2012 NBA Offseason: Memphis Grizzlies
Draft Grades, Offseason Needs, Free Agents
Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, David Kay and Peter Christian of the The Sports Bank. Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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Memphis Grizzlies (Last Year: 41-25)
Live 2012 NBA Draft Grades:
25. Tony Wroten, G, Washington State: A Grade
This is whom I had Memphis taking in my mock draft, so I totally get this pick. The Grizzlies need improved depth at guard, and Wroten should be able to play either the one or two position at the NBA. If he ever figures it out mentally and finds a jump shot, he could be one heck of a steal.
*** 2012 NBA Offseason Needs and Free Agents listed below this comment box. ***
2011-12 Season Summary:
Despite losing in the first round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs, it was a banner year for the Memphis Grizzlies' franchise. The team finished with the best record in its history, despite being without star power forward Zach Randolph for more than half of the season.
Randolph suffered a knee injury just four games into the year that caused him to miss about two and a half months of action. His absence, combined with reserve power forward Darrell Arthur missing the entire season because of a torn Achilles' tendon, left Memphis fairly thin up front.
Coming off his monster contract extension, Marc Gasol once again held down the fort in the middle. With a shortage in numbers, general manager Chris Wallace had to make a deal early in the season, acquiring Marreese Speights from Philadelphia. The duo played well together, with Speights even remaining in the starting lineup at times after Randolph's return.
Not much changed on the wing for the Grizzlies. Rudy Gay did return from an injury that cut short his 2010-11 season and re-emerged as Memphis' go-to scorer. Tony Allen brought his grittiness at the two and O.J. Mayo served as the team's sixth man. Mike Conley once again failed to wow anybody with his play at the point guard spot.
Like the frontcourt, depth was an issue in the backcourt. Besides Mayo, Memphis didn't get a ton of production from its other guards, even trying to revitalize Gilbert Arenas' career.
2012-13 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Marc Gasol/*Marreese Speights
PF: Zach Randolph/Dante Cunningham/*Darrell Arthur
SF: Rudy Gay/Quincy Pondexter
SG: Tony Allen/*O.J. Mayo/Josh Selby
PG: Mike Conley/*Lester Hudson/Jeremy Pargo
NBA Free Agents:
*SG-O.J. Mayo (RFA)
*PF-Marreese Speights (RFA)
*PF-Darrell Arthur (RFA)
*G-Lester Hudson (RFA)
C-Hamad Haddadi (UFA)
G-Gilbert Arenas (UFA)
2012-13 Team Salary: Approximately $62.4 million
NBA Offseason Needs:
1. Hold the Mayo: With O.J. Mayo becoming a restricted free agent, Memphis has a decision on whether or not to offer him a long-term extension. The Grizzlies could also just extend the qualifying offer of almost $7.4 million, and see if any other teams offer Mayo a big contract. That would give Memphis the option to match that offer. I'm not sure Mayo is worth an extension, especially a pricey extension, but the Grizzlies' hand might be forced this summer.
2. Frontcourt Depth: With Speights and Arthur both restricted free agents, Memphis might need to find depth up front if it chooses not to re-sign them or either player is plucked away by a different team. The Grizzlies only have their mid-level exception to use and are already over the expected league salary cap, which puts them in a tough financial situation.
3. Point Guard: Memphis has had a difficult time finding a true backup for Mike Conley at point guard. Jeremy Pargo and Josh Selby tried to fill that role this past season. The team even picked up veterans Gilbert Arenas and Lester Hudson late in the season to see if they would be the answer. I am not sure any of those guys are the long-term answer, so the Grizzlies might be better off finding a more stable option.
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 22
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
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© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
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All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
Memphis Grizzlies (Last Year: 41-25)
Live 2012 NBA Draft Grades:
25. Tony Wroten, G, Washington State: A Grade
This is whom I had Memphis taking in my mock draft, so I totally get this pick. The Grizzlies need improved depth at guard, and Wroten should be able to play either the one or two position at the NBA. If he ever figures it out mentally and finds a jump shot, he could be one heck of a steal.
*** 2012 NBA Offseason Needs and Free Agents listed below this comment box. ***
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thatguy79
06-29-2012
01:01 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.106
(total posts: 1)
 31
 8
I do believe he actually went yo Udub, aka university of washington. Just sayin...
Adam
06-24-2011
12:54 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx9.65
(total posts: 1)
30
30
GoBobcats
Walter
06-21-2011
05:08 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx4.88
(total posts: 1)
30
30
First comment... we're going to have comment boards like this all over the site soon. We're still working out the kinks, so this is not the finished product.
Pages:
1
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2011-12 Season Summary:
Despite losing in the first round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs, it was a banner year for the Memphis Grizzlies' franchise. The team finished with the best record in its history, despite being without star power forward Zach Randolph for more than half of the season.
Randolph suffered a knee injury just four games into the year that caused him to miss about two and a half months of action. His absence, combined with reserve power forward Darrell Arthur missing the entire season because of a torn Achilles' tendon, left Memphis fairly thin up front.
Coming off his monster contract extension, Marc Gasol once again held down the fort in the middle. With a shortage in numbers, general manager Chris Wallace had to make a deal early in the season, acquiring Marreese Speights from Philadelphia. The duo played well together, with Speights even remaining in the starting lineup at times after Randolph's return.
Not much changed on the wing for the Grizzlies. Rudy Gay did return from an injury that cut short his 2010-11 season and re-emerged as Memphis' go-to scorer. Tony Allen brought his grittiness at the two and O.J. Mayo served as the team's sixth man. Mike Conley once again failed to wow anybody with his play at the point guard spot.
Like the frontcourt, depth was an issue in the backcourt. Besides Mayo, Memphis didn't get a ton of production from its other guards, even trying to revitalize Gilbert Arenas' career.
2012-13 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Marc Gasol/*Marreese Speights
PF: Zach Randolph/Dante Cunningham/*Darrell Arthur
SF: Rudy Gay/Quincy Pondexter
SG: Tony Allen/*O.J. Mayo/Josh Selby
PG: Mike Conley/*Lester Hudson/Jeremy Pargo
NBA Free Agents:
*SG-O.J. Mayo (RFA)
*PF-Marreese Speights (RFA)
*PF-Darrell Arthur (RFA)
*G-Lester Hudson (RFA)
C-Hamad Haddadi (UFA)
G-Gilbert Arenas (UFA)
2012-13 Team Salary: Approximately $62.4 million
NBA Offseason Needs:
1. Hold the Mayo: With O.J. Mayo becoming a restricted free agent, Memphis has a decision on whether or not to offer him a long-term extension. The Grizzlies could also just extend the qualifying offer of almost $7.4 million, and see if any other teams offer Mayo a big contract. That would give Memphis the option to match that offer. I'm not sure Mayo is worth an extension, especially a pricey extension, but the Grizzlies' hand might be forced this summer.
2. Frontcourt Depth: With Speights and Arthur both restricted free agents, Memphis might need to find depth up front if it chooses not to re-sign them or either player is plucked away by a different team. The Grizzlies only have their mid-level exception to use and are already over the expected league salary cap, which puts them in a tough financial situation.
3. Point Guard: Memphis has had a difficult time finding a true backup for Mike Conley at point guard. Jeremy Pargo and Josh Selby tried to fill that role this past season. The team even picked up veterans Gilbert Arenas and Lester Hudson late in the season to see if they would be the answer. I am not sure any of those guys are the long-term answer, so the Grizzlies might be better off finding a more stable option.
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 22
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
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