Memphis guard Derrick Rose has clearly established himself as one of the top two players in the 2008 NBA Draft, assuming he declares for the draft.
The Memphis Grizzlies have established themselves as one of the worst teams in the NBA, giving them a decent shot at grabbing one of the top two picks in the 2008 NBA Draft.
However, if there is a bright spot for the Grizzlies, besides Rudy Gay, it is the abundance of young point guards with Mike Conley, Jr., Kyle Lowery and Javaris Crittendon.
Of course, the Grizz do not have the most passionate fans in the NBA, so business-wise, grabbing the local college star who brought the local university its first trip to the Final Four in 2 decades makes a lot of sense.
If these scenarios play out - Rose declaring and the Grizz winning the lottery and drafting first or second - the Grizz will have an interesting dilemma.
I wonder what the Trailblazers would offer to ease the Grizz pressure and take Conley Jr off its hands to re-unite the point guard with Greg Oden. Who would interest the Grizz? Channing Frye, Martell Webster and a 1st round pick? It's not the greatest trade, but can you imagine the perimeter length with Rose, Webster and Gay? Portland needs to clear some bodies to make room for Fernandez and Oden in next year's rotation. With James Jones returning from injury, Brandon Roy, Fernandez and Outlaw, Webster is expendable. With Oden, Pryzbilla and Lamarcus Aldridge, Frye is expendable. And, Portland does not really have any need for another young player this year, with Fernandez arriving and two more young players stashed in Europe.
Of course, then Memphis' PG prosperity would become Portland's PG problem with Conley, Rodriguez, Blake and Jack, which means P-Town could make another deal for a future 1st round pick, supplemental player or added versatility.
Also, Memphis could pass on Rose and draft for need. However, is that a wise business decision? As good as Conley was last year at Ohio State, Rose is far more marketable in Memphis. Heck, he's already the cities biggest star. For an organization struggling to sell tickets, an athletic, high-flying hometown point guard might be the answer business-wise and basketball-wise.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
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9 comments:
Hey, as a Blazers fan, this does make a certain amount of sense, but the Martell Webster experiment will probably continue into next year. He always turns it on near the end of the season to make the team think twice about dealing him.
Perhaps instead you can have Fry and Jarrett Jack. It works straight up. With his injury issues, it's not even clear the Blazers are going to drop the cash to re-sign Jones if he opts out, depending on how things are looking with Rudy Fernandez, so packaging him in trade deals is very premature.
Also, Jack mainly plays SG now, not PG. Even so he has, um, turnover issues, so buyer beware a little there.
I can't imagine the Grizz wanting Jack when they would still have Rose, Navarro, Crittendon, Lowery and Miller in the back court.
Also, I think they need to get something back for Conley and maybe even be seen as the winners in the deal, especially after the Gasol trade. I don't think Frye and Jack, two players the Blazers don't really want, constitutes a good trade for a young PG who was the #4 overall pick.
Interesting idea, but why would Portland give up two former first rounders for Conley, when they will probably have the opportunity to draft an very talented point guard in Collison, Westbrook, or Augustine. Channing Frye will be able to help the Blazers next year as a backup power forward, not as a backup center. And Webster is starting to blossom.
I like Conley enough to want him on the Blazers, but I think it's more likely you'll get second rounders and Outlaw and Rodriguez for him, maybe a future first rounder. Conley's young, has proven nothing, and if you're serious about Rose than trading for your fourth-string PG puts you in a weak position. Don't hold out for Webster, the Blazers believe he'll become the third offensive option with time.
Doesn't matter that Conley is friends with Oden. the PG has to drive an entire 5 man squad on the floor and Conley hasn't shown himself to be an upgrade over what we have today... Seems to me Memphis might want to trade Conley away but who's going to give up any talent to take him? Not the Blazers.
Don't forget about the importance of chemistry. Oden and Conley is definitely worth a shot, as Mike will know exactly where to get Greg the ball and how to get the most out of him. This would help the other players and even the coaches utlilize G.O., even if Mike ends up being nothing more than a 15th man. Fact is, none of Portland's point guards have earned much consideration to be a major part of Portland's future. I say go for it & get Conley. His presence would mean much more to the team than just acquiring a possible starting pg.
...especially of we can do it for Frye, J-Jack, and a FUTURE first and second round pick.
Frye, Webster and a first for Conley would be a lopsided deal in favor of Memphis. Frye and Webster both have length and have demonstrated an NBA capability to score. The fact that Conley failed to beat out Stoudamire, Lowery and Navarro at all this year tells Pritchard that this is a bust waiting to happen. The Blazers have all of the leverage in a deal for Conley because they have three capable PGs now, they have B-Roy ready to slide over to PG next year and they should have several just-as-high-upside options in the draft. I just don't see it happening.
But, they need roster space and they don't need Frye or Webster and they tried to trade for Devin Harris and last summer there were rumors that Portland would try to trade for Conley.
Portland's weakness is at the point.
In the post, they have Pryzbilla, Oden and Aldridge.
On the wings, they have Fernandez, Roy, Outlaw and Jones.
So, Frye represents their 4th post and Webster is looking at reduced PT if they get Fernandez to the States and re-sign Jones, which they should do.
So, they aren't losing that much. PGs always take a year or two to adjust to the NBA and I think most would say that Conley jumped a year too early because his stock was so high. But, that doesn't mean his talent disappeared.
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