2003: Memphis wins the lottery

Hook_Em · Post #1 » by **Hook_Em** » Wed Feb 12, 2025 11:14 pm

In 2003 the Grizzlies finished 2nd in the lottery and ironically lost their pick b/c it was top-1 protected. In reality they were pretty good the next year and won 50 games in what “could’ve” been LeBron’s rookie year. Let’s say the ping pong fall in their favor and they win #1 pick. They get Lebron and add him to an already established big in Pau Gasol. Multiple shooters in Battier, Mike Miller and James Posey plus a vet PG in Jason Williams. Some decent journeyman to fill out the roster. They were 9th in NET rating the following two years. How good could they have with young LeBron?

parsnips33 · Post #2 » by **parsnips33** » Wed Feb 12, 2025 11:15 pm

Kobe leaves the Lakers

DirtyDez · Post #3 » by **DirtyDez** » Thu Feb 13, 2025 1:50 am

Pau is much better than anything he had in Cleveland the first time around. Ya know ppl point out the 5 best players LeBron has played with MJ’s best 5 teammates failing to realize LeBron wouldn’t have had all those star teammates had he had a Pippen caliber teammate in Cleveland because he wouldn’t have left.

durantbird · Post #4 » by **durantbird** » Thu Feb 13, 2025 5:22 am

If they win the lottery, I think they are a champion within the first 3 years of LeBron there. But what if they put a different protection and get Wade? Probably gets them at least one championship as well if not more

SHAQ32 · Post #5 » by **SHAQ32** » Thu Feb 13, 2025 1:48 pm

DirtyDez wrote:Ya know ppl point out the 5 best players LeBron has played with MJ’s best 5 teammates failing to realize LeBron wouldn’t have had all those star teammates had he had a Pippen caliber teammate in Cleveland because he wouldn’t have left.

The cast was good enough to win 66 games, and 60 games in back2back seasons, then they were good enough to win a championship.

falcolombardi · Post #6 » by **falcolombardi** » Thu Feb 13, 2025 4:45 pm

SHAQ32 wrote:
DirtyDez wrote:Ya know ppl point out the 5 best players LeBron has played with MJ’s best 5 teammates failing to realize LeBron wouldn’t have had all those star teammates had he had a Pippen caliber teammate in Cleveland because he wouldn’t have left.

The cast was good enough to win 66 games, and 60 games in back2back seasons, then they were good enough to win a championship.

Terrible logic, literally punishing lebron for having too much impact

DirtyDez · Post #7 » by **DirtyDez** » Thu Feb 13, 2025 7:06 pm

SHAQ32 wrote:
DirtyDez wrote:Ya know ppl point out the 5 best players LeBron has played with MJ’s best 5 teammates failing to realize LeBron wouldn’t have had all those star teammates had he had a Pippen caliber teammate in Cleveland because he wouldn’t have left.

The cast was good enough to win 66 games, and 60 games in back2back seasons, then they were good enough to win a championship.

Nah his #2 was Larry Hughes or Mo Williams. Neither sniffed an all-nba team.

picko · Post #8 » by **picko** » Fri Feb 14, 2025 12:24 am

If Memphis had won the lottery, then I think they would have been genuine contenders from LeBron's second season. A Gasol-LeBron duo, surrounded by solid role players, would have been more than enough to contend and win a championship.

SHAQ32 wrote:
DirtyDez wrote:Ya know ppl point out the 5 best players LeBron has played with MJ’s best 5 teammates failing to realize LeBron wouldn’t have had all those star teammates had he had a Pippen caliber teammate in Cleveland because he wouldn’t have left.

The cast was good enough to win 66 games, and 60 games in back2back seasons, then they were good enough to win a championship.

In 2009, the top five players on the Cavs for minutes played were Mo Williams, Anderson Varejao, Delonte West and Daniel Gibson. And coached by Mike Brown.

The following year the top five replaced West and Gibson with Anthony Parker and JJ Hickson.

If they'd won a title they would have been, by far, the least talented team to do so in the post-merger era.

golden009 · Post #9 » by **golden009** » Sat Feb 15, 2025 4:57 am

Never noticed it until just now, but the way the '07 Grizzlies bottom out is kind of insane. They lose Battier and go from 2nd in the league in defensive rating to dead last?

B-Mitch 30 · Post #10 » by **B-Mitch 30** » Sun Feb 16, 2025 3:11 am

golden009 wrote:Never noticed it until just now, but the way the '07 Grizzlies bottom out is kind of insane. They lose Battier and go from 2nd in the league in defensive rating to dead last?

Pau was dealing with breaking his foot during his first FIBA World Championship I think.

One_and_Done · Post #11 » by **One_and_Done** » Sun Feb 16, 2025 3:29 am

parsnips33 wrote:Kobe leaves the Lakers

Pretty much this. Lebron wins a bunch of titles in his first Cleveland stint, and Kobe gets none and is remembered as Shaq's Robin.

One_and_Done · Post #12 » by **One_and_Done** » Sun Feb 16, 2025 3:31 am

golden009 wrote:Never noticed it until just now, but the way the '07 Grizzlies bottom out is kind of insane. They lose Battier and go from 2nd in the league in defensive rating to dead last?

They started playing lose now young guys, and Pau was also hurt. With injuries it's easy to get into a big hole early, and then you're just tanking the rest of the season.

An Unbiased Fan · Post #13 » by **An Unbiased Fan** » Sun Feb 16, 2025 5:13 pm

Lebron leaves Memphis first chance he can

DirtyDez · Post #14 » by **DirtyDez** » Sun Feb 16, 2025 6:40 pm

An Unbiased Fan wrote:Lebron leaves Memphis first chance he can

After winning title I agree. As we know now Pau was a great #2.

Post #15 » by **kdawg32086** » Sun Feb 16, 2025 7:14 pm

They would have been pretty good, but LeBron probably would have left Memphis for Miami without winning anything.