<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Grizzlies' roster takes on a different type of versatility: Point guard Adding the quickness, skill set and youth of the NBA's fourth overall draft pick, Conley clearly sent a message that Iavaroni intends to push the tempo and develop a floor general with a command of the court similar to Phoenix's Steve Nash. Having last year's first rounder, Kyle Lowry, ensures that the Griz can keep pressure on defenses with speed and dogged defense. The ability for the Grizzlies' point guards to get to the basket has Iavaroni excited about pick-and-roll sets. The only question is where does aging veteran Damon Stoudamire fit? Griz brass expects Stoudamire to simply "train" the young guns. But this youth movement isn't what Stoudamire signed up for. Remember, he came to Memphis as a free agent, suffered an otherwise career-ending injury and came back to play. He's healthy and wants to contribute to a winner. After all, does a 34-year-old point guard fit the new direction? Don't be surprised if Stoudamire and the Griz work out a trade or buyout before or during training camp. The encouraging sign is that Stoudamire recently met with Iavaroni in Las Vegas where Conley, Hakim Warrick and others worked out with renowned NBA talent developer Tim Grgurich conducts a camp. Shooting guard Mike Miller is the team's best outside shooter. His shortcomings are an ability to defend opposing guards and helplessness to consistently to drive past a defender off the dribble. But Miller has solid ball-handling and passing skills. That's what the Griz are counting on from Navarro, presumably coming off the bench. Jacobsen is a bigger guard who can also play small forward with enough adept shooting to stretch defenses. While Miller has the ability to play point guard and Navarro is small enough to be shifted to that position, the preference would be not to take the ball out of the hands of Conley, Lowry or Stoudamire. Small forward The belief still is that Rudy Gay will turn into a star. He's long, athletic and adept inside and out of the paint. Gay's shot selection must improve but he's the primary option at this position with Jacobsen, Miller and Tarence Kinsey available to log minutes. Jacobsen's experience could mean that he sees the court more than expected despite Kinsey's impressive finish last season. Power forward One theory has Gasol moving to his natural position with Darko Milicic playing center. Fact is, the Griz still have a logjam here despite cleaning up the roster a bit. Gasol, Milicic, Brown, Brian Cardinal, Stromile Swift and Hakim Warrick are each options. Iavaroni has a difficult challenge in terms of balancing player development versus maximizing the potential of veteran players. Wallace recently flew to Miami where Swift makes his offseason home. Wallace and Swift had dinner to discuss his role and ways the veteran Grizzly could break out this season. Swift remains the team's only true shot-blocker. Warrick proved himself to be an offensive threat. The hope is he'll develop defensively. Cardinal's wellbeing (he's recovering from knee surgeries) remains an issue. But he can provide more outside shooting and scrappy play if healthy. Brown would figure to get lost in a numbers game. Center If Milicic plays center, he'll provide weak-side shot blocking and average rebounding, and high-post scoring. That's based on his performances besides the strength of Orlando's Dwight Howard. Gasol also has proven he can block shots and score from either block. Swift has provided flashes of brilliance as a capable backup, giving credence to the versatility of the Grizzlies' front line. The frontcourt lacks toughness. No longer, though, are the coaches primarily dealing with 6-foot-9-and-under, lean players to protect the paint. "I think that will continue to evolve as we watch them just playing pickup ball in September," Iavaroni said last month, "how we envision them working in different places and with different people in the games." And the operative word floating around Grizzlyland is patience.</div> Source: Memphis CA
