Post#11 » by evildallas » Wed Apr 15, 2009 8:23 pm
Sure Rudy wants an extension now, but is in a Grizzly uniform at a set rookie deal price next season regardless. I checked ShamSports and Haddadi was listed as a 3 year deal. It might have termination clauses, I don't know. As for David Lee, he'll go wherever he needs to go to get paid. He was trying to block a trade when he made the no way in hell comment. I had forgotten about it though and Memphis may hold a grudge over the statement. If so, I have an alternative free agent candidate in the next paragraph.
I disagree with waiting because more teams will have cap room in 2010 like Miami, Chicago, New York. When you are a secondary market (like both of our teams are) you have to spend when you have an advantage because head-to-head you'll get used to bid up someone's price. While you should pay drastically more than what someone is worth you are more likely to win a free agent derby this summer. Memphis has good young pieces at 1-3 and C (I like Marc Gasol). The draft figures to add another key young piece probably a wing or big given the likely spot in the draft. You need to add a backup PG (preferably with some experience), a 2nd unit scorer, and a solid PF to the mix. Other than David Lee, the other guy that makes sense as a starting PF would be Lamar Odom. He'd bring experience to a unit without any. For backup PG, I wouldn't spend too much and would focus on players like Jacque Vaughan, Brevin Knight, Bobby Jackson, or Anthony Johnson. You want a solid vet to backup and teach Conley, not someone to take the job away. Miller, Bibby, Kidd are bigger names, but they would set Conley's development back too much by taking too many minutes. That 2nd unit scorer likely will come from the draft. I also think you add a backup PF in the 2nd round like a Taj Gibson, Robert Dozier, or Jeff Adrien. Personally I think the the Grizzlies are in pretty good shape. OKC gets all the press for upside, but with the right moves this summer the Grizz can leap frog them.
Going to donkey punch a leprechaun!