Memphis Grizzlies: Had Trades Gone Through

[WillyJakkz]

Magic fan/ HUGE NBA fan w/ a question.

Had ALL of your (rumored or true) teams/ other teams proposed trades to you gone through:

1)Portland to Memphis: Steve Blake for Mike Conley
(rejected by Memphis)
2)Memphis to Golden State: OJ Mayo| Hasheem Thabeet for Monta Ellis (rejected by Golden State)
3)Utah to Memphis: Ronnie Brewer for 1st RD Pick
(accepted)

how would you have felt about your team?

PG: Ellis (sub:Blake)| SG: Brewer(RFA)| SF: Gay(FA)| PF: Randolph| C: Gasol

I feel like you guys are better off presently & future w/ the ONLY trade (Brewer) that was accepted. Just don't see that lineup as being an improvement to what you already had.

Thoughts?

[It_Was_Typed]

Steve Blake for Mike Conley: Meh, lateral move (more or less). Kind of sad it has come to this point.

Monta Ellis for O.J. Mayo and Hasheem Thabeet: Would have drove to Memphis and strangled management myself.

Ronnie Brewer for a first round pick: Love it. Too bad he got hurt SMH.

[WillyJakkz]

Steve Blake for Mike Conley: Meh, lateral move (more or less). Kind of sad it has come to this point.

Monta Ellis for O.J. Mayo and Hasheem Thabeet: Would have drove to Memphis and strangled management myself.

Ronnie Brewer for a first round pick: Love it. Too bad he got hurt SMH.

I feel the same way and even though Memphis isn't my team, I like to watch them play.

on the Monta Ellis thing. That woulda been a TERRIBLE move but I think the one thing it's shown is: They've effectively chosen Gay over Mayo and now not do only other teams know this but Mayo knows this as well and he may not be too happy w/ that.

Brewer is great pickup, love his game and I wished we coulda gotten him. Hope he's not out too long.

[I Am Awesome-O]

I don't believe for one second that Memphis was stupid enough to offer OJ/Thabeet for Ellis and that Golden State was stupid enough to actually reject such a deal.

[BarbaGrizz]

I don't believe for one second that Memphis was stupid enough to offer OJ/Thabeet for Ellis and that Golden State was stupid enough to actually reject such a deal.

+1

[jefe]

I don't believe for one second that Memphis was stupid enough to offer OJ/Thabeet for Ellis and that Golden State was stupid enough to actually reject such a deal.

Agreed. I'd second IWT's analysis of the (potential), too. And to the OP, I'm not sure if it was a typo on your part, but Rudy is RFA as well (you have him as FA and Brewer as RFA).

[Downtown]

I will say this and I'll probably get some criticism over it. I do think an Ellis/Brewer backcourt is better than a Conley/Mayo one. And like Ron Tillery just said, I think Thabeet will still be a project three years from now.

But it made me sick to read Heisley's remark where he said "I" just traded for Brewer and gave up a first round pick for him so "I" am going to re-sign him. If Heisley felt these trades were going to make sense from a bottom line standpoint by not having to make a decision on Conley and Mayo, or wash his hands of Thabeet and spin it with Ellis and the cheaper to re-sign Brewer, plus lose an almost $5mil expiring in Blake, then I am dissapointed.

But I don't think we'll ever know the truth on these rumors.

[WillyJakkz]

And to the OP, I'm not sure if it was a typo on your part, but Rudy is RFA as well (you have him as FA and Brewer as RFA).

You're right, my bad. I thought he was but then second guessed and was wrong.

I will say this and I'll probably get some criticism over it. I do think an Ellis/Brewer backcourt is better than a Conley/Mayo one. And like Ron Tillery just said, I think Thabeet will still be a project three years from now.

I think come next season your backcourt will be Mayo/ Brewer w/ Conley off the bench until he's moved unless he's traded this summer w/ you guys drafting for a PG.

I like Thabeet alot personally and think once you guys get a good bigman assistant coach (your coaching staff is suited more for guards/ swingmen) he'll really shine.

[It_Was_Typed]

If Juice can improve his ball handling and decision making, I think he could be a productive PG. He's certainly willing to get his team mates involved.

[pardon_my_interruption]

I could see Conley for Blake being motivated by the potential Mayo/Ellis deal just to clear more cap for next year had we gotten Ellis, so that deal had no bearing on improving the team from a personnel standpoint. IIRC, the news that we rejected Portland's offer for Conley came after ESPN had already reported that we were willing to trade him for Cap space and a future pick. I know they later denied it but that happens all the time when trades don't go through and my guess is they denied it after they knew they weren't getting Ellis.

Regarding the Ellis for Mayo trade, I for one hate that it did not go through. Monta Ellis does the one thing that Rudy Gay nor O.J. Mayo will ever be good at and that's getting to the Basket. Ellis also has never played with a frontcourt as good as Randolph and Gasol. ZBo and Marc would create even more space for Ellis to explode on the perimeter because he can create his own shot. You plug a player even the caliber of a Thabo Sefolosha or Aaron Afflalo (can defend at the 2 and make a good percentage on 3's) and that team with Gay, Randolph, Gasol would be better than it ever will be with Mike Conley, OJ, Rudy, Zach and Marc. That is a fact.

I do hope they continue the trade talks this summer.

My guess is the Warriors didn't want to pay Thabeet 5 million next year to be 3rd string center behind Biedrins/Turiaf because he's surely not better than either of those 2 and he won't be in 2 years. Because he sucks.

I will go with the belief that if we had've offered Mayo and some expirings for Ellis, GS probably would have said yes. But we didn't want to take Ellis' contract without giving up more salary. May or may not be what actually occurred but it would make some sense to me.

Regarding Brewer, if the reported Mayo/Thabeet for Ellis deal had gone through, we wouldn't have had the remaining cap space to take Ronnie Brewer so he would be in Utah. Still.

[boogiesdad]

Memphis did good by staying put.

We have solid talent. Rights to gay and 3 #1's to play with next year.

Shame we could not get rid of Jaric.

[dark-child]

There are a few things these potential deals say about how the organization views the current lineup and team.

First we made a major boo boo in drafting Thabeet and if we can get a taker for something tangible we will do it. They realize he must be moved prior to Gasol being due for his extension as you can't have more than 15 million tied up in your center position.

Conley is not a starting point guard in the league and he is not more valuable than the CAP relief needed to sign our restricted free agents.

Mayo is going to always struggle aganist bigger shooting guards and has not shown enough command at the point guard position to transition mid season without leading the league in turnovers. If we can secure a top flight point guard whose contract remains steady at 11 mil a year and who is from the area why not make a run at him.

Rudy Gay is the one guy they can ill afford to lose. His athleticism is off the charts and will give you an advantage on 90% of nights in the league so he is going to get a max contract whether he deserves it or not.

If the deals had went thru and we ended up with a lineup of Ellis, Brewer, Gay, Randolph, and Gasol. That would have been the most complete lineup we have ever had and probably among the elite in this league.

You also failed to mention that Heisely wanted to trade for Hinrich as well but we have not been given what the specifics of that deal would have been.

Everyone recognizes that we need an upgrade at the point and more of a defensive 2 guard to achieve the success we have all hoped for so those potential deals would have gone a long way in accomplishing that.

I hope they are able to pull it off in the off season.

[WillyJakkz]

Seems like you guys/ fans are kinda split on the decision w/ OJ| Thabeet for Ellis while the Brewer trade of course was a no brainer.

Just me on the outside looking in, and it also may be wishful thinking from a fan perspective but I think w/ OJ| Thabeet| Conley| 3 draft picks and w/ Hornets rookie PG Darren Collison playing like a beast, you guys could realistically make a pitch for CP3.

That'd be something to consider this summer.

Paul| Brewer| Gay| Randolph (expiring)| Gasol is very solid/ legit and easily a playoff team.

[dark-child]

That would be very wishful thinking on our part but stranger things have happened. Chris Paul and Rudy Gay are very good friends so that would definetily be a sweetner in retaining Gay. I do feel obtaining a very high quality point guard is a priority and we do need to think about such opportunities as we don't seem to have much luck in the lottery.

[WillyJakkz]

Well I came up w/ a trade proposal in the T&T section (which I'll post in you guys trade section) and hopefully y'all will participate/ give feedback on it.

[old rem]

I will say this and I'll probably get some criticism over it. I do think an Ellis/Brewer backcourt is better than a Conley/Mayo one. And like Ron Tillery just said, I think Thabeet will still be a project three years from now.

But it made me sick to read Heisley's remark where he said "I" just traded for Brewer and gave up a first round pick for him so "I" am going to re-sign him. If Heisley felt these trades were going to make sense from a bottom line standpoint by not having to make a decision on Conley and Mayo, or wash his hands of Thabeet and spin it with Ellis and the cheaper to re-sign Brewer, plus lose an almost $5mil expiring in Blake, then I am dissapointed.

But I don't think we'll ever know the truth on these rumors.

The whole deal on Ellis + Mayo hung on what do you think of Thabeet. If he was added to the idea...the Griz must have been having doubts. GSW recently saw POB go to waste and if I'm Riley, I think " Project Center" and Nellie just don't mix. It may be a deal both teams are lucky to not do.

[Downtown]

Like I said, I don't think we'll ever know the truth. It will just be specualtion from posters like us. And yes, both teams can move on without feeling like they lost out on something.

[old rem]

Like I said, I don't think we'll ever know the truth. It will just be specualtion from posters like us. And yes, both teams can move on without feeling like they lost out on something.

I agree.

[MilBucksBackOnTop06]

Magic fan/ HUGE NBA fan w/ a question.

Had ALL of your (rumored or true) teams/ other teams proposed trades to you gone through:

1)Portland to Memphis: Steve Blake for Mike Conley
(rejected by Memphis)
2)Memphis to Golden State: OJ Mayo| Hasheem Thabeet for Monta Ellis (rejected by Golden State)
3)Utah to Memphis: Ronnie Brewer for 1st RD Pick
(accepted)

how would you have felt about your team?

PG: Ellis (sub:Blake)| SG: Brewer(RFA)| SF: Gay(FA)| PF: Randolph| C: Gasol

I feel like you guys are better off presently & future w/ the ONLY trade (Brewer) that was accepted. Just don't see that lineup as being an improvement to what you already had.

Thoughts?

I HAVE NO IDEA...why Golden State did not take that trade! OJ Mayo and Thabeet for Monta Ellis? But I can see why kind of...That could not have possibly been all the principals of a trade like that.
Obviously G.S. wanted something else which Memphis did not give them. But if you are Memphis you have to do that deal and give them anyone they want outside of your Big Three and stop being so cheap! Monta Ellis is just that damn good, and would put butts in the seats!
I bet any money at all they wanted that GS wanted that 1st round pick. Which Memphis should have gave them without hesitation. I think your team has what...5 draft picks!? What are you holding onto them for???
But Memphis was trying to be slick because they knew they wanted to use that to get the Jazz's defensive stopper Ronnie Brewer and they wanted to have it both ways. Then Brewer comes and gets hurt...You could have gotten a guy like Brewer from the D-League or the waiver wire.
The Grizz already ripped off New York for Zach Randolph and made a good great deal to get Mayo from the T'Wolves, and did not do bad moving Gasol off the books, they wanted to get Brewer and Monta both in separate deals....Smart.
If they would have added both Brewer and Ellis that would have put Heimsley in the Hall of Fame if he pulled that off, and your Grizzlies would get in or past the first round of the playoffs!
I have no idea why GS would not take Monta Ellis off the books and bring in Thabeet and Mayo to go with Stephen Curry and rebuild in Oakland. Memphis should have added Sam Young who i know you like and that 1st round pick...
Then fans would buy those $5 tickets to come to games. If you are going to do that, then don't cut corners. Go for it! As long as you come out of any deal still with Gay, Randolph, and Gasol you don't play games...Go for it. Get rid of everyone else and surround that core with a stud like Monta!
That would have been awesome for your team. You need a proven vet with that frontline now that Zach has turned that corner...Not only that, Monta Ellis probably could have convinced Rudy Gay to re-sign and stay after the season. Now it's either him or Mayo this Summer with Brewer as a fallback guy.
So to me that was the biggest no deal in the NBA. I fault the Grizzlies for not giving up that 1st for Monta, and I fault the Warriors for not jumping at that deal. But I understand why the Grizzlies did not give up the #1. They were saving it for Brewer. But you should have given up some picks and got that done...

[MilBucksBackOnTop06]

I will say this and I'll probably get some criticism over it. I do think an Ellis/Brewer backcourt is better than a Conley/Mayo one. And like Ron Tillery just said, I think Thabeet will still be a project three years from now.

But it made me sick to read Heisley's remark where he said "I" just traded for Brewer and gave up a first round pick for him so "I" am going to re-sign him. If Heisley felt these trades were going to make sense from a bottom line standpoint by not having to make a decision on Conley and Mayo, or wash his hands of Thabeet and spin it with Ellis and the cheaper to re-sign Brewer, plus lose an almost $5mil expiring in Blake, then I am dissapointed.

But I don't think we'll ever know the truth on these rumors.

The whole deal on Ellis + Mayo hung on what do you think of Thabeet. If he was added to the idea...the Griz must have been having doubts. GSW recently saw POB go to waste and if I'm Riley, I think " Project Center" and Nellie just don't mix. It may be a deal both teams are lucky to not do.

What are you all talking about???

I know Nellie better then anyone in here from his years in Milwaukee. This man drafted or coddled Shawn Bradley, Randy Breuer, Alton Lister, and now Andris Biedrins for crying out loud...he does not mind projects.
He would have loved Thabeet! The thing G.S. wanted was that draft pick! I am certain of it. I would not have traded Conley to the Blazers for Blake. Maybe Outlaw or Bayless, not Blake.
You don't need expirings unless he is selling this team...which he might be. You did not need Ronnie Brewer unless he was your insurance for Gay leaving. But you could have got a Ronnie Brewer in the Summer...or off the waiver wire.
I would have sent anything to get Monta Ellis down there where you people don't even come to games on $5 tickets!!!
Stop hoarding those draft picks and win now! G.S. is a fool for not doing that deal and getting Monta's Ellis' deal off their books.
I love Mayo and wish My Bucks could get him if you all don't want the kid. I would love to see the Bucks move our 1st for him and put him next to Brandon Jennings!
But that deal should have been struck if there was even minimal interests from both teams...There was too much haggling going on. That would have been a blockbuster for Memphis and a good move by Golden State.
The ONLY thing Memphis should have been worried about was not having to part with Gasol, Gay, or Zach in any deal...anyone else on that team is irrelevant to the 'big picture.' Don't haggle with BS in the West when you can get good...Identify your core and build on it when you can just like you had rolled the dice with Iverson and Stackhouse who is now helping us (Bucks)...Just do it.
You can always rebuild and no free agent will come there...so you have to do it by draft and by trades. But you seize the opportunity when it is there if you are Memphis this is not a game...