RealGM

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/58611/20090417/wallace_no_untouchables_in_memphis/

Grizzles general manager Chris Wallace will be looking to shakeup the team's roster this summer, and says that there are no "untouchable" players.

"We need additional front-line talent," said Wallace on Thursday.

The four best players on the Memphis roster, O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, are all under the age of 24.

"When you're a 24-win team, you don't have untouchables," said Wallace. "I promise, we're not resting on our laurels."

There has been a lot of talk about making another trade with Memphis here, but which assets should we shoot for (if we do make a trade)?

Would you rather trade for Gasol or Thabeet or Rubio?
If Memphis gambles on Rubio, should we make a move for Conley?
Should Gay be added be added into any trade proposal?

If we decide on any trade, who should we offer? Any package will have to center around Love, Pekovic, Jefferson, and/or our #6 pick. Personally I'm in favor of a trade with Memphis because it looks like both teams will benefit.

I said Gasol because he'd be the easiest to get, he's 7'1", he's huge, and still 24 years old.

Trading to get Thabeet is the same as trading to get Rubio, and would cost far too much.

My hope would be that they'd prefer to draft Thabeet, making Gasol available, and we could get him at a decent price. I'd trade Pekovic for Gasol pretty easily. Likely a little would have to be added in, so maybe #28?

Not sure what would be needed, but I'd prefer Gasol in this scenario.

john2jer wrote:I said Gasol because he'd be the easiest to get, he's 7'1", he's huge, and still 24 years old.

Trading to get Thabeet is the same as trading to get Rubio, and would cost far too much.

My hope would be that they'd prefer to draft Thabeet, making Gasol available, and we could get him at a decent price. I'd trade Pekovic for Gasol pretty easily. Likely a little would have to be added in, so maybe #28?

Not sure what would be needed, but I'd prefer Gasol in this scenario.

Gasol may be young, but Rubio and Thabeet are younger, which is one reason why I have trouble considering him. Still I feel mixed on all of them. You know what were getting with Gasol, Thabeet is a huge defensive center that feels a need here, but he has a lot of question marks, and Rubio is the BPA at the #2 pick, unfortunately he acts like a girl and looks like an Axe model. However, I think Rubio is bluffing and if he doesn't want to pay for his buyout, so be it. We can wait till next year or trade him if we want.

But like I said, Gasol's easier to get. Cheaper. No thanks on giving up what it would take to get Rubio and then having to deal with the mess of him coming over or not.

Rubio was a nice idea before the lottery. Now that the lottery's over, we need to give up that pipe dream.

Gasol put up reasonably good numbers for a rookie, but watching him play I think Britt Robson nailed it when he dubbed him "the water buffalo". The wolves already doubled down once on slow big men, I don't think they should go after someone even slower than Love and Jefferson.

I really soured on Rudy Gay, he seemed like a team killer this year. His game seems best for a bottom dweller with no other good players around, I hope he turns it around.

Conley didn't make an impression on me.

Thabeet might be good, but Rubio is looks like a safer bet at this point. Out of this bunch I would go for Rubio.

There aren't a lot of workable options until after June 30 (after the draft, when we could trade Cardinal or Miller back to Memphis)...

Right now, Gasol for Madsen + picks works. Gasol and Conley for Madsen, Smith and Bassy + picks works.

In order for Memphis to get enough value, though, I'd say it'd cost us at least #18 and #28. And I wouldn't think they would trade both Gasol and Conley regardless...

Honestly, I doubt Memphis is the team we deal with, if we deal.

Unless it's Gasol, I choose none. And even with Gasol, I choose none. Trading for any of those guys just makes little sense.

I think Conely would be easier to get than Gasol (assuming they draft Rubio). Not sure what Memphis would want for him though.

mandurugo wrote:Gasol put up reasonably good numbers for a rookie, but watching him play I think Britt Robson nailed it when he dubbed him "the water buffalo". The wolves already doubled down once on slow big men, I don't think they should go after someone even slower than Love and Jefferson.

I really soured on Rudy Gay, he seemed like a team killer this year. His game seems best for a bottom dweller with no other good players around, I hope he turns it around.

Conley didn't make an impression on me.

Thabeet might be good, but Rubio is looks like a safer bet at this point. Out of this bunch I would go for Rubio.

I think Gasol would make us one of the most unathletic teams in history. My main issue with Gasol is his age. He's 24, Thabeet is 22, and Rubio is 18. That 6 year difference between Rubio and Gasol is crazy. Furthermore, Gasol's contract ends in 2 years, we would have to resign him soon. I gotta go with Rubio>Thabeet>Gasol (not just because of age either). I don't see what Gasol really brings the team.

I think Gay is somewhat overrated too, but we would be very versatile at the 3 spot with Brewer, Gomes, and Gay. I like Conley because he's a pure pg, he's not good, but not great either. I don't believe articles about Memphis not drafted Rubio because they have a pg in Conley argument.

If the Grizzlies decided on Conley, I was actually considering a Pekovic for Conley trade. I haven't added any fillers yet (obviously still a rough rough rough draft)