably the reason they're playing hardball with Henry.

There are still good reasons for them to pony up the 300k and sign Henry. Memphis only has one PG in Mike Conley. That's probably one reason why Mayo is trying to learn the PG position. They need depth there. If Mayo slides over to PG with Conley, I suppose that frees up the SG/SF spot for Henry.

As far as the Warriors, they still need to fill out their roster even though it's at 12 right now. IMO, we could use more depth at the SF position behind Wright. I know Reggie Williams is capable of playing there, but I'd rather have him as the exclusive SG backup. He's the size of a SG and plays like a SG. Xavier Henry is slightly bigger than Reggie Williams at 6'6.5" but he's 19 and will probably grow a little more.

Here's his draft profile.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Xavier-Henry-1324/

This is a long-shot, but if Riley can pull this one using only the trade exception, then kudos to him.

 

I guess the only hope for this to happen is Memphis' apparent financial woes. If they're unable/unwilling to pay an extra 300k, then there must be some sort of cash problem. Of course, it could be all about principle. Who knows.

 

Well DK, I like your thinking and you make a great case, but I just don't see how any club would risk losing their #15 draft pick over a few hundred thousand. It would just look silly. Now if they got back a future first rounder, or something, then it would make sense.

As far as doing it, heck yeah that would be great!

 

Yeah, there's a few similar ideas being floated around. And I have to admit, this is not my thinking at all, but hell, I'll take the credit!

The key is to not give up any current talent because we need the depth.

Of course, we can merge this idea with your OJ Mayo one to see if we can get something more out of it, while shedding significant contracts.

 

I'd still do the trade of Monta Ellis for OJ Mayo + Xavier Henry + Thabeet or Haddadi. We get Mayo who can play now next to Curry and would be a future trading chip. Xavier Henry is the big SG, huge 6-11 1/4" wingspan who can run, shoot and play some D next to Curry in the future. He can replace Morrow with his shot and brings more of an all-around game. Thabeet can come in and block shots and energize this team. He is basically six fouls, but he'll clog the paint when AB is out. Not only that, we get some cap space to boot in the deal. We get Now and Later.


Let's look at Henry who can be our future SG:
SCOUTING REPORT
Positives: Henry is an impressive physical specimen with one of the greatest wingspans of any wing player (6-11 1/4") to go with an 8-foot-9 standing reach...Possesses minimal body fat (4.7 percent), along with great court speed (3.13 sprint)...Gets excellent elevation and shows very good timing leaving his feet to contest shots (36.5-inch vertical jump, 11-10 vertical reach)...While his defensive game is still a work in progress, his offensive ability is already NBA ready...Has a nice touch and plays with above-average court vision and intelligence, capitalizing on even the smallest of creases on his drive into the lane...Very capable passer (53 assists) who could earn quality minutes at the point, as he plays with an unselfish attitude and likes to create shots for others...

Well-coordinated athlete with the lateral mobility and explosive first step to slash by a lethargic defender, or simply pull up, elevate and fire off a long-range jumper...Elite perimeter shooter whose range and release point make it very difficult to defend when he gets out in three-point range (made 41.8 percent of his treys)...Strong athlete who is not the type that can be easily boxed out...Also very effective shooting his jumper from mid-range and does an excellent job of drawing contact on his drives to the basket, putting him at the charity stripe often, where he has the ability to develop into one of best free throw shooters at the next level...Can put the ball in from either hand and is very good at executing the face-up jump shot, especially when he sets his feet properly...Creates mismatches with his quickness pushing the ball up the court and is a rapid-fire shooter who can hit from all areas on the court, whether pushing the ball into the paint, with his back to the basket, from the perimeter or further out at three-point range...Comes off screens well and has a very high release point to get the ball over the bigger forwards that dare to defend him along the perimeter (also effective at slashing past his man when the opponent fails to face up to him and gives Henry a side to operate)...Likes to take the ball off the dribble and go left to the basket, but is less effective drawing fouls when he finishes in transition from the right side...Not the type that will fire for the sake of getting the ball up, as he has good court vision to locate the open man...Has the sudden stop-and-go action to pull up and lay down a fancy floater in the lane...Has impressive leg drive when attacking the basket and shows good pump fakes to get the opponents off their feet when working from the outside, selling his shot nicely to keep the defender fooled...Will make precise cuts to set the defender up and moves up and down the court better without the ball in his hands...Despite his youth, he plays like a crafty veteran who knows how to draw fouls...Has a long wingspan for a guard and had a team-best 54 thefts in 36 games...Patient waiting for his shot to develop and is not the type that will force the action, preferring to feed his teammates when he feels he doesn't have a clear opportunity to score...Shows very good balance finishing after contact.

Negatives: Gives good effort on defense, but that area of his game is nowhere as good as his offensive skills...Can put the ball on the floor, but must be more alert to pressure defense and keep the ball closer to his body when driving into the lane...Despite his good strength, he is not the type that can intimidate small guards trying to cut and slash...
Needs to develop better ability to vary his speed, as he will outrun the play...Got into a big scoring slump down the stretch, as he became too reliant on his jumper and perimeter shooting, failing to create a lot of offense off the dribble...Has good court speed, but appeared lethargic later in the season, especially in January and February, where he failed to reach double figures in scoring in a stretch of six out of eight contests...Needs to show better ability to create his own shot when coming off the dribble and in isolation, as he struggles with his release when taking the ball off the bounce or when firing off-balance when on the move.

--Report by Dave-Te' Thomas

Compares To: BRANDON RUSH-Indiana -- Henry looks like the real deal as a perimeter shooter, but looked like two different players with his inside game last year. He showed willingness to attack the basket and draw contact earlier in the year, but when he was misfiring with his jump shot late in the schedule, he reverted to parking on the perimeter. He is a rhythm type of shooter, but has to work on taking advantage of scoring opportunities coming off the dribble. There is a lot of Brandon Rush in his game, as he could be a one-dimensional type who would be best served providing spark for a few minutes off the bench. Some analysts feel that he is a top on-ball defender and uses that long wing span well, but for a player with his strength, you'd like to see him challenge and face up to shooters with better consistency. Teams looking for a pure shooter, like Indiana (10th overall) and Milwaukee (No. 15) appear to be showing the most interest.

 

This is a franchise that traded Pau Gasol for almost nothing. Maybe they'd take that offer from the Warriors. Though maybe not.

 

I'd like to steal away Marc Gasol and Henry. I have no clue what it would take to get him, but those 2 would be great additions to the core.

 

They are cheaper now. But once they get in their primes like Monta is entering into his, it may be a stretch that they will be as good as Ellis AND be as good of a bargain that Ellis' contract is for the Warriors.