<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">1. Addition by subtraction Well-documented are the real reasons Hubie Brown retired as Grizzlies coach Thanksgiving Day. Player dissension led to health issues that forced Brown to decide between risking his existence over game losses. Point the finger at Jason Williams and Bonzi Wells -- the two most vocal dissenters. It's been proven by conventional wisdom that those causing problems in the beginning would be at the center of conflict near the end of the Grizzlies' season. That the team did nothing at the trading deadline and still earned a playoff berth is a credit to coach Mike Fratello's coaching and the hard-workers (i.e. Battier, Lorenzen Wright, Pau Gasol, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, etc.) who put winning first. Ridding the team of constant distractions is the first step toward moving onward and upward. Trading Williams, and a sign-and-trade for Wells (who will not have an $8 million team option exercised) would create a happier locker room and allow for better leadership. Plus, a sign-and-trade involving forward/center Stromile Swift (an unrestricted free agent) would allow the Griz to add toughness and move Wright to the bench behind Gasol, realizing a five-year experiment with Swift failed. 2. Deal for Ray Allen You're thinking that the last thing this team needs is a shooting guard. But in acquiring Allen, you get a superstar athlete capable of scoring major points and leading the team to victory on any given night. The Grizzlies simply don't have that player. Allen will be available because the cash-strapped Sonics won't want to pay him market value. The Grizzlies could, with multiple players in a sign-and-trade. This idea will work, depending on how much salary West can dump from the current roster this summer. Because West would also need to convince a cost-cutting owner that he needs to do this to profit and win. 3. Re-sign Watson Watson is an unrestricted free agent who earned just $1.4 million last season. He'll command some team's mid-level exception (nearly $5 million per year) this summer. A team that needs to improve toughness and grit doesn't need to lose it. Watson, who despite sentiment to the contrary won games for the Griz this season, wants to run his own team. But being a backup on a team that's willing to commit isn't out of his realm of thinking. He wants to be a Grizzly under the right circumstances. The Griz need him, especially with Williams on the roster. 4. Trade for a brute All we know in three seasons is that Michael Olowokandi went to Minnesota. Jerome James stayed in Seattle. Erick Dampier went to Dallas. And Nazr Mohammed ended up at San Antonio. OK, so the Grizzlies have tried but failed in trying to obtain a rebounding, defensive-minded and physical big man. Package the 19th overall draft pick with Brian Cardinal and Jake Tsakalidis and come away with a bodyguard for Gasol. 5. Identify West's replacement Anyone who believes that Jerry West will remain in his role as team president beyond next season is living on Fantasy Island. Part of West's four-year commitment is to ensure the Griz maintain a level of professionalism and competitiveness that he established. Just as West left the Lakers in good shape with a clear right-hand man, he should hire someone who will carry on his philosophy before next season. </div> Source
