Well, if you are here looking for some more of what MemphisX has to say about the Memphis Grizzlies, I am still writing but just in another place.  Go to 3ShadesofBlueto read the latest on my opinions of the latest Grizzlies news. 

'Twas the night before Christmas....

Yes, the friendlies are over.  No more Pau Gasol in street clothes (hopefully). It is time to get down to business for the Memphis Grizzlies.  The 2007-08 opens with most of the fan base excited for what could be a bright beginning to a championship future. It is time for the Grizzlies to go from NBA stepchild to favorite son.  I am ready for what is about to be a glorious beginning.  Remember, the road to championship for the teams not lucky enough to draft a ready made superstar is a marathon not a sprint.  This season is our first steps toward the Larry O'Brien Championship trophy and although we may stumble a bit on the way...our future is very bright.

                  



Although the Memphis Grizzlies picked up the pace offensively under interim coach Tony Barone Sr., new coach Mark Iavaroni will bring a more disciplined offensive scheme to the team and an emphasis on defense. Point Guard The Grizzlies also used the #4 draft pick to bring in a quarterback to lead the new offense.  Combined with the return to health of veteran Damon Stoudamire and fan favorite Kyle Lowry, the point guard position seems to be on lock for the immediate future.  Shooting Guard Mike Miller enjoyed a breakout season in the midst of the horror of last year and capped it off with an invitation to Team USA.  There were whispers that Miller was not happy in Memphis but nothing concrete surfaced. Casey Jacobsen and FOP (friend of Pau) Juan Carlos Navarro were brought for their range and steady, experienced outside shots.  They will serve as the primary backups on the wings. Small Forward  Rudy Gay was slightly more consistent this preseason and looked like his overall game was improved.  He will be the small forward this season except when he is playing power forward.  Look for Gay to be on the court close to 40 minutes a night and his numbers should be eye popping across the board.  Although he sometimes drifts mentally defensively, he has shown the ability to be a shutdown defender due to his athleticism and length.  He will show vast improvement. Power Forward The Meal Ticket Pau Gasol is coming off his best season in the NBA.  He quietly put up very big numbers but was overlooked due to his late start and the Grizzlies horrible record.  This season he will not fly under the radar.  Look for Gasol to finally become an official member of the 20 and 10 club which will change his profile in the league. The primary backup at PF will be Gay but Hakim Warrick also can perform decently when given minutes. Center This was supposed to be Darko's time to shine.  However, a funny thing happened on the way to destiny.  The oft maligned Stromile Swift decided to come to camp ready to play.  Swift beat out the inconsistent Milicic and seemed to finally get it.  However, as a Grizzlies fan, I will wait 20-30 games before I openly declare Stromile Swift a new man.

          

The problems for the Grizz in 2007-08 are the same problems they have had for the life of the franchise.  They a polished, physical interior presence and they do not have that cold blooded perimeter scorer the elite teams seem to have on their roster.  The Grizz are hopeful that Darko Milicic and Rudy Gay can fill those roles eventually but judging from the preseason, the Grizzlies will continue to struggle against big, physical teams.  The Grizzlies will also struggle to finish close games with their poor free throw shooting, inability to finish off defensive possessions with rebounds, and lack of perimeter closer.  At times the Grizzlies collection of three point shooter will make them seem unbeatable but they will need their point guards to constantly break down defenders on the perimeter to create open looks for the bombers.  Another problem for the Grizzlies will be Damon Stoudamire starting at point guard.  Mighty Mouse struggles to get past defenders off the dribble or apply defensive pressure on the ball.  The Grizz simply do not have the interior defenders capable of with standing constant penetration and this could lead to a lot of early foul trouble. 

                                               

My one bone to pick with GM Chris Wallace and rookie coach Mark Iavaroni is their rhetoric regarding defense but having a starting lineup with 3 average to poor defenders and another 3 poor defenders (JCN, CJ, Hak) in the rotation.  At some point, if you want to be a good defensive team, you have to have good defenders getting most of the minutes.  I think until they either bring in some good defenders or acquire a truly special offensive talent, this team will struggle.

                                           

The Memphis Grizzlies will struggle to be a .500 team in the 2007-08 season due to youth and lack of personnel.  I think the high water mark for this team as is will be 40 wins and an outside chance at the 8th seed.  However, I am a + or - 5 games kind of guy so my prediction for the 2007-08 Memphis Grizzlies is 35-47.  Hopefully, this is the season we will get lucky in the lottery.

Well preseason game #4 is in the books for the Memphis Grizzlies and it was a lackluster effort to say the least. This game was hurt by some very spotty officiating but it didn't seem to hurt the Pacers ability to execute on both ends of the court.  This game continued a disturbing trend of poor defense, poor rebounding and poor intensity.  For me this is not a good sign of a young team, coming off a poor season with a new coaching staff and plenty of playing time available.  Since this game was available on DirectTV, I decided to concentrate on evaluating the individual players instead of the team as an entire unit.  Here is my breakdown of the performance of the players:

Pau Gasol - Playing time was limited by a mild ankle sprain.  Gasol continues to be the only player I have no concern about what he will do once the Spurs show up in Memphis.  He is solid and consistent.  No need to worry about Pau.

Mike Miller - I think Mike is still struggling to identify his role with this team and is really hurt by our sub par roster.  Ideally he would be a spot up small forward with very little responsibility toward ball handling.  However, as our shooting guard, he finds himself trying to create to much with the ball in his hands and the results are not pretty.  Miller continues playing poor defense but giving better than average effort on the boards.

Rudy Gay - Another good statistical game. Also shows proof that box scores can lie.  Rudy Gay is simply not a shot creating SF at this point.  Gay should never be isolated away from the basket with the ball in his hands.  Another concern is that Gay simply makes horrible basketball decisions that go far beyond shot selection.  He struggles in identifying attack angles off the dribble and in the post.  He gets off balance so much because he just attacks defenders poorly.  He drives into help defenders and his decisions are to slow.  I am trying to be patient about Gay but I am not impressed and I think it is mainly due to the fact that he is being misused.  Put him at PF, tell him to cut to the basket and shoot spot up jumpers. Rebound, rebound, rebound.  His best bet is to recast himself as Matrix II.

Hakim Warrick - First, let me say, I am not a fan of Warrick.  His game is just to limited to be anything but a bit player on a loaded team.  Put him on San Antonio or Boston and he would look real, real good in spurts.  For the Grizzlies, he is horrible in almost all aspects. Ball stopper, poor defender, poor rebounder, and not a shot blocker.  He is just a scorer and in the NBA he is an average and limited scorer at best.

Kyle Lowry - Still perhaps my favorite Grizz to watch but if you really watch him, you would concede he is not a starting point guard.  He simply lacks the vision to effectively get his teammates involved.  Even on the break, he pushes the ball with tunnel vision.  He can get his win or run simple play sets but he lacks that special quality to command a game on offense.  On defense is another story.  Simply can't be isolated. He is so tenacious that he out wills lesser guards.  Ideally he should come off the bench and maybe finish games with his ability to get in the lane and draws fouls. One thing that was disappointing was to see him running the three man weave at the top of the key to start the game. WTF is that?

Juan Carlos Navarro - He is the ultimate 6th man.  I mean he was bred for that role. 20-30 minutes a night depending on his temperature.  A cold blooded shooter that can keep defenders honest with his floater.  If Memphis can ever pick up the pace and allow him to get lost in the chaos, he is going to have some big eruptions such as 15 point quarters.

Micheal Conley - I must admit, I was worried for a second  Conley finally got enough minutes to show his worth.  He simply understands offense in half court and transition.  If I were Iavaroni, he would be the starter from day 1.  I know he will have some terrible games but such is life with a rookie. If they hand over the team to him now, he has a chance to be ROY.

Darko Milicic - He is big.  He can really defend bigs in the post but struggles to truly understand team defensive concepts.  Still gets to caught up in his one on one matchup.  Seems a little out of shape.  He is what he is right now.  Needs to bring more controlled energy if he wants more minutes.

Stromile Swift - Probably wasn't going to play if Pau was healthy but still continues to be an average NBA big man.  He is OK for the price but he is also losing some of that freakish athleticism.

Tarence Kinsey - He reminds me so much of a young Bruce Bowen with handles.  He is rail thin and gets knocked around like a rag doll but is just so tenacious that he makes plays on both ends of the court.  Shot is still not pure but can help in so many ways he should be played over Casey.

Casey Jacobsen - Great 3 point shooter but does absolutely nothing else of value and is a severe liability on defense.

Brian Cardinal - Tried to post up Jermaine O'Neal. It was ugly, like his game.  He is still a hustler but has lost a little athletically and for him that is horrid. Competes and might give Hakim a run for his money for minutes due to his defense and ability to create space for Pau.

Andre Brown - Should really concentrate in carving out a niche as an enforcer type.  Has very little skill and bunches of athleticism.  Should call Darvin Ham for advice.

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Overall this was a disappointing display from a team perspective. I didn't like the effort or execution.  Too many times seeing our players getting out muscled in the post (as usual).  Too many bad basketball plays.  Seems like very little cohesion on the offensive end and very little talent on the defensive end.

Dear Mr. Wallace,

I know you don't know me from a hole in the wall but I am a Memphis Grizzlies fan. I know that does mean a lot to you because you have at least shown that much. First off, Welcome to Memphis! You have really been a breath of fresh air. Every since I read you were being considered for our GM and read your 3-part analysis on the 2007 NBA draft, I knew you were the right man for the job. From a fans perspective, I think you had an almost flawless offseason considering the resources you had at your disposal. Our team is just full of talented, young players and generally good guys. See, this isn't going to be one of those letters full of criticism.

The purpose of this letter is to get you to understand my expectations as a fan. I want to win. By winning, I don't mean going 42-40 and winning 2 games in the playoffs. See my fellow Grizz fans always tell me to be patient. These things take time. Well, I have been an NBA fan for well over 20 years and I know that is a lie. As a fellow NBA fan, I now you can remember a lot of promising, young teams that never amounted to squat. Some never even stayed together long enough to make the playoffs. Remember the Clippers with Brand, Odom, Miles, Q Rich and Andre Miller? I do. I remember the Three Js and Backcourt2000. So I know nothing is promised regardless of how you decide to build the team.

What I do know is that the NBA is not simply a talent driven league. The NBA is an experienced talent driven league. Saying that gets me to the point of this letter: BE PREPARED! Come January, Memphis fans will be a little giddy over the future promise of our team. Please save them!

See I moved to Memphis in 2001 after spending 7 years in San Antonio as a Spurs fan. I was in the Alamodome when The Memorial Day Miracle happened! Grizz fans only understand the underdog role. Being the underdog sucks! Until that season, the Spurs were a cuddly little organization. Always a good team but non-threatening as far as title contention in the NBA. 8 seasons later and they are the team every other contending team measures themselves against.

I am not asking you to make us the Spurs but for the love of basketball, make us one of the teams measuring themselves against the Spurs. I know, I know...patience right? Is seven years not enough time? I know this first six seasons weren't your fault but you inherit the history with the job....

...back to the purpose of the letter:

Come January, Memphis fans will be a little giddy over the future promise of our team. Please save them!

There will be some team in the Eastern Conference floundering around, probably injured or in some other type of disarray. Regardless of the reason, they will be disappointing. They will inexplicably put their best player on the market. Oh, there will likely not be any articles written about it but you will hear the noise.

The most likely team will be the Washington Wizards. A team with an outspoken star approaching free agency (Gilbert Arenas), an aged veteran approaching free agency (Antawn Jamison) that they are to cheap to resign, another player with a reasonable contract to keep them credible to their fans, and a bunch of promising young talent. Oh, by January they will be ripe for the picking. Please pluck Mr. Arenas off their roster.

They have a notoriously cheap owner and I can't see him resigning Arenas to a MAX deal and Jamison to a rich deal just to keep being a fringe playoff team. So let's give them the tonic all cheap owners like their fans to drink: Future Promise V.S.O.P. I have seen some fans so drunk on it that ownership can milk half a decade or more out of it (See Atlanta). It truly is a remarkable drink.

Let them have their choice of Conley or Lowry and Gay or Warrick. Take the restrictions off that draft pick we owe them for 2009 and throw in another pick in 2011, then do what I know you didn't want to do this summer for Juan Carlos Navarro and take Brendan Haywood off their roster and throw in Damon Stoudamire and Stromile Swift's soon to be expiring contracts. So most likely it will end up being Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, Damon Stoudamire, Stromile Swift and 2 1st round draft picks for Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood.

I know it is a lot to ask Mr. Wallace but for the love of basketball, Memphis has had plenty of years watching "potential" and it is hit and miss.  For once, it would be nice to watch a finished product that is an All Star playing next to Pau Gasol.

MemphisX

 Well this review is a couple of days late but it is here now.  The Western Conference non playoff teams were infused with the two best NCAA prospects to come into the NBA in about 15 years.  Unlike Boston in the East, non of the Western teams are projected to be in the NBA finals this season.  Let me tell you how the worst of the West did this summer:

15.  What went right: The Memphis Grizzlies are finally out from under the iron fist of Jerry West.  The gray days are over.  New GM Chris Wallace has breathed fresh air into a franchise that has seen very little success since coming into the NBA.  How that will translate into wins and losses is yet to be seen. The Grizzlies finally signed a big man to compliment Pau Gasol.  Darko Milicic will be the first talented center to play for the Grizzlies since Big Country called it quits and should play well off of Gasol.  The Grizzlies also drafted Mike Conley Jr.  Conley is going to be an impact PG.  His stats might not be but it will show up in the wins column much like TJ Ford's rookie year in Milwaukee but better.

 

What went wrong: The Grizzlies lost the NBA lottery.  The entire atmosphere of the organization would have changed with Greg Oden or Kevin Durant in Memphis.  The Grizzlies are still in need of a superstar (box office) talent.  We need a player that can energize the fan base and pack the FEDEXFORUM.  We are hoping that player can be Rudy Gay but I am doubtful.

14.  What went right:  The Sonics were able to draft the most exciting talent to come into the NBA since Vince Carter.  He will eventually be must see around the league and they should begin to construct a roster around him immediately.  Kevin Durant had the most electric college basketball season I have witnessed since Chris Jackson of LSU.  The Sonics also made a shrewd GM hire in Sam Presti.  I thought he was a good choice even though I am going on 2nd hand knowledge.  I liked his trade of Ray Allen and what he got for taking on Kurt Thomas' contract from Phoenix.  However, I am skeptical on his selection of Jeff green at #5 when he plays the same position as Durant.

What went wrong: The new owners have not be a hit in seattle and are looking for a new arena.  I am one who does not think that they really want to move, they just want a sweeter arena deal.  The Sonics did not deal any of their young 7 footers.  It is just impossible to develop that many young players at the same position and they are all suffering for it.  I think Saer Sene is the best project and the best compliment to Durant if developed and the others should be given away.

13.  What went right: Nothing. Seriously.  They waited to long to trade KG.  Drafted the wrong player and traded for Trenton Hassel for a worse player with a worse contract.  This is the pit of the NBA now that KG is gone.  If I were Al Jefferson, I would not sign an extension here.

What went wrong:  McHale is still in charge.  Instead of getting AL Jefferson and the #5 for KG at draft time, he only gets Al Jefferson and spare parts. about a month later.  He then drafts Corey Brewer, who some like much more than me as an NBA player, over  three bigs (Wright, Noah, Hawes) when you have to know that KG's time in Minnesota is coming to an end.

12. What went right: The Portland Trailblazers won the NBA draft lottery and the right to draft the next great big man: Greg Oden.  In bringing in the next Blazer era, they decided to rid themselves of one of the last parts of Trailgangsta lore by giving away Zach Randolph to New York.  I think this was a good move because Oden is going to be so good that they will not need a steady  NBA veteran to keep the team afloat.

 

What went wrong: Micro fracture.  Greg Oden followed up a horrible summer league by having to go under the knife for micro fracture surgery and is projected to miss the entire season.  To add injury to insult, 2007 NBA rookie of the year is now projected to miss the playoffs with a recurring heal injury.  It looks like LaMarcia...LaMarcus Aldridge will get his time to shine this season.

 

11. What went right: The Sacramento Kings had the wisdom to lock up Kevin Martin without letting negotiations get public or nasty.  $55 million over 5 years is a steep price but his talent seems to warrant that type of contract.  Ron Artest and Brad Miller are supposedly in much better condition than they were last season.  If this is the case, then the hole everyone projects this team to fall into might never be dug.  There is some talent here, especially on the perimeter.

What went wrong:  They missed out on Stan Van Gundy as coach.  Just think, if Billy the Kid does not get scared and run back to the swamp, this team would probably be projected to be much better under the respected SVG.  Hiring Reggie Theus, a rookie NBA coach, to deal with Artest is a risk but as a former NBA player it could work out.

10. What went right: Tyson Chandler was able to spend the entire summer playing with and against some of the best players the NBA has to offer.  It can only help his perspective.  The team has also moved back to New Orleans full time, which should help them get back some stability because I don't think the homecourt advantage of OK was going to last much longer.

 

What went wrong: Peja is still not 100%.  Peja is the key to this team taking the next step into the playoffs and without his ability to stretch defenses, it is going to be a grind trying to get Chris Paul into the playoffs to shine.

 

9. What went right: I am not sure what went right here.  If you got something, please email me.

What went wrong: Elton Brand went down with an achilles injury.  If he loses some of his explosiveness, he will not be the same player.  Sam Cassell is a year older and at age 63, we should not expect much more out of him.

Linkage:

Here you can listen to Chad Ford's Podcast with Mark Stein where they both project the Grizzlies to be the surprise team of the season.

 Well the Memphis Grizzlies continue with their efforts to reach out to their fan base and make them feel like part of the organization.  This afternoon they held the 1st Annual Blue-White scrimmage at lunch time on the main floor of the FedExForum.  It was a nice little atmosphere and I hope they continue with this because it was a great success.

                  

Player Observations:

I won't bother talking much about Pau Gasol and Mike Miller because they were healthy and in shape and have enough of a history with our team that there was not much to see this afternoon.  I expect them both to improve or maintain the career years they had last season.



Damon Stoudamire: Mighty Mouse actually looked to be moving much better than last season but his lateral movement on defense is still a problem.  However, on offense he looked like the old Damon.  His jumper was wet and his knowledge was supreme.  His experience was big in going and getting the ball and pushing the pace for the White team.



Mike Conley Jr.: I am going on record.  He is going to beat out Kevin Durant and Al Horford for rookie of the year honors.  He simply has an aged understanding of how to run an offense.  Once he gets that rookie crap out of his ears and demands the ball so he can push the pace and dictate the offense he will star.  I figure Coach Iavaroni will have him squared away by December.  He can get in the lane at will but is still better passing than finishing at this point.  His ambidexterity will help him in finishing and an offseason in the weight room will do wonders for him.  He is going to be a impact PG as a rookie.



Rudy Gay: I am sorry to report...same old Rudy.  His handles don't look any better from last year and he seems determined to master the fade away jumper.  This is a big year for this kid because with a new front office, they are not as married to him as Jerry West and he has the most value on the team.  I just see him better suited to playing power forward because of his lack of handles.  I hope I am wrong but I just didn't see the improvement I was looking for except in his physique.

Hakim Warrick: It seems Hak went to work on defense and interior rebounding as he looked a lot stronger in the post defensively.  However, he was facing Stromile Swift.  I think it is going to come down to Rudy vs. Hakim in getting us some high powered help at shooting guard and I would not be shocked to see Hakim win the battle.  I was impressed because I already know what he can do offensively and if he shows any improvement in his face up game then...

 

Darko Milicic: Huge.  He is a big man.  However, he does have one of my big man pet peeves: He doesn't dunk everything around the goal.  I always like guys who try to rip the goal down when they can.  You get more foul calls that way.  He does have better post moves than I thought and is going to be hard to push out of the post by the opposition.

 

Juan Carlos Navarro: Our Spanish fans warned us he was not a point guard and he is not.  However, he is probably second to Damon among our guards in understanding the nuances of offense and getting space for your team to get shots.  His dribble can't with stand intense NBA pressure though.  I need to see much more to make a definite determination though.

 

Casey Jacobsen: He will rival Mike Miller for best shooter.  I think he is going to earn playing time simply for his ability to stretch defenses.  He is bigger than I remembered and a willing defender.  It will be interesting to see how the rotation shakes out.

 

Stromile Swift: I sure hope he takes to flier on that free agency thing next summer.  Does not get it. Will not get it.  You can call him Mr. DNP-CD barring injuries.

 

Brian Cardinal:  The Custodian seems to be back and one thing I do know is that coaches love his smarts and hustle.  If healthy, he will be in the rotation.  He didn't shoot much but I am guessing he can still shoot well from deep.

 

Andre Brown:  I don't think he is as good as AJ from last year but I don't think he will see much active time either.  Live body and active but I don't think he is another Kinsey.

 

Terrance Kinsey:  Looked good to me.  Seems to be getting more range on his jumper and more confidence in demanding the ball.  His combination of offensive and defensive aggression is going to be hard to keep on the bench.  If Rudy is going to shoot jumpers all day than TK offers something that neither Gay or Miller brings to the table.  If TK gets a consistent 3 point shot than he is going to get 25+ minutes.

Kyle Lowry: We miss you kid. Get well soon!

All in all I think it was a good half speed scrimmage.  It was a good idea.  Look for the Western Conference slop offseason review later tonight!

MemphisX

Well it is now time to kick off the 2007-08 NBA season and the best way to do that is to go over exactly what happened while we were hibernating this summer. Today we will kick off with the sludge from the Eastern Conference (teams that did not make the playoffs) and find out exactly what they have done this summer.

 

15.  What went right: No other team in the NBA made a bigger splash this summer than the Boston Celtics.  Fresh off of one of the most disappointing seasons in their storied history, they promptly got a lottery night gut punch that seemed to mark the end of Danny Ainge in Boston.  Then Ainge pulled off a much scrutinized draft night trade for the tender ankled Ray Allen.  It was thought to be a move of desperation at the time. A last ditch effort to "look the part" of a upper echelon team.  Then there was the mishandled attempt to facilitate a Keven Garnett to Phoenix deal that was thwarted by Shawn Marion.  In a true darkest before the dawn scenario, Kevin McHale decided to cement himself in Celtic lore by gift wrapping KG to Boston for a package significantly worse than one he turned down on draft night.  The Celtics were left with three players that could rival the real Big Three in talent level.  It will probably go down as one of the all time image turnarounds in sports.

What went wrong: Lost in the hoopla of the KG and Jesus deals was the fact that the NBA is not a 3 on 3 tournament.  The Celtics are thread bare beyond 2nd year point guard Rajon Rondo.  Rondo is a capable starter and should shine with all the attention the stars will get.  However, there is nothing on the front line to help Garnett.  Also, the C's do not have a credible backup at PG or any other position.  Another problem the C's face is that Doc Rivers is still their coach.  It will be interesting to see if Boston can defend well enough to warrant all the hype they will get this season. I am doubtful.



14.  What went right: The Bucks took one for all the small market teams in the NBA and stood up to the bullshit that was Yi's handlers.  They drafted the player they thought was the best for that pick and got him signed.  The Bucks also kept their two free agent guards, Mo Williams and Charlie Bell, despite their flirtations with South Beach.  Also, Michael Redd came out of this summer healthy and ready to get back to the playoffs.  The Bucks also brought back Desmond Mason, who they traded away in a horrific deal for the player formerly known as a real NBA player (Jamaal Magloire).

What went wrong: The Bucks supposedly had to give Yi a promise of playing time to secure his signature.  If this is true then I hope that he is a credible NBA player.  My guess is that he will struggle early until he adjusts to the speed of the NBA and then his natural gifts will start to take over.  They also severely overpaid to retain their guards.  I am not sure if they are even good enough to make the playoffs in the East which would be a bad sign with so many long term deals on the books.  Also, I will be monitoring Charlie Bell's play.  I mean I would be pissed if I had to pass up the chance to be a 20 something year old millionaire on South Beach to go back to Milwaukee.

13. What went right: The Atlanta Hawks did not hit ground zero and kept two 1st round draft picks.  The Hawks selected seasoned college players that should be able to help the team right away.  Al Horford should be able to step in to the center position and compete from day one.  Acie Law should finally give them a high level talent at the point guard position.  Also, Marvin Williams and Josh Smith are a year more experienced which should show significantly on the court.  Smith looked to be on the verge of becoming a force after  Joe Johnson went down.

What went wrong: The Hawks drafted two more players.  It amazes me that teams that have long playoff droughts continue the cycle of drafting young players.  Young teams simply struggle in the league for a variety of reasons.  The Hawks struggles should be compounded by the fact that the lack quality NBA size and interior defenders.  Also, the Hawks supposedly were going to pass on the chance to trade for Amare Stoudamire.  So I guess the worse thing that happened to the Hawks was that they have the same dysfunctional ownership group.

12.  What went right: The Knicks acquired a prime 20 and 10 PF for peanuts.  Heck, they got him for less than peanuts.  Zack Randolph should immediately become the Knicks go to scorer and take a lot of pressure off of Eddy Curry.  Teams will struggle to defend the Knicks low post threats.  If the Knicks can get any perimeter shooting, they could actually be dangerous by the end of the season.  This might explain why they are in pursuit of Allan Houston.  I think they would be better served dealing for a perimeter shooter under 30 years old.

What went wrong: Most would say the sexual harassment trial but that is small potatoes in New York.  Thomas failed to bring in a big name player to satisfy the lust of New Yorkers.  So we should see a stream of rumors and potential trades from the papers until he does brings an All Star into town.  One other bad point is that Nate Robinson is still on the roster which should cost them 10 games at least.

11. What went right: Although the Bobcats did not acquire an All Star, they did get a real, live NBA player instead of another freaking draft pick.  Jason Richardson should take a lot of pressure off the youngsters in Charlotte.  Raymond Felton should finally have the PG position all to himself and show he belongs in the conversation with Chris Paul and Deron Williams.  With Emeka Okafor anchoring the middle, the Bobcats have a chance to finally make the playoffs in the East. The Bobcats also kept Gerald Wallace at a seemingly good price.

What went wrong: Michael Jordan is still in charge and the Adam Morrison pick can't be undone.  Can you imagine if they would have taken Tyrus Thomas to go with Wallace and Emeka or Brandon Roy. Jeez....

10. What went right: The Philadelphia 76ers did not trade Andre Miller.  When some teams lose their star players, they eject every credible NBA player over 25 off the roster.  This just delays the rebuilding process (see Atlanta). The 76ers will extend Andre Iguodala.  Unfortunately, they will probably give him $20 million more than he is worth.  Louis Williams looked like a potential breakout player in summer league.

What went wrong: Sam Dalembert got hurt playing for Canada.  The 76ers also took on the contract of the Nutcracker (Reggie Evans).  This team has same interesting parts on the roster but most of them would be better served playing off of superstar talents and there is not one on the roster.

9. What went right: Jermaine O'Neal is not in Los Angeles or New Jersey. As long as the Pacers have this anchor in the post, they have a chance to be decent.  If O'Neal is healthy they could contend for a playoff spot despite what most national media guys will tell you.  Jamaal Tinsley is supposedly healthy (and not imprisoned...yet). Diogu, Foster, and Murphy gives them some interesting options next to JO.  I expect this team to be much better than expected.

What went wrong: Shawne Williams got popped for pot.  For an organization that is struggling with off the court problems, this was not good news.  As punishment, he was suspended for his only appearance in his hometown.  Another problem is this team is counting on Mike Dunleavy to finally make consistent contributions to a winning team, something he has not done his entire career.  If these funny looking parts can play some defense, then they should be ok.

 

GrizzliesNation.com is gearing up for another exciting NBA basketball season.  We will have game coverage, routing podcast to answer emailed questions and just so I can give my opinions on what is going on around the NBA, the debut of the weekly GrizzliesNation.com NBA Power Poll, and interviews.  It looks to be an exciting season.  First thing up will be an evaluation of the plethora of offseason news and moves.  Also I will evaluate the entire roster and give my opinions on what should be expected out of the players and the virgin head coach.  I might even have a redesigned site in store before opening night.  It should be fun, buckle in for the laying of the championship foundation...I hope.