I agree with Verno on the tanking debate. I was once on board with the blow it up/tank but he makes a lot of sense. Listen to his pod today ...great rant!


Also - I love the digs at Jason & John

(01-23-2018 11:38 PM)HometownTiger Wrote:  I agree with Verno on the tanking debate. I was once on board with the blow it up/tank but he makes a lot of sense. Listen to his pod today ...great rant!


Also - I love the digs at Jason & John

1/2 year of tanking an already wasted year for 3 more years of playoff and a future star ? count me in

I agree too.

And all you have to do is look at any draft. College Freshman are just too unpredictable. Last draft, hyped as the best draft in years, we had a clear top 4 - Fultz, Ball, Tatum and Josh Jackson. Half way into their rookie years, and Fultz and Jackson have bust written all over them. Ball looks good but has clear flaws. Only Tatum looks like a star.

The so far clear top 3 from last year's draft are Tatum, Donovan Mitchell and Kyle Kuzma. Taken 3, 13 and 27.

Next two would probably be Lauri Markkanen and Dennis Smith, Jr. - taken 7th and 9th.

I haven't listened to his pod today, so don't know his specifics.

(01-23-2018 11:52 PM)Tigx Wrote:  I agree too.

And all you have to do is look at any draft. College Freshman are just too unpredictable. Last draft, hyped as the best draft in years, we had a clear top 4 - Fultz, Ball, Tatum and Josh Jackson. Half way into their rookie years, and Fultz and Jackson have bust written all over them. Ball looks good but has clear flaws. Only Tatum looks like a star.

The so far clear top 3 from last year's draft are Tatum, Donovan Mitchell and Kyle Kuzma. Taken 3, 13 and 27.

Next two would probably be Lauri Markkanen and Dennis Smith, Jr. - taken 7th and 9th.

I haven't listened to his pod today, so don't know his specifics.

That’s basically his point. Easier to be mediocre THEN get great (picking 10-14) then totally sucking then getting great. Listed all the Top 5 picks that aren’t franchise changers (even solid players like Otto Porter for example).

Basic premise is you don’t want to feed a culture of losing bc the payoff isn’t a guarantee (drafting a savior on the Top 5).

To your point, most of the best rookies this year are outside of the top 5...

Bagley is an All Star within 3 years. That kid is an absolute monster.

I guess my bigger issue with the "tank" vs. playing the season out is what "tanking" means.

The reality is Memphis will not, no matter if Mike returns and plays out his mind, make the playoffs. Period. End of story.

So, if "tanking" means trading Tyreke for something (since you won't be able to re-sign him in the summer) and let Mike rest and give Marc more days off than usual--that's cool. The last thing the Grizz need is to have Marc get some injury in April from playing too much in a season where they suck.

Give Rabb some run. Let Brooks keep getting quality minutes. Figure out if Selden and McLemore are worth anything.

Agree the definition of tank is pretty nebulous.

For the Grizz, I think it means holding out Conley and Parsons much longer than if we were in the playoff hunt, perhaps the rest of the season. Start sitting Marc on 2nd night of back-to-backs. Ridding ourselves of all expiring vet contracts - Tyreke and Ennis have trade value. Maybe get someone to take Brandan's expiring for a never-to-be exercised future 2nd rounder. Cut Mario, which is easy because he is on a vet minimum. Ben Mc's contract has one more year, and they are publicly shopping him, but doubt they get anyone to bite without attaching a draft asset, so just keep him.

So that potentially clears 4 roster spots. But we could have to take a contract back in the Tyreke trade to get the pick the Grizz FO wants for him. Kobi converts from the two-way to a full roster spot. Kobi and Deyonta and Rabb get developmental minutes every night. Selden starts at SG and Dillon at SF. That's the way I define tanking.

For the Grizzlies to be really good again, they will likely have to do it through the draft. That's true for pretty much every small market team.

The way it was done with Z-bo, Gasol, Conley and TA was an exception to the rule. No point in trying to duplicate that formula. No one expected Z-bo to behave like he did and become the cornerstone of a franchise. No one, and I mean no one, thought Gasol would turn into what he did.

Might as well deal Evans and try to strike gold with Trae Young or Bagley. No guarantees those guys will turn into all-star caliber players. But that's your best shot moving forward.

(01-24-2018 10:00 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  I guess my bigger issue with the "tank" vs. playing the season out is what "tanking" means.

The reality is Memphis will not, no matter if Mike returns and plays out his mind, make the playoffs. Period. End of story.

So, if "tanking" means trading Tyreke for something (since you won't be able to re-sign him in the summer) and let Mike rest and give Marc more days off than usual--that's cool. The last thing the Grizz need is to have Marc get some injury in April from playing too much in a season where they suck.

Give Rabb some run. Let Brooks keep getting quality minutes. Figure out if Selden and McLemore are worth anything.

yep, pretty straightforward to me

Calkins was emphatic about it too

https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/s...059266001/

Trading Tyreke is obvious. Not sure why Calkins thought it took an article to show that.

The Grizz traded Courtney Lee and Jeff Green - two vets on expiring contracts - at the trade deadline while in a playoff hunt two years ago. So they will definitely move Tyreke this year while out of the playoffs.

It's what we do in addition to Tyreke.

(01-24-2018 12:27 PM)Tigx Wrote:  Trading Tyreke is obvious. Not sure why Calkins thought it took an article to show that.

The Grizz traded Courtney Lee and Jeff Green - two vets on expiring contracts - at the trade deadline while in a playoff hunt two years ago. So they will definitely move Tyreke this year while out of the playoffs.

It's what we do in addition to Tyreke.

Tyreke, Wright, and Ennis for draft picks.

(01-24-2018 01:08 PM)HometownTiger Wrote:  

(01-24-2018 12:27 PM)Tigx Wrote:  Trading Tyreke is obvious. Not sure why Calkins thought it took an article to show that.

The Grizz traded Courtney Lee and Jeff Green - two vets on expiring contracts - at the trade deadline while in a playoff hunt two years ago. So they will definitely move Tyreke this year while out of the playoffs.

It's what we do in addition to Tyreke.

Tyreke, Wright, and Ennis for draft picks.

Let's hope. Not sure Wright is tradable anymore.

I'd also take back a 2nd year guy who plays the wing, like Luwawu from Philly or Malik Beasley from Denver, in a Tyreke trade.

(01-24-2018 12:27 PM)Tigx Wrote:  Trading Tyreke is obvious. Not sure why Calkins thought it took an article to show that.

The Grizz traded Courtney Lee and Jeff Green - two vets on expiring contracts - at the trade deadline while in a playoff hunt two years ago. So they will definitely move Tyreke this year while out of the playoffs.

It's what we do in addition to Tyreke.

Maybe Calkins is writing for the casual fan who may be caught off guard by the Grizzlies "best new player" being shipped of for next to nothing.

(01-24-2018 01:34 PM)BinghamptonNed Wrote:  

(01-24-2018 12:27 PM)Tigx Wrote:  Trading Tyreke is obvious. Not sure why Calkins thought it took an article to show that.

The Grizz traded Courtney Lee and Jeff Green - two vets on expiring contracts - at the trade deadline while in a playoff hunt two years ago. So they will definitely move Tyreke this year while out of the playoffs.

It's what we do in addition to Tyreke.

Maybe Calkins is writing for the casual fan who may be caught off guard by the Grizzlies "best new player" being shipped of for next to nothing.

Fair point.

I predicted the grizz to miss the playoffs in 10th place, but they are worse than i thought they would be. A couple posters here said they would still make the playoffs. If i was like salukiblue, i could bump that thread just to pat myself on the back, but that's not my style.

Those vets the grizz released over the summer helped keep the team successful for the last few years, and even they struggled to do that last year due to age. On draft night, i posted the grizz couldn't fill out the roster with 2nd round picks and expect success when the superstar/franchise players (mike/marc) are so weak. That's exactly what they did.

I've been pretty vocal on the grizz board about moving gasol for like at least 2 years and the roster being upside down for the money vs potential.

The grizz could be so much better once they move on from gasol whether that means a trade for another player or picks. However, i don't expect much of a change which is sad. Grizz are stuck with mike and chancun's contracts. Next year could be about the same or maybe they barely make the playoffs and get bounced 1st round. The roster needs some major work.


Zbo should have left memphis years ago when he still had something to offer a real contender. He showed the franchise loyalty instead with his last contract. In return, zbo got disrespected, imo.

If tyreke would agree to the money and the role, i'd love to have him as backup pg/playmaker next year since the grizz will most likely not make much of a change to the roster. Imo, tyreke can't be depended on as a starter or a franchise type player due to health issues. Plus this would keep his minutes down some which might be better for his career long term. There is no shame at being the best 6th man in the nba.

He's played well for the grizz this year.

(01-24-2018 01:57 PM)tmoneyinmphs Wrote:  I predicted the grizz to miss the playoffs in 10th place, but they are worse than i thought they would be. A couple posters here said they would still make the playoffs. If i was like salukiblue, i could bump that thread just to pat myself on the back, but that's not my style.

Those vets the grizz released over the summer helped keep the team successful for the last few years, and even they struggled to do that last year due to age. On draft night, i posted the grizz couldn't fill out the roster with 2nd round picks and expect success when the superstar/franchise players (mike/marc) are so weak. That's exactly what they did.

I've been pretty vocal on the grizz board about moving gasol for like at least 2 years and the roster being upside down for the money vs potential.

The grizz could be so much better once they move on from gasol whether that means a trade for another player or picks. However, i don't expect much of a change which is sad. Grizz are stuck with mike and chancun's contracts. Next year could be about the same or maybe they barely make the playoffs and get bounced 1st round. The roster needs some major work.


Zbo should have left memphis years ago when he still had something to offer a real contender. He showed the franchise loyalty instead with his last contract. In return, zbo got disrespected, imo.

I did too, but some of these hooligans were 100% sure we would make them again.

(01-24-2018 03:10 PM)fishman6581 Wrote:  

(01-24-2018 01:57 PM)tmoneyinmphs Wrote:  I predicted the grizz to miss the playoffs in 10th place, but they are worse than i thought they would be. A couple posters here said they would still make the playoffs. If i was like salukiblue, i could bump that thread just to pat myself on the back, but that's not my style.

Those vets the grizz released over the summer helped keep the team successful for the last few years, and even they struggled to do that last year due to age. On draft night, i posted the grizz couldn't fill out the roster with 2nd round picks and expect success when the superstar/franchise players (mike/marc) are so weak. That's exactly what they did.

I've been pretty vocal on the grizz board about moving gasol for like at least 2 years and the roster being upside down for the money vs potential.

The grizz could be so much better once they move on from gasol whether that means a trade for another player or picks. However, i don't expect much of a change which is sad. Grizz are stuck with mike and chancun's contracts. Next year could be about the same or maybe they barely make the playoffs and get bounced 1st round. The roster needs some major work.


Zbo should have left memphis years ago when he still had something to offer a real contender. He showed the franchise loyalty instead with his last contract. In return, zbo got disrespected, imo.

I did too, but some of these hooligans were 100% sure we would make them again.

A healthy Conley and they would make the playoffs.

(01-24-2018 03:10 PM)fishman6581 Wrote:  

(01-24-2018 01:57 PM)tmoneyinmphs Wrote:  I predicted the grizz to miss the playoffs in 10th place, but they are worse than i thought they would be. A couple posters here said they would still make the playoffs. If i was like salukiblue, i could bump that thread just to pat myself on the back, but that's not my style.

Zbo should have left memphis years ago when he still had something to offer a real contender. He showed the franchise loyalty instead with his last contract. In return, zbo got disrespected, imo.

I did too, but some of these hooligans were 100% sure we would make them again.

Reminder that the 2nd CBS NBA Power Rankings poll of the season had the Grizz #1 - https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-p...ty-checks/ - with Grizz victories over Golden State, Houston twice and New Orleans to start the year.

Grizz not a perfect team, but injuries are the most important variable in the NBA.

(01-24-2018 01:18 PM)Tigx Wrote:  

(01-24-2018 01:08 PM)HometownTiger Wrote:  

(01-24-2018 12:27 PM)Tigx Wrote:  Trading Tyreke is obvious. Not sure why Calkins thought it took an article to show that.

The Grizz traded Courtney Lee and Jeff Green - two vets on expiring contracts - at the trade deadline while in a playoff hunt two years ago. So they will definitely move Tyreke this year while out of the playoffs.

It's what we do in addition to Tyreke.

Tyreke, Wright, and Ennis for draft picks.

Let's hope. Not sure Wright is tradable anymore.

I'd also take back a 2nd year guy who plays the wing, like Luwawu from Philly or Malik Beasley from Denver, in a Tyreke trade.

i think theyre sitting Wright to ensure he is healthy for a possible trade. no need to showcase what he can do. hes been in the league for 10 years. same with Ennis. people know what they will get for them.