RealGM

What mid-level FA will the Grizz go after this summer? and what will the deal look like?

I think the Grizz will make insulting offers to at least one of:
Ben Gordon
Emeka Okafor
Josh Smith
Monta Ellis

Then over offer either:
Matt Barnes
Mickael Pietrus
JR Smith

If we are lucky in the lottery (meaning a top two pick) no significant offers would be forthcoming. If we are not then the following:

I could forsee offers to Josh Smith and Monta Ellis from the first group.
The Grizz have a better chance with Josh Smith due to the Atlanta ownership situation. A deal would start around 8 or 9 million a year for his services.

Monta Ellis is a lot more trickier as Golden State will probably match especially if Baron Davis does a 180 and opts out, then the skies the limit.
If the Grizz are serious then they have to front load the deal and start it at
10 million a year, Golden State would curse us everyday for having to spend 27 million on their starting backcourt.

Omeka Okafor turned down 12 million a year from Charlotte, so he is overpriced by Grizz standards.

Ben Gordon, the Grizz should just say no.

From the second group, Michael Pietrus and JR Smith actually make more sense financially as either can be had for 6-7 million per and neither is a defensive liability like Monta Ellis or Ben Gordon. Both are the type of athletic wing player we need.

I like Eduardo Najera.

That's our MO.

No free agents for more than 7 mill. (i.e. Damon, BC, Darko).

If we go after a free agent, and that's a big IF, I believe we will offer Ben Gordon. Heisley is from Chicago and seems to have some weird fixation on thumbing his nose at that franchise.
.
We should offer
Monta Ellis- that guy is young and talented, but likely out of our price range.

we will not sign a free agent over 4 million per year...

I honestly think the surprise will be signing JR Smith to a 4 year $30m deal. This will give some flexibility with a JCN S&T.

I hope we sign Biedrins...he will be a top3 center in likely two yrs...

GS will match anything for Biedrins.

You could pry Gordon without Bulls matching, but it would cost at least $7 million in first year.

Qualifying Offer to Gordon is $6.4 million so you must top that.

He's not worth anything near the money that he expects. He turned down $10 million a year last off season & said he was insulted by the offer

PhD Griz wrote:we will not sign a free agent over 4 million per year...

dang, Zack, that's harsh. Probably true, but harsh.

I think they'd go above that for Pietrus or Najera or Maggette.

Sadly, they will not go after JR Smith, 'cuz he's a "headcase" and has "character issues".

yes, I'll say it. I'd take JR on this team.

And my thinking in that line is not the result of watching him rain some threes on TV over the last couple weeks.....he's a killer shooter and not a horrible defender.

grizzleGM wrote:GS will match anything for Biedrins.

GS will have to choose between Biedrins and Monta...then we can sign their second option...

PhD Griz wrote:we will not sign a free agent over 4 million per year...

I guess it means JCN and not so much else.

i hope im wrong but the GM will disapoint us again

BarbaGrizz wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



GS will have to choose between Biedrins and Monta...then we can sign their second option...

No they won't... What owner in their right mind wouldn't pay lux tax for one year two sign two of your best players?

grizzleGM wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



No they won't... What owner in their right mind wouldn't pay lux tax for one year two sign two of your best players?

Heisley

Cubboo wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Heisley

My bad....you said "in their right mind"

I like JR Smith alot. He will be the biggest bargain in free agency this summer. Plus, he fits a big need for us.

Monta Ellis wrote:I like JR Smith alot. He will be the biggest bargain in free agency this summer. Plus, he fits a big need for us.

He and your post handle are the two FA's I'd most like to see in Beale St Blue. However, I think Golden State will do (rightfully so) whatever it takes to resign Monta.

I think we have a problem at the shooting guard position. Everyone knows that Mike Miller should be coming off the bench for us but due to the fact that he does so many intangibles for us that we had to have him on the floor. Juan Carlos Navaro may not return to the NBA as he can get what he will be offered in Europe and he was so frustrated at times with the style of play in the league. He flourished when he started but he is a defensive liability which is even greater nex to Conley and the lack of a shot blocker in the middle. How can you possibly pay him 5 million per and have him be the second two guard off the bench.

If Miller was moved and we received a definitive guard to take the 2 guard spot like Martel Webster or Michael Pietrus, or Jr Smith, then it would make sense to resign JCN for mid level money if he decides to return. We also are not factoring in Marc Gasol who was a second round pick and is not slotted into a rookie salary scale. Given the dollars he can command in Europe if he resigns then his salary will probably be around 4 million a year. Hence the Grizz may only have roughly around 7 to 8 million to spend on a free agent that is not involved in a sign and trade after signing our own draft picks.

Those figures shorten the list we can entertain and none of them are on the superstar level which is the one ingredient we all agree we need for the franchise.

It's funny because I've been thinking about JR Smith and what he could bring to the Grizzlies for a while now.

Rudy Gay is the franchise at the moment, and deservedly so, but Smith is one of those explosive high profile players that just might energize this team. At only 23 he's got so much more ahead of him. I wonder if he were put in a position of being one of the go to guys he might rise to the challenge in a surprisingly positive way.

I also think that because there's not too many teams that aren't in dire need of a starting shooting guard JR might look favorably at the Grizzlies situation.