Who do you want the Grizzlies to go after this summer?

[It_Was_Typed]

Depending on what the Grizzlies do with Hak and Q this summer, they can have anywhere from $18 to $24 million to spend. That means they can probably land at least one good free agent. Right now, I think the Grizzlies main weakness is their rebounding and defense, so I focused on several young power forwards.

Paul Millsap

-Diverse offensive skills, great rebounder, good energy, probably $10+ million/year

Anderson Varejao

-Great energy, emerging offense, good defense, probably $9+ million/year

David Lee

-Good athlete, solid on offense, very good rebounding, bad defense, probably $8+ million/year

Leon Powe

-Undersized, finds ways to score, brings toughness, knee concerns, probably $5+ million/year

Brandon Bass

-Strong and athletic, reliable mid-range shot, probably $4+ million/year

...

What do you guys think?

[GrizzMan]

My first choice would be to land a superstar...Carlos Boozer. He is a beast underneath the basket and would make EVERYONE better. He would open up the guard play, and would give Gasol some open looks when the center rotated to double team him. Obviously, that would be a max type deal, but I think he is the missing peice for the Grizzlies. With that said, a more realistic option would be Millsap who has been awesome with Boozer out. My second favorite would be Varajao because he gives 110% every night, which would rub off on the other Grizzlies... Obviously this all changes if we are able to land a top 3 pick in this year's draft...

[boogiesdad]

draft Blake and never worry............

Boozer is the missing piece to me, if healthy.

[It_Was_Typed]

I thought about Boozer but I have doubts whether he would come to Memphis.

To me seems like he's headed to Miami, Detroit or staying in Utah.

My first choice would be Millsap as well, but he's been playing so well that I doubt Utah lets him go. So I guess my next choice would be Varejao in this free agency class.

[Downtown]

Draft Jrue Holiday, sign Anderson Varejao, trade Conley for Chase Budinger at the draft, and go from there.

Holiday/Lowry
Mayo/Budinger
Gay/Budinger
Varejao/Arthur
Gasol/ Milicic

I agree that a topend guy like Boozer will want to go to a conmtender. Utah uses Boozers salary to give to Milsap. Varejao was willing to sit out for more money rather than play for Cleveland so he seems like the type that will sign for whoever offers the most. What Memphis would get with him is a guy who plays hard every game, will have lots of playoff experience, is developing more of his offence this year, and is at a perfect age to fit in with this team. Gasol and Varejao together would be a very physical duo, and both are good at setting picks and screens so Mayo, Gay, Holiday, and Budinger would have some good openings.

So how's that for an answer? I don't think these moves are inconceiveable. I would also sign a guy like Solomon Jones for cheap as insurance at center/power forward. I would re-sign Ross and let Buckner go. A hardnosed veteran like Bobby Jackson in the backcourt could provide leadership as well. With Haddadi and the Grizzlies second round pick it adds up to a roster of 14.

[It_Was_Typed]

By all accounts I've been reading, Holiday wants to stay another year so he can run point guard full time. And I do not want Chase Budinger, he's a pussy. If a game ever gets physical he shies away and settles for jump shots rather than attacking.

I would definitley like to trade Conley though.

[Downtown]

Well definitely Budinger would be there for his outside shooting, just like the Spurs use Roger Mason(a free agent Memphis should have went after) or Phoenix uses Matt Barnes( another free agent the Grizzlies could have used).

And yeah I have no idea whether or not Holiday declares but that is the guy I think would be a terrific fit. Like Mayo he has basketball IQ beyond his freshman year and makes good decisions. You have to wonder if he's told that he would be a top 8 pick how enticing it would be to turn pro one year earlier than planned.

And for now I'll stick with Varejao as a player who should be of interest to Chris Wallace.

[It_Was_Typed]

A shooter would definitley be nice to help spread the floor for Mayo, Gay and Gasol. I don't like Budinger though, he disappears too much for my taste. Wayne Ellington from UNC or Austin Daye from Gonzaga intrigue me as "designated" shooters if they declare (I wouldn't use the lottery pick on these two however).

I also really like Greg Monroe from Georgetown, but if the Grizzlies have Gasol, Milicic and Arthur and target a big man in free agency then he wouldn't fit (but he has more potential than any of the free agents I listed).

It's a good thing I'm not a GM...I be driven crazy making decisions.

[BarbaGrizz]

Draft Jrue Holiday, sign Anderson Varejao, trade Conley for Chase Budinger at the draft, and go from there.

Holiday/Lowry
Mayo/Budinger
Gay/Budinger
Varejao/Arthur
Gasol/ Milicic

I really, REALLY like this team! If only Holiday somehow could become Rubio...we would be contender since day 1

[dark-child]

We have been wanting a hard nosed power forward for a while, but I have come to realise that we need a point guard capable of setting the table for our guys in the worst way. We are probably last in the league in getting easy baskets off of assists. For this reason I would take a point guard with these capabilities over an answer at the 4 because it will make our other players so much better. Beyond the Arc did an excellent analysis of what is wrong with Rudy and a huge part of the problem is the point guard play. Now don't get me wrong all of our problems can't be layed at the feet of our point guards but we have the wrong types for our squad currently.

Guards,

Andre Miller - nothing longer than a 3 yr deal
Kirk Hinrich - via trade

Power forward

Paul Milsap
Anderson Verajo
Brandon Bass

Milsap is the only one I would give more than four years to.

[It_Was_Typed]

Ramon Sessions anyone? He's a restricted free agent this summer. He's shown he can be a high quality playmaker for others. Not sure what his market value is though, maybe around $6-8 million/year.

Then sign Brandon Bass to a $10 million/3 year deal and have him develop with Darrell Arthur.

[Downtown]

Kirk Hinrich is an interesting player. He is a very good pointguard that showed he could both run a team and play good one on one defence. It was only once he got his first serious injury that his play slid some. Like alot of players that miss significant time with an injury Hinrich looked like he lost a step.

I recall reading where Chicago fans felt he didn't have it anymore and now that Derrick Rose is in the fold I don't see Hinrich having a big part in the Bulls plans anymore. But the guy is good enough to have played for team USA. He could be one of those really good players that fall through the cracks and could be had for not much in return.

Now if you get him you might want to go after his old college mate as well, Nick Collison. Written off earlier in the season Collison is doing exactly what he does every season. Mark my words, he is going to begin putting up both double digit scoring and rebounding numbers from here on until seasons end. It's uncanny how he always looks lost for the first half of the season and then turns it on the second half.

Some of you might know I was a big Seattle fan and have watched Collison since he was drafted. If your team wants toughness, smarts, good hands, and the willingness to set hard picks and screens then Collison is good at that. But he excels at power forward and because the Sonics were forced to play him as an undersized center he didn't look as good. My guess is that OKC would deal him for a song since they now have Kristic, are playing Jeff Green at power forward, and they could end up with Blake Griffin at the draft.

[Downtown]

It Was Typed, have you seen the latest rumor that has Ramon Sessions being traded for Mike Conley? That could make some sense because it would give Memphis half a season to see if Sessions fit with Mayo before making a decision to sign him to a longer contract.

[It_Was_Typed]

Where's the Conley-Sessions rumor from? LOL I do that in a heartbeat considering how much I hate Conley's play.

As for Kirk Hinrich, he's a solid PG that could bring shooting (though he's been terrible the past two seasons), winning experience and defensive intensity. I just don't like his contract so I'm a bit weary.

I wouldn't be opposed to Nick Collison at all. I like his bruising type of game. I think OKC would rather deal Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox before Collison though.

[It_Was_Typed]

Hmmm just read the rumor on the Bucks board...I'd rather have Ramon Sessions and Damon Jones.

I'm not a fan of Joe Alexander at all. Jones' contract expires this season so that would only help towards getting a quality free agent or two.

[jefe]

As for free agents, I would go for Milsap and Bass in that order (Boozer is a great player and name to draw fans, but his age and injury proneness concern me). Also, I think acquiring Hinrich would be very wise: IMO, he's the perfect fit next to Mayo - a relatively big PG that can initiate the offense, play solid perimeter defense, and bury the open three.

[GoGrizz]

I agree with others that a "healthy" Boozer would be a great pick up.....but I would have a hard time paying him major money when he seems to be injured all the time. Then, i would go for Milsap, but I assume that is what Utah will want to do....problably sever ties with Boozer and try to resign Milsap.

[Downtown]

I just don't see a guy like Boozer signing with a young team that is a ways away from being a contender. And even though I like his game I have a doubt about Milsap. He could be one of those players that comes up with a career year when he's entering free agency and then dries up. Jason Maxiel was better last season before he signed a new contract. So was Carl Landry. I guess I'm just being cautious.

A guy like Anderson Varejao has shown regardless of his contract he is going to give 100%. I think your team really needs his type that wants to get his nose dirty and play hardnosed basketball. Afterall didn't Mayo recently say that the Grizzlies need to get tougher? Varejao is one of those players where stats don't tell the whole stroy, like a PJ Brown. He may not get alot of points and his rebounding numbers aren't overwhelming but he alters a ton of shots, throws players off their game, grinds down players, reads the play developing well, and helps out on defense.

I would choose Leon Powe over Brandon Bass as well. Powe plays physical all the time where Bass seems to give more effort on the offensive end at the cost of defending.

I think I'd still choose Patrick Patterson over all of them mind you.

[It_Was_Typed]

Assuming the rumored trade goes down:
O.J. Mayo
Rudy Gay
Marc Gasol
Darrell Arthur
Ramon Sessions
Joe Alexander
Kyle Lowry

I don't see the Grizzlies re-signing Hak this summer...I really really would like Paul Millsap but they might have to "settle" for someone like Brandon Bass instead since they would have to re-sign Sessions this summer. I'd like Greg Monroe from the draft. He could make up for all the mental mistakes that Rudy has LOL.

[Downtown]

That's a nice lineup but until they bring in at least two battlehardend veterans with leadership, character, and a bit of meanness they won't get to the next level.