<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I'd love to see Lewis come to the Lakers</div>Ok?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (austingriz @ May 23 2007, 09:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Thats becuase you dont know much about the Grizzlies and its players. We have alotve good young talent.</div> Ugh, your just a homer. Yes I do know a lot about your players, I know pretty much everything about every player on every team, I'm good at evaluating teams. Looking around the league, you don't have the young talent of the Bobcats, Celtics, Hawks, Bulls or Trailblazers. Other than Rudy Gay, you don't have a young 'A' talent player. Lawrence Roberts, Hakim Warrick, and Alexander Johnson are not starting caliber players. Kyle Lowry is an underrated player who I think could be an NBA starter someday. But your talent doesn't compare and doesn't have the star power of the teams I mentioned.
I believe that RaShard Lewis wants to leave the SuperSonics organization regardless of whether or not they draft Kevin Durant. I recall about this time last year talks of RaShard Lewis being very unhappy in Seattle. That was back when they were tossing around rumors of a Shawn Marion/RaShard Lewis trade because the Suns were considering Amare's return. However, Durant's arrival in Seattle will only make it more of an issue. I think Durant and Shard are essentially the same style of player - big men with smooth perimeter play. Durant is simply younger and has more potential due to being a more fluid athlete. With that in mind, there are three potential scenarios that I can picture for RaShard Lewis:<span style="color:#0000FF">1) Signing with the Orlando Magic as a Free Agent</span>; As an Orlando Magic fan, this is the scenario that I'm hoping for. With the expiring contracts of Grant Hill and Penny Hardaway, this is our year as the potential big spenders in free agency. This has left Magic fans targeting two potential acquisitions: Vince Carter and RaShard Lewis. Personally, I'd prefer to sign RaShard. He's younger and brings exactly what we need: Tremendous long range shooting, a big body to help Dwight out, and most importantly, a primary scorer. As much of a physical specimen Dwight is, and as great as he is cleaning up the boards, he is not even worthy of being considered a GOOD offensive player, and has not been able to handle the load as out number one scoring option. Someone like RaShard gives us a proven scorer who will in turn open up so much for Dwight in terms of getting rid of those double teams. If RaShard wants to leave, I see Orlando as a definite possibility because we are capable of paying him and provide a place where he knows he will be placed at the helm of the offense along side Dwight.<span style="color:#0000FF">2) A sign-and-trade to the Portland Trailblazers</span>; Ever since the draft lottery, this is a talked about scenario that I think is very possible and is beneficial to both teams. I can picture Seattle signing RaShard Lewis and trading him in return for Zach Randolph. With Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland needs a SF rather than Randolph. If Seattle drafts Durant, he plays RaShard's position, and thus they can deal him for Zach Randolph who would better suite their team. This leaves Portland with a starting lineup of Greg Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge, RaShard Lewis, Brandon Roy and Jarrett Jack ... While Seattle starts Chris Wilcox, Zach Randolph, Kevin Durant, Ray Allen and Luke Ridnour - in which case both teams would be greatly improved.<span style="color:#0000FF">3) A sign-and-trade to the Dallas Mavericks</span>; After getting kicked out of the first round of the playoffs this year, Mark Cuban has let it be known that he intends to shake things up. With that being said, I could picture Seattle signing RaShard Lewis and trading him to Dallas in return for Jason Terry. This could be the shakeup that the Mavericks are looking for, promoting Devin Harris to the role of full time starting point guard and adding an offensive threat like RaShard Lewis. Seattle thus receives Jason Terry, who lessen the blow of losing Luke Ridnour should he not return to the team, and thus they place a lineup of Chris Wilcox, Nick Collison, Kevin Durant, Ray Allen and Jason Terry on the floor. Terry and Durant would provide a great one-two combination for them to build around, and Jason Terry would be in his hometown. A hometown draw would also suite the situation in Seattle considering they need to raise ticket sales to avoid having to switch cities.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ May 24 2007, 11:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Ugh, your just a homer. Yes I do know a lot about your players, I know pretty much everything about every player on every team, I'm good at evaluating teams. Looking around the league, you don't have the young talent of the Bobcats, Celtics, Hawks, Bulls or Trailblazers. Other than Rudy Gay, you don't have a young 'A' talent player. Lawrence Roberts, Hakim Warrick, and Alexander Johnson are not starting caliber players. Kyle Lowry is an underrated player who I think could be an NBA starter someday. But your talent doesn't compare and doesn't have the star power of the teams I mentioned.</div>First off, im not a homer. Secondly, Hakim Warrick and Alexander Johnson are both starters in this league. People forget, Hakim was averaging 15 and 7 before Gasol came back. Also, anybody who watches the Grizzlies can tell you Aelxander Johnson played out to be the best rookie for the first half of the season. He was alreayd a solid starter as a rookie until he hit the wall and we started Gasol at center, and Warrick at PF.I think LB is just a muscle in the paint though, hes not going to be anymore than a Haywood type of player. Kyle Lowry is going to be a starter in this league, and probably for the Grizzlies. Hes an excellent playmaker and defender. He is a pretty good rebounder as well. Then you totally left out Tarence Kinsey. People will want to say "he only played well because it was late in the season, when nobody plays". Not true. He averaged something around 16ppg a game in the last 15 games, most of those games being against teams trying to get into the playoffs. Not to mention hes probably our best defender. Hakim Warrick is extremely capable of being a 15ppg guy off the bench, and maybe a 17ppg guy as a starter. We have good young talent. But how do you evaluate a team when you dont even watch them? Please let me know the secret.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Code Blue @ May 25 2007, 05:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I believe that RaShard Lewis <span style="color:#0000FF">3) A sign-and-trade to the Dallas Mavericks</span>; After getting kicked out of the first round of the playoffs this year, Mark Cuban has let it be known that he intends to shake things up. With that being said, I could picture Seattle signing RaShard Lewis and trading him to Dallas in return for Jason Terry. This could be the shakeup that the Mavericks are looking for, promoting Devin Harris to the role of full time starting point guard and adding an offensive threat like RaShard Lewis. Seattle thus receives Jason Terry, who lessen the blow of losing Luke Ridnour should he not return to the team, and thus they place a lineup of Chris Wilcox, Nick Collison, Kevin Durant, Ray Allen and Jason Terry on the floor. Terry and Durant would provide a great one-two combination for them to build around, and Jason Terry would be in his hometown. A hometown draw would also suite the situation in Seattle considering they need to raise ticket sales to avoid having to switch cities.</div> His name is not 'RaShard', it's just Rashard. And I don't see why the Mavericks would want Lewis when they already have Howard signed and no need for another jump shooter. Luke Ridnour is not leaving Seattle, he signed a long-term extension with Seattle during the off-season.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (austingriz @ May 25 2007, 06:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>First off, im not a homer. Secondly, Hakim Warrick and Alexander Johnson are both starters in this league. People forget, Hakim was averaging 15 and 7 before Gasol came back. Also, anybody who watches the Grizzlies can tell you Aelxander Johnson played out to be the best rookie for the first half of the season. He was alreayd a solid starter as a rookie until he hit the wall and we started Gasol at center, and Warrick at PF.I think LB is just a muscle in the paint though, hes not going to be anymore than a Haywood type of player. Kyle Lowry is going to be a starter in this league, and probably for the Grizzlies. Hes an excellent playmaker and defender. He is a pretty good rebounder as well. Then you totally left out Tarence Kinsey. People will want to say "he only played well because it was late in the season, when nobody plays". Not true. He averaged something around 16ppg a game in the last 15 games, most of those games being against teams trying to get into the playoffs. Not to mention hes probably our best defender. Hakim Warrick is extremely capable of being a 15ppg guy off the bench, and maybe a 17ppg guy as a starter. We have good young talent. But how do you evaluate a team when you dont even watch them? Please let me know the secret.</div> I see you raving about your young talent, but overall it's just average. Hakim Warrick is going to be a bench player during his career, he's a nice player but nothing great. Alexander Johnson didn't do anything in 90% of the games this season. Same thing with Lawrence Roberts, they are average backup PF's who got some time because of injuries...Tarence Kinsey did very well during the last 15 games, but I'm not really sold on the guy because before he came in for Miller, he didn't do much at all. (But he scored so damn much it makes you wonder). I just think your overvaluing your young players. I might not be able to see every team, but I read more than you guys will ever know.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>In late February, Rashard Lewis rejected a two-year, $25 million contract extension from the Seattle SuperSonics. Months later, Lewis has totally rejected the Sonics. According to KRIV in Houston, Lewis has officially opted out of the final two years of his contract on Friday so he can become an unrestricted free agent. Tony Dutt, Lewis' agent, has made Seattle aware of his client's decision. "He has decided to opt out and he'll be an unrestricted free agent July 1st," Dutt said, according to KRIV. "We had to do it in writing which we have done already." Lewis, who has spent his entire nine-year NBA career with the Sonics, opted out of the seven-year, $60M deal he signed before the 2003-2004 season. That means Lewis is walking away from $21M in guaranteed money over the next two years. "I think it was pretty simple at this point. He's an elite player. He'll be the top free agent in the NBA this summer. I think it will be extremely crazy July 1st. I really feel like he fits everywhere. I would imagine that everybody is going to be coming after him," Dutt said.</div>Link
This was expected, especially after Seattle got #2 in the lottery. Kevin Durant and Rashard Lewis are the same player, Durant obviously being more talented and a franchise player. There's no way I could see Durant/Lewis working (not to mention Ray Allen).Idea: Seattle should try and work out a sign-and-trade with Portland and get back Zach Randolph. Portland needs a SF and Lewis/McMillan have a great relationship. Seattle, on the other hand, really needs a post presence. Allen, Durant, and Randolph would be a devastating offensive trio while Portland fills their holes, gives the green light to LaMarcus Aldridge, and has an excellent well-rounded team. Thoughts?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Idea: Seattle should try and work out a sign-and-trade with Portland and get back Zach Randolph</div>the thing is that he's an unrestricted free agent so a sign and trade wouldn't make much sense.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ May 25 2007, 10:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Idea: Seattle should try and work out a sign-and-trade with Portland and get back Zach Randolph. Portland needs a SF and Lewis/McMillan have a great relationship. Seattle, on the other hand, really needs a post presence. Allen, Durant, and Randolph would be a devastating offensive trio while Portland fills their holes, gives the green light to LaMarcus Aldridge, and has an excellent well-rounded team. Thoughts?</div>That would really work out for both teams very well, and would make both teams automatic contenders for the playoffs. I'd like to see that happen though, it would benefit the teams and the players..
I can see Memphis trading the pick and Mike Miller for a good big man and signing Rashard Lewis. I wouldnt mind a lineup of Lowry-Gay-Lewis-Gasol-whoever...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>And I don't see why the Mavericks would want Lewis when they already have Howard signed and no need for another jump shooter. Luke Ridnour is not leaving Seattle, he signed a long-term extension with Seattle during the off-season.</div>That's actually a pretty solid deal I could see Mavs doing. Lewis had his ties with Dallas a couple offseasons ago that turned sour but we did pursue him hard.And Mavs do it, because they are in a situation where if a trade is made, Terry is the most likely to go. It's clear Harris needs to take the reigns and we need a bigger guard in the lineup. This move allows Mavs to slide Howard to sg and also doesn't lose our outside presence as Lewis can stroke it from 3.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ May 25 2007, 06:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I see you raving about your young talent, but overall it's just average. Hakim Warrick is going to be a bench player during his career, he's a nice player but nothing great. Alexander Johnson didn't do anything in 90% of the games this season. Same thing with Lawrence Roberts, they are average backup PF's who got some time because of injuries...Tarence Kinsey did very well during the last 15 games, but I'm not really sold on the guy because before he came in for Miller, he didn't do much at all. (But he scored so damn much it makes you wonder). I just think your overvaluing your young players. I might not be able to see every team, but I read more than you guys will ever know.</div>You are very wrong about AJ and Hakim. Just cause Hakim is skinny doesn't mean he cant be a starter..hes proven he can be a starter and be good at it. Alexander Johnson defended excellently, rebounder very well and hes got a solid jump shot. Tarence Kinsey didnt get any PT behind Miller until late in the season...when he started scoring alot. Im not saying all our young guys will become stars...cause they're not. But I do think we have some of the best young talent in the league. But reading up on players wont do it. You have to watch them, cause you obvisouly read some misinformed stuff cause AJ was playing better than Rudy Gay in most of the games before the allstar break. So please dont criticize a team until you actually watch them. And whatever your reading, the people who wrote it probably didnt even watch much of a grizzly game. I mught be a huge memphis fan, but im not a homer, and I see things for what they are. I can tell you every weakness and stregnth of every player on the grizzlies...im positive I know more about the grizzlies than you or any ESPN analyst who looks at stats and hghlights and decides to write and article.
Unless we pick up an NBA ready pg this year in the draft (which would mean we would have to trade up), I really wouldn't want to trade Terry and put all the weight on Harris' shoulders. He gets knocked around a lot and can get into foul trouble sometimes since he is one of our prime defenders. Other than that, I would like to see Rashard here. I don't see him coming here, but I would like to.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ May 26 2007, 10:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>b]Idea:[/b] Seattle should try and work out a sign-and-trade with Portland and get back Zach Randolph. Portland needs a SF and Lewis/McMillan have a great relationship. Seattle, on the other hand, really needs a post presence. Allen, Durant, and Randolph would be a devastating offensive trio while Portland fills their holes, gives the green light to LaMarcus Aldridge, and has an excellent well-rounded team. Thoughts?</div>Great idea. I love that! I'm not sure they'd do it though. I do think the sonics will resign him though- They are the only team in a position to offer him a 6 year deal - Lenny Wilkins has said he wants him back! He said he considers Seattle his home - I think there is a good chance that he'll be in a sonic uniform next year - but if we signed and traded him for Randolf that would be great.Either way the Sonics future is bright - loads of young talent and Ray Allen now a super star draft pick.- I think I can hear the bandwagoners coming.....lolHey Balla - you should start a new thread counting new members who are sonic or blazers fans.....they'll be comin in thick and fast. lol
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ May 23 2007, 10:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Charlotte needs another wingman who can be a go to scorer. They have cap and they could make a run at him. It's not out of the question to move Wallace to the 2. Morrison right now is going to come off the bench for the Cats. Same with Hermann. Neither are starting caliber.</div>I said this before Jeff Green removed his name from the draft.
