<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Draft day DramaDespite the perception of being top heavy, come Thursday expect there to be plenty ofPosturing. Smoke screensRumors. Normally the word swirling around draft day is upside. Then again, the NBA could be turned upside down come Thursday when several teams, including the Grizzlies, seem poised to make bold decisions. Potential trades involving established league stars and the possibility that teams are looking to move up in the top half of the lottery dominate national headlines so far. Whether the speculation turns out to be a big deal, there is a general consensus that this much is true: The NBA draft is about to unfold as one of the deepest in recent history. "The draft is three deep at each position. You've got really good players all around," said Tony Barone Sr., Grizzlies director of player personnel. "You have potential stars in those three-deep at every position. That's a little different than it's been in the past. The players in this lottery have at least one or two NBA skills. That's a big deal to me." With Barone's analysis of each position mixed in with scuttlebutt from around the league, there is only one way to look at the draft. With a puzzling expression, here goes: 1. Is the draft really as deep as everyone says? This was once thought as the Greg Oden/Kevin Durant Sweepstakes by lottery hopefuls. But the more time passes and the more exciting individual workouts become, there are high hopes for names such as Al Horford, Mike Conley Jr., Joakim Noah, Brandan Wright, Corey Brewer, Yi Jianlian, Acie Law, etc., etc., etc. "It's deep. I look at a deep draft in a lot of different ways," Barone said. "Deep means that it's very talented up top. In the lottery, specifically, those players make it as deep as it's been in a while." 2. Who do the Grizzlies favor at No. 4 on draft night? Mum is the word on that question. But there is no question that the Griz strongly believe in the Florida Gators (Horford, Noah and Brewer) in this draft. If you believe in the power of a second workout, then count on Noah, Wright or Brewer being the guy. The trio were back in Memphis to showcase their skills for Griz brass Monday. There is growing speculation that Noah is the pick if Horford goes third to Atlanta. 3. Speaking of No. 3, what is Atlanta going to do? That's the $64,000 question. The Hawks like Horford, Noah and Yi Jianlian. They are impressed with Conley and Wright. Of course, the Hawks would trade the pick for the right deal. Rumors of the Sixers sending Andre Miller and No. 12 to the Hawks for No. 3 have been denied by the Sixers. It appears as though the basketball world must take a wait-and-see approach with Atlanta. No question, though, that the draft officially begins once the Hawks make a selection. 4. With only the No. 4 pick, will the Griz acquire another selection before the draft is complete? Bet on it. That's been the team's history since Jerry West became team president. As West takes his final waltz around the draft room, expect him to try to aid recently hired general manager Chris Wallace by suggesting ways to maximize the day. Last year's second rounder Alexander Johnson has been mentioned as trade bait, but the Griz also figure they can move Stromile Swift to acquire another draft pick. 5. Is Pau Gasol potential trade bait? Anything is possible. When a team finishes with the worst record in the NBA, no one is untouchable. That said, you have to take Wallace and head coach Marc Iavaroni at their word. They both agree that the team should continue to build around Gasol. Wallace called Gasol a top 20-30 NBA player, one that is "hard to obtain." So far, it looks like the Griz are committed to keeping Gasol. They have not talked to Atlanta about Gasol in any trade scenarios, and that discounts any notion that the Spaniard would be moved for the third pick. Memphis and Atlanta have yet to discuss swapping picks even though the Griz fear that Horford will go at No. 3. 6. Will the Griz make any deals unrelated to picks on draft day? West has told confidants that the Griz have their eyes set on an established and young frontline player with a large contract. That player would be "great" alongside Gasol. A couple of guesses come to mind: Portland's Zach Randolph and Denver's Nene. Rule out Randolph for the moment because the Griz haven't contacted the Blazers, who are willing to deal the troubled power forward. 7. OK, back to the actual draft. How is each position shaping up? Barone on the point guards: "Conley (Ohio State) is a special point guard because when you put up a picture of a point guard you put him up. Conley is a jet. He can get by you and shoot over you. Law (Texas A&M) is a slashing point guard. He'll knife you. He'll get by you and you wonder how he did. "His shooting is like a layup. He's got good size. Rodney Stuckey (East Washington) is physically very strong. Javaris Crittenton (Georgia Tech) is probably the least experienced at playing a pure point. But his size (6-4) and IQ are high. The kid that gets overlooked is Taurean Green (Florida). He and Conley are more cerebral than the other guys." Barone on the shooting guards: "Nick Young (Southern Cal) has Caron Butler capabilities, and he can really score the ball. His ability to make tough shots is really impressive. And that's a big deal in the NBA because you don't get open looks in the NBA. He's got the biggest hands I've ever seen but he has a soft touch. This is a position where guys don't jump out at you as much. Morris Almond from Rice has put up big numbers. I like Derrick Byars (Ridgeway High, Vanderbilt). And Daequan Cook (Ohio State) is a young kid with huge upside. D.J. Strawberry (Maryland) is a lock-down defender." Barone on the small forwards: "Kevin Durant (Texas) is a special player. You rate players a lot of different ways. Every way you rate this kid he's at the top of the list. This kid is so talented offensively and he's going to get bigger and strong. He's got the whole package. Corey Brewer is an outstanding player from Florida. You can see why (Florida) won the championship twice. How they play the game is impeccable. Brewer can guard ones, twos and threes. He can shoot the ball. Jeff Green from Georgetown brings to the table size and scoring ability at that position. Al Thornton (Florida State) has been working out great from what we understand. He can shoot the ball. He's a great athlete. "Thaddeus Young (Mitchell High, Georgia Tech) has a ways to go but, boy, he is talented." Barone on the power forwards: "Horford physically is an imposing kid. There's no doubt about his physical nature prepares him to play right away. He's not going to have to grow into a body. He's a very strong player. Wright (North Carolina) is as active as you can be. He's got a great second effort and great timing. People say he's not strong enough or heavy enough. I don't know if there's a necessary correlation between strength and weight. The bigs can all run. You're not looking at guys who can't get up and down the court. That's an impressive part of their make-up." Barone on the centers: There's no question that Oden (Ohio State) is a dominant player. Noah is a quality big with great athleticism and energy. This kid is not locked into the block. Spencer Hawes (Washington) is a young player but is a highly skilled big. His knowledge of the game offensively is at a very high level. Sean Williams (Boston College) is a post player." 8. Is there a concern about freshmen going over seniors in the first round? According to Barone, "You'll see in Durant and Oden that they learned a ton at Texas and Ohio State. That knowledge served them extremely well. It doesn't mean that the four-year senior isn't a valuable player. Hakeem Warrick is an example of that. Without the high school player in the draft, the freshman kid will be better because of the year of experience." -- Ronald Tillery: 529-2353</div>I couldnt get the link, but I saw this on the Grizzlies forum and Ron Tillery is a sport columnist for the Commerical Appeal(Memphis Newspaper).Im not sure who Jerry West is talking about, some people are saying Zach Randolph but I highly doubt that cause hes doesn't compliment Gasol at all...we just get another PF who cant play D.Right now, I cant help but think maybe hes speaking about Andea Kirilenko, he is said to be being shopped and his defense and his style would be perfect with Memphis. I just dont want him at PF...but you could say SF counts as the frontcourt as well...We could end up looking like this:Mo WilliamsRudy GayAndrea KirilenkoPau GasolAl HorfordOff The Bench:Mike Miller-Hakim WarrickFor that lineup some things would have to go Memphis' way...but just a thought.Its interesting what Wallace and West are going to pull on draft night...
maybe West is talking about Rashard Lewis? He'll be a big contract and his outside game would complement Gasol's inside game!Sign and trade is all im hoping for - we gotta get something for Shard- they'd be stupid to just let him walk!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clangus @ Jun 26 2007, 05:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>maybe West is talking about Rashard Lewis? He'll be a big contract and his outside game would complement Gasol's inside game!Sign and trade is all im hoping for - we gotta get something for Shard- they'd be stupid to just let him walk!</div>That's a possibility. The Grizzlies are one of the few teams with enough cap room to sign Lewis if he isn't involved in a sign and trade. He's a good shooter and would really work well in our run style offense Iavaroni wants to use, because that kind of style needs good jumpshooters. Then we can draft Mike Conley Jr. to run the offense.C- Pau GasolPF- Hakim WarrickSF- Lewis/GaySG- Miller/GayPG- Conley Jr.The Grizzlies have a lot of possibilites to look at, and it all starts with who we draft.
I dont want that lineup at all...we might win 40 games...but we have zero defense...id rather not do that. And if we did sign Lewis, id defiently wants Horford or Noah...not Conley.
Joakim Noah is a good option and too, and I don't think 4 is too high for him anymore. Noah would be good for Memphis under Iavaroni's system. He plays good defense and can run the floor and handle the ball in the open court. The only thing then is we would need a good playmaking PG to run the offense successfully, and I don't think Memphis has one right now. Stoudamire could maybe do it, but his age and health worry me.
I think if Kyle Lowry can come back and play like he did in his short rookie season, he can start for us at PG. The reason im against drafting Conley so much is Lowry and Conley are very similar and I think Lowry is going to be a very good PG. And not to mention Memphis has a solid shot at getting Mo Williams, who would fit perfect in our style and hes said he wants to play close to home...his home is Jackson Mississppi, which Memphis and New Orleans are the closest NBA cities...and New Orleans certainly isnt going to go after him.
