'09 Free Agents or possible FAs

[grizzleGM]

Okay, Heisley and Wallace have made it pretty clear that summer '09 will be the most likely summer to enter into the FA market. I have put together a list of players that should/could be available next summer in FA.


Restricted Free Agents
Marvin Williams RFA
Glen Davis RFA
Raymond Felton RFA
Sean May RFA
Othello Harrington RFA
Linas Kleiza RFA
Antoine Wright RFA
Brandon Bass RFA
Nick Fazakas RFA
Jason Maxiell RFA
Gerald Green RFA
Luther Head RFA
Carl Landry RFA
Steve Novak RFA
Ike Diogu RFA
Andrew Bynum RFA
Hakim Warrick RFA
Andrew Bogut RFA
Charlie Villanueva RFA
Rashad McCants RFA
Wayne Simien RFA
Nate Robinson RFA
David Lee RFA
Channing Frye RFA
Jarrett Jack RFA
Francisco Garcia RFA
Ime Udoka RFA
Johan Petro RFA
Paul Millsap RFA

Unrestricted Free Agents
Allen Iverson UFA
Mike Bibby UFA
Wally Szczerbiak UFA
Eric Snow UFA
Damon Jones UFA
Jason Kidd UFA
Rasheed Wallace UFA
Corey Maggette UFA
Lamar Odom UFA
Trevor Ariza UFA
Shawn Marion UFA
Desmond Mason UFA
Mike James UFA
Andre Miller UFA
Jannero Pargo UFA
Stephon Marbury UFA
Chris Wilcox UFA
Radoslav Nesterovic UFA
Anthony Parker UFA
Jorge Garbajosa UFA
Ron Artest UFA

Players with Player Options amt of contract the player would forfeit to the side
listed by order of who the Grizz would want!
Amare Stoudamire PO $16.4
Carlos Boozer PO $12.3
Anderson Varejao PO $6.2
Al Harrington PO $10.0
Kobe Bryant PO $23
Rip Hamilton PO $11.6
Hidayet Turkoglu PO $7.3
Mehmet Okur PO $9.0
Etan Thomas PO $7.4
Jemaine O'Neal PO $23.0
Marquis Daniels TO $7.3
Zydrunas Ilgauskas PO $11.5
Stephen Hunter PO $3.7
Mark Blount PO $7.9
Eddie Curry PO $10.5
Quentin Richardson PO $8.7
Jamal Crawford $9.4

Right now (Nov 28, 2008) the Grizz appear to have about $14.8mil in cap space if we land a top 5 draft pick. The Grizz would need to shed either Darko's or Jaric's contract for an expiring in order to have enough money to offer a max deal to a player that can opt out of their contract.

[jman3134]

Despite all the promise that everyone on this board besides myself feels about Mayo, this thread just demonstrates that it is going to be another long season. The year has not started, and we are already looking to the 09 free agency. Don't get me wrong, it is a topic of discussion, but I feel that there is a reason why this should be discussed.

[GrizzMan]

jman, it is because we are rebuilding! No one expects us to be back in the playoffs next year! However, our young players will have one more year to develop, and then we have the ability to give a FA a max-type of deal to play in Memphis in 2009! This thread only means we are optimistic about the Grizzlies' future. Look at our young core! It is as good of a young core as there is in the entire league...outside of maybe Portland!

[boogiesdad]

we are no longer rebuilding.

We have established our core players for the next 10 years. Now they need the time to develop.

No one here doubts that,

Conley, Mayo, Gay, Arthur, Gasol

is the future of Memphis.

Now we need to fill the bench and season those players. Our bigs need time to establish themselves, but they should be fine.

We most also be realistic, no MAJOR STAR will sign with Memphis. We have never had a major FA sign with this team. Until we build a winning reputation, that will never occur. The only players we can sign are MID LEVEL players, that we must over pay for, ie Posey, Darko, Cardinal.

We also can't seem to trade for a Star either. Therefore, we must develop our stars.

Hell, for that matter, we can't even stop getting screwed by those (NON RIGGED) ping pong balls.

We must accept the team we have, hope for good drafts and progress from there.

[grizzleGM]

I think Mayo can change that. He is very well respected around the league by players. If he shows the potential to be a star, then you could have a star come in via FA.

[boogiesdad]

Whats Rudy? Chopped Liver.

Remember, he's proven and a future star. Mayo is still just a nmae with talent.

[grizzleGM]

No... I was not trying to downgrade anyone else on the team. Just stating about how other players in the NBA talk about Mayo. Remember a LOT of these guys were going to Mayo's high school games to watch him play. That was not the case for Rudy or anyone else on the Grizz. Rudy could be the best player, and still not be a superstar in this league. Stardom in this league is not just about your level of play.

[bobobolas1]

Why rudy is not a all-star grade in the league yet? I guess he gotta play more D and upgrade the stats. Do you think there's much better yet to come in rudy's game? I guess Rose will help rudy to improve, so conley as well. then, in the future i hope we sign an all-star with all that salary cap.

[GrizzMan]

Hell, in my opinion, we've got three potential "stars" on this team (and one that's already taken major steps toward NBA stardom in Gay): Rudy Gay, Conley Jr., and OJ Mayo! I love this core!!! Hell, between Mayo and Gay, they could very well average 45 to 50 points a night! Memphis has NEVER had that kind of potential. Conley could very well be a 16ppg/8apg point guard! With that said, if Memphis starts competing, there is no reason why a star FA wouldn't sign with Memphis to run and gun alongside Conley, Gay, and Mayo!

[bobobolas1]

Im already missing JCN from the bench. It was funny to see him running the court and stop in the 3' line instead making a layup.

[KCBen]

I think Arthur has the ability to be a upper level PF in this league. He is athletic, strong, really can run, and has a lot of skill. He will only get better as he gets older. Most Memphis fans should be able to see what he is capable from the National Championship game where he went for 20/10. He is yet another case of a player that came from a stacked college team that didn't get to show everything he was capable of. That will be a major plus due to the likes of Conley, Mayo, Gay, and Gasol to go along with Arthur. He won't be trying to force things and he will play his role the best way for the team.

[M-Town's Finest]

Arthur has big time talent. I'm not sure if it was the reported kidney problem that caused him to slide... or if that is actually a problem. I thought he would go top 10 for sure leading up to draft night and is actually a player that I was considering taking if Love had not been available at 5 (if the decision were mine, of course). I would still love me some Josh Smith for next year, though. =P

[jman3134]

we are no longer rebuilding.

We have established our core players for the next 10 years. Now they need the time to develop.

No one here doubts that,

Conley, Mayo, Gay, Arthur, Gasol

is the future of Memphis.

Now we need to fill the bench and season those players. Our bigs need time to establish themselves, but they should be fine.

We most also be realistic, no MAJOR STAR will sign with Memphis. We have never had a major FA sign with this team. Until we build a winning reputation, that will never occur. The only players we can sign are MID LEVEL players, that we must over pay for, ie Posey, Darko, Cardinal.

We also can't seem to trade for a Star either. Therefore, we must develop our stars.

Hell, for that matter, we can't even stop getting screwed by those (NON RIGGED) ping pong balls.

We must accept the team we have, hope for good drafts and progress from there.

Disagree with the first statement.....we have not established our stars for the next 10 years. If that is the case, we are looking at one of the longest streaks without a playoff win......

We need bigs, let's not kid ourselves. Marc Gasol is promising, but he has yet to play an NBA game. Darko has some potential, but he has yet to fulfill it. Arthur could start right away. Andre Brown came on at the end of next year. But, come on. We are going to need some upgrades in the future.

I generally agree with your pessimistic attitude on free agency....I believe that it establishes the surrounding players, but it will not give us a franchise player unless we overpay (the type of guy we don't want).

I am just saying that I may be one of the few pessimistic voices on this board, but I feel it is just a matter of being realistic. We have one of the worst frontcourts in the last 10 years (if everything remains this way), if not in 30. We should be one of, if not the worst teams in this league.

[boogiesdad]

The more I read over this thread, the more inclined I am at this point in time to take on a contract wither this year or next to let some teams go after the huge FA's of 2009 and 2010.

Let's face it we are set at the PG and SG position for the next few years.

Conley is ours til 2012.
Lowry til 2011.
Crittendon til 2012.

Mayo til 2013.
Jaric til 2011.

At SF we need depth.

Gay is on the books til 2011.
Warrick through 2010.

At PF, we have very little depth or a proven talent.

Arthur is on the books til 2013.

At the C position, we have no proven talent.

Milic is on the books til 2010.
Gasol is on the books til 2011.


This might be our chance to use or cap room to our advantage to get picks, or to get a player like Omekafor, Boozer, Bynum, etc.

[grizzleGM]

Boogies I am very confused by your post. Next year is 2009? All the players you have listed at the bottom are 09 FA's?

Are you saying that we should enter the FA market this year or next? How are we going to get picks?

Have you been drinking or have I?

[boogiesdad]

No I'm sober.....

What I am saying is don't offer Okafor this year. Offer him next year. Don't waste time offering to Restricted FA's.

I could also see us absorbing contracts in exchange for picks to help other teams go after the big FA's in 2010.

We will not attract a LBJ, DWade, Bosh or any other big timer. Our best bet is over paying for 2nd tier talent.

I would rather see us continue to build via the draft or trades like the Mayo one.

[grizzleGM]

I am with you! I totally agree. I think the Grizz should meet with both Josh Smith and Okafor this year, and explain what 'could' be on the table next year if they become UFAs.

[grizzleGM]

Bump... I know I'm bumping a really old post, but I updated the first post and didn't want to start a new one.

At this point in time I think the Grizz need to find a decent SG through a trade and go after Boozer in during FA.

I would love to see the lineup of
Mayo
insert SG here
Gay
Boozer
Gasol2.0

with
Arthur, Lowry and someone not named Milicic coming off the bench.

So I am all for having Conley, Critt, Jaric, and Milicic on the trading block and trying to do anything to get a decent tall SG that can knock down the spot up 3pt.

[Downtown]

GrizzleGM, Boozer would be amazing to sign but unless management is willing to overpay by alot I don't see him signing with Memphis. My guess is that he will balance the big money with a chance to compete for a championship, but of course I don't really know what goes on in his head. Maybe it's about take the most money you can regardless of the team.

But I'd say cross your fingers and hope for the ping pong balls to fall your way to get the next Carlos Boozer in Blake Griffin. I think he is going to be that good.

As for Mayo moving to the point, I also wonder if perhaps they should start to give him some time there now every game to see how he handles it. James Harden would look nice next to Mayo as that solid two way player at shooting guard. But so would have Roger Mason or Matt Barnes, both lower priced free agants last summer.

I also find it interesting to picture Stephen Curry next to Mayo. Memphis may want to consider a trade for a low lotto first round pick to go along with their own.

I'm getting off track though. I think with there being a bunch of the higher priced free agents next summer the Grizzlies should be able to sign at least one.