Well NBA fans, the boring ol' offseason is almost over so with little time left let's discuss your favorite subject, the Memphis Grizzlies! Here is my take on the Grizzlie's offseason thus far. Key Additions: <font color="Black">1.James Posey (Last team, Houston Rockets) - Acquired via Free Agency</font> - I never saw this one coming. Posey is just the kind of player the Grizzlies have been looking. Some may say that he creates a logjam at Shooting Guard, but I tend to look on the bright side of things and say he adds depth to an already deep lineup. Posey has been guarunteed a starting job thus making Wesley Person expendable. Posey's had a breif but sweet career so far in the NBA. He started off this career in Denver where he averaged just under ten points a game. During his fourth season, Posey exhibited what he had learned in his three previous years by averaging just under fifteen points and five rebounds per game and being dubbed the best player in Denver. For the 2002-2003 season Posey suited up as a Rocket. He averaged just under ten points and five rebounds a game. This is good, but not what I expect he will be able to get on the Grizzlies. Posey is a high-flyer with above the rim action. He will surely become a fan favorite by the end of the season. 2.Troy Bell (Last team, Boston College) - Acquired via NBA Rookie Draft - Most people believe that Bell was a bad selection. Many said the Grizzlies wasted their draft pick. While there may be some subtle truth to these statements, I still firmly believe that Troy Bell was an excelleny pickup. Bell, a native of Minnesota, has amazed Boston College fans for the last four years with his prodigious athleticism and his tight defense. In his first year of college, Bell broke Allen Iverson's record for the highest Big East Freshman scoring average when Bell recorded twenty points per game. Bell continued his success the following year as he averaged twenty one points per game which shattered the record perviously held by Ohio State's Scoonie Penn. Bell also reached the one thousand point mark that year. In his Junior season, Bell averaged 22 points per game, captured All-Big East honors, and scored in double figures for thirty one amazing games. Last season Bell averaged just under tweny six points per game and won All-American Honors even though he failed to guide Boston College into the NCAA Tournament. Needless to say, Troy Bell has left his mark on the college game. I believe that with his athletic abilities, which ESPN's Insider ranked number one out of all the players in the draft, he can truely make an impact as a sixth man in this league. 3.Dahntay Jones (Last team, Duke University) - Acquired via NBA Rookie Draft - Jones is an interesting athletic speciman. He also has excellent lateral quickness that makes his a tough defender. Although all of this may be true, Jones was still not a great pickup in my opinion. Jones had a less than impressive college career followed by a mediocre draft camp performance. I believe that the Grizzlies could have done much better. Jones has a horrific outside shot for a guard-forward and he is quite turnover prone. Unless Wesley Person is traded, Jones will see very limited playing time while backing up the likes of Posey, Battier, and M. Miller. I don't agree with the Grizzlies decision to draft Jones, but I have to accept him as a part of the team now and he has yet to play a NBA game. So I am ranking him as a key addition. 4.Theron Smith - Not so key addition - (Last team, Ball State) - Acquired via Free Agency - If any of you guys follow the draft or college basketball like I do then you know the name Theron Smith from 2002. In the year 2002, Smith lead his Ball State team to a top fifteen ranking which was quite appauling considering that Ball State was a relatively small school with very little basketball tradition. This instantly propelled Smith into draft consideration. Towards the middle of the college basketball season in 2002 Smith was projected as a top five draft pick. Tagically this ended when Theron tore his ACL. The worl knew that he would be out for the remainder of the season, but noone had any idea how severe it really was. Theron's name then moved from top five in the 200 Draft to top fifteen in the 2002 Draft. His position slipped even further when his doctor released the terrible news that he would have to sit out his entire season. Theron did so with patience and was told he could be eligable to play as a fifth year Senior if he wished. Smith denied this opportunity because he was unaware of how badly he had fallen in NBA talent scout's minds. Theron found himself going from the top of the world to struggling for a second round pick. Theron was not drafted, but luckily the Grizzlies picked him up. They say he is fully recovered, but then again that is also what they said about Chris Owens when the Grizzlies drafted him. If Theron can come back healthy he is unlikely to see any time at all baring an injury to Ryan Humphrey or Stromile Swift because of his lack of size for a Power Forward. Key Subtractions: 1.Mike Batiste (New team, Greece) - Left via Free Agency - Mike Batiste was the Grizzlies' only loss this offseason. I always viewed Batiste as a worthless hacker, but now that he is gone I have realized his importance. Batiste may have only averaged six and a half points per game last season, but without him we don't have a worhty backup at Power Forward. The only players who can fill that slot are Theron Smith, who is not only small but recovering from and injury, and Ryan Humphrey who has a very good upside since he was a first round draft pick last season but he also had a crummy rookie season. When you are the Memphis Grizzlies and you don't have any cap room you will find it pretty hard to sign adequate Free Agents. Fortunately the Grizzlies have the best man for the job in Jerry West. West has assembled quite the team of the future here in Memphis and things can only get better. This season Memphis is expected to win up to twenty more games than they did last season and some people even believe that they have an outside chance of making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Here is a look at what their new and improved winning lineup looks like - Point Guard - Jason Williams/Earl Watson/Troy Bell/Brevin Knight Shooting Guard - James Posey/Wesley Person/Michael Dickerson (Injured)/Dahntay Jones Small Forward- Mike Miller/Shane Battier/Chris Owens Power Forward - Pau Gasol/Ryan Humphrey/Theron Smith Center - Lorenzen Wright/Stromile Swift/Robert Archibald/Czezary Trybanski Draft Grade - C+ - Troy Bell was a nice addition but the pick Dahntay Jones leaves me scratching my head. Free Agent Grade - B - They didn't get the two greatest players but considering their position, money, and the available talent out there the Grizzlies had a B worthy Free Agent class. Overall Grade - B- - Congratulations to the Grizzlies on an above average offseason!!!
Free Agent Rating is to high. Posey is a good defender and is an alright scorer but thats about it. The draft is to high aswell I think Memphis had a horrible draft. Jones who will get next to no playing time. Bell wont be gettign much playign time either. Both of these players likely could have been second rounders.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Free Agent Rating is to high. Posey is a good defender and is an alright scorer but thats about it.</div>I think an A - is just right. Sure James Posey and Theron Posey aren't the best players in the league, but like I said earlier, that doesn't mean this wasn't a great offseason Free Agent wise for the Grizzlies. James Posey was a top ten Free Agent and Theron Smith was up there too. Keep in mind how hard it would be for a team like the Memphis Grizzlies with a losing history, no cap room, and the reputation as the embarrasment of the NBA to get a decent Free Agent like James Posey. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The draft is to high aswell I think Memphis had a horrible draft. Jones who will get next to no playing time. Bell wont be gettign much playign time either. Both of these players likely could have been second rounders.</div>I think the Grizzlies had a "bad" draft, but you can't exactly say that a team had a horrible draft until your see the results. A C - is the worst I will give a team who had a first round pick. I think your statement about Jones is false. Odds are that Wesley Person will be traded by the time the season starts and Jones will take on the roll of a sixth man. Troy Bell on the other hand won't see much time this season, but he is a good long term investment. Don't say that both of those players would have been second rounders either. Bell was gaurunteed a pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves if he happened to fall to them, and Jones was likely to go in the early second to late first round. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Nice job Wave, keep up the great work.</div>Thank you! Your compliment means a lot!
Great breakdown. Jerry West always has exciting off-seasons, and I'm sure he is not done yet. I think Troy Bell was a steal and will be the surprise in this year's draft. He would have went a lot higher, but scouts and media were uncertain about his skills as a pointguard. However, Bell had the highest over all skill score for this year's group of players, and he did a great job explaining why he didn't pass or create in college. When he played for BC, his role was to score and shoot. He was the 1st option on the team and had to shoulder the scoring responsiblity.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Great breakdown. Jerry West always has exciting off-seasons, and I'm sure he is not done yet. I think Troy Bell was a steal and will be the surprise in this year's draft. He would have went a lot higher, but scouts and media were uncertain about his skills as a pointguard. However, Bell had the highest over all skill score for this year's group of players, and he did a great job explaining why he didn't pass or create in college. When he played for BC, his role was to score and shoot. He was the 1st option on the team and had to shoulder the scoring responsiblity.</div>I agree with what you said except for this. Troy Bell was a great selection, however, he will not be the surprise in this year's draft because he will only be playing anywhere from 0-8 minutes a game behind both Jason Williams and Earl Watson. Like I said to Kid Canada, he is more of a long term investment to the Grizzlies for when Watson leaves.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kid Canada:</div><div class="quote_post">James Posey was not a Top Ten free agent.</div>That is your opinion. Here is mine - Top Ten Free Agents 1)Tim Duncan 2)Jason Kidd 3)Jermaine O'Neal 4)Alonzo Mourning 5)Gary Payton 6)Karl Malone 7)Gilbert Arenas 8)Michael Olowakandi 9)Brad Miller 10)James Posey Best of the rest - Andre Miller, Jason Terry, Stephen Jackson, Reggie Miller
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wave:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree with what you said except for this. Troy Bell was a great selection, however, he will not be the surprise in this year's draft because he will only be playing anywhere from 0-8 minutes a game behind both Jason Williams and Earl Watson. Like I said to Kid Canada, he is more of a long term investment to the Grizzlies for when Watson leaves.</div> I meant in the next couple of years, people will look back and kick themselves for passing him up. Just like Kobe and Pierce. Jerry West will definately take his time with bell and groom him into being a future star. West has a great track record for spotting talent and will make the necessary moves to get Troy Bell on the court.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wave:</div><div class="quote_post">That is your opinion. Here is mine - Top Ten Free Agents 1)Tim Duncan 2)Jason Kidd 3)Jermaine O'Neal 4)Alonzo Mourning 5)Gary Payton 6)Karl Malone 7)Gilbert Arenas 8)Michael Olowakandi 9)Brad Miller 10)James Posey Best of the rest - Andre Miller, Jason Terry, Stephen Jackson, Reggie Miller</div>Wheres Nesterovic? Maggette? Brand? Terry is alot better than Posey. Miller was to even tho he had a bad season. Allnet will go crazy if he sees Posey better than Stephen Jackson lol.
I think Wave just forgot players like Brand and Maggette.who are clearly good players..I ranked Brand 3rd in the top free-agent lists...but he might mean players that are unrestricted...Nesterovic is a bigger name free-agent than Posey..As is Andre Miller,Jason Terry,Stephen Jackson,Reggie Miller e.t.c..JP is a good young player no doubt....but he is not a top 10 FA...and he got overpaid by the Grizzles..but saying this he will be a good fit in Memphis. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Allnet will go crazy if he sees Posey better than Stephen Jackson lol.</div> Nah,I don't mind if people say Posey is better than Sjax even though I don't agree....but the fact Posey got a good contract and Sjax didn't annoyed me...As jack did alot for the Spurs to help get that championship...
Indeed I did forget about those players who were mentioned, and I also admitt that I overrated Posey. He is not a top ten Free Agent. He is still a top twenty Free Agent though. To satisfy the board I have edited my post to show the Grizzlies recieving a solid B for a Free Agent grade.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting JWillTheFreak:</div><div class="quote_post">Posey was not even top 10 FA. Posey is a stright pick up for memphis</div>If you would have read the thread you would have realized that I renounced my opinions about James Posey.
Well done, Wave! I personally would rather have Posey at SF and Miller at SG. Theron Smith was a huge steal IMO, I hope that Battier is moved so that he can see some time at SF.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Raindrops:</div><div class="quote_post">Theron Smith was a huge steal IMO, I hope that Battier is moved so that he can see some time at SF.</div>Chances are slim that Theron will make the team, unfortunately. Anyway, where would Battier be moved?
