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The Grizzlies have been busy this offseason.  Chris Wallace, Michael Heisley, and the rest of the Grizzlies’ front office have made more controversial decisions than the BCS.   To get a better sense of how controversial these decisions are, I developed a controversy chart.  There are three levels of controversy.  Examples of level one controversies could be something along the lines of a Judge Judy decision or who was voted off American Idol last night.  A level two controversial decision can be something like choosing to go see The Happening (still regretting) rather than Kung Fu Panda. Level three’s can be something from Obama’s Health Care plan to trading Pau Gasol to the Lakers. 

Now that you have a feel of the controversy chart we can rank some of the Grizzlies’ decisions.  I have the drafting of Hasheem Thabeet at a level two controversy.  Eerily similar to my movie example, the previews of The Happening and Thabeet looked to have a lot of potential.  Unfortunately, it was one of the worst performances of Mark Wahlberg’s career and yet another disappointment from the once respectable M Night Shamamamallama.  Hopefully Thabeet can live up to his preview and provide the Grizzlies with something better than his display at the Las Vegas summer league.  Even if the Grizzlies can just get the interior defense they have been looking for.  I hope we are not sitting here in three years, after his movie/development time is over, wishing we would have picked Kung Fu Panda/Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, or Ricky Rubio.  Yes, I said Ricky Rubio.
The acquisitions of Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson rank in at a level three on the CC.  These moves have turned more heads than Megan Fox.  Tickets sales have been going through the roof, and many people are excited in Memphis.  I have always been a big supporter of bringing in Iverson, but I have not been as big on Randolph.  The Grizzlies have put themselves in a sticky situation.  The phrase that comes to mind is “high risk, high reward”.  Could the team’s rebuilding process be ruined?  Hell yes!  Could these acquisitions help speed up and improve the rebuilding process?  Fa sho.  These two controversial decisions are literally going to make or break the Grizzlies’ season.  For that reason they rank at the tippy top of the CC.
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Here is the big question.  Is it possible for these players to coexist and succeed?  Some people think it can happen and some think there is a better chance of David Kahn being named GM of the year.  Many people, especially non Grizzlies fans, think the team will implode. They think worst case scenario.  That scenario includes; Iverson not starting and he sits out because he ”hurt” his back, Mayo and Gay are upset about their touches, Randolph punches Gasol, Conley loses his confidence, and Hasheem ends up being The Happening.  While others think this is going to be best case scenario.  Iverson proves himself to still be a star, Mayo and Conley develop into more complete players, Gay erupts this season, Randolph turns into a saint, and the Grizzlies go to the playoffs.  These wildly differing opinions are what make these decisions so controversial.

I believe these decisions can turn out to be positive for the organization.  Maybe not best case scenario, but the Grizzlies are going to improve.  This depends heavily on the players cooperating and coach Hollins using them correctly.  In order to better illustrate how this team can work, I looked for a successful team that is comparable to the team the Grizzlies have assembled.  It was not easy to find a comparable team, and you may not agree with the team I have chosen.  By no means am I saying that we are going to be as successful as the team I chose, but I do think that the Grizzlies have the same make up.  That same make up can definitely translate into more wins.  Check back later this week for the comparison post.  Until then, feel free to leave your own Controversy Chart decisions in a comment below.
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Comments

Dino Gunners

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:49:12

Its funny, because Khan has done a way better job than your GM. His moves have been shrewd, a complete contrast to your GM's idea of short-term gain and long-term mediocrity. And im not even a minny fan!

 

The Growl

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:31:42

I am not going to try and defend Wallace's decisions for the long term growth of the Grizzlies. It is too early to tell if Randolph and Iverson are going to mess it up, but to say Kahn has done a way better job thus far is a bit of a stretch in my opinion.

 

Mack

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:14:15

First time to the sight, so i'm not sure if this Kahn thing is a running gag or something. However i'd have to say i would agree with Dino. It seems as though Kahn does have some kind of master plan. He's made some shrude, albeit sometimes head-scratching moves, but in general i have a certain amount of faith that he will turn that franchise around. Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo are two of my favorite young players, but this patchwork of a team is in fact a 'high risk/high reward' prospect, with an owner that has his fingerprints all over these risky signings. As a sad-sad-sad Knicks fan i would much rather have David Kahn steering my ship than Wallace and Heisley.

 

The Growl

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:29:15

First off, thanks to everyone for their comments.

The reason I would say Wallace is ahead of Kahn right now is because both of them entered into high risk high reward situations. Kahn's decisions have already started off bad because Rubio isn't coming, but more importantly they lost Foye and Miller. They have without a doubt taken a step back heading into this season. Wallace has put in place some long term solutions for the Grizz with Mayo, Conley, and our draft picks this year. He then acquired the "high risk, high reward" players, but he did not lose anyone of importance. Yes, this could mess up the whole rebuilding process. But, he did not lose any of the key pieces in his decisions, and Kahn definitely has.

 

MARCUS WILLIAMS

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:36:44

WHERE DOES HE FIT IN THE TEAMS PLAN?

 

The Growl

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:55:45

He doesn't necessarily fit in the team's plan. The team needed a back up point guard because Jaric wasn't cutting it. Marcus Williams is an upgrade over Jaric. The Grizzlies picked him up after he had a strong summer league in Vegas. He was acquired before the Grizzlies knew if they were going to get Iverson. He is only on a one year deal, so I think he is mostly a temporary thing. However, with Iverson's durability in question lately, it will be nice to have him on the roster.

 

Mack

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:30:28

I actually like the rubio pick. like i said, Kahn seems to have a long term plan. everyone seemed to think he was crazy for taking two point guards in the draft, but now that rubio isnt coming over this year, Kahn is somewhat of a genius. look at the celtics taking Larry Bird and having to wait on him a full season, or San Antonio having to wait two years for david robinson. in hind sight those were two smart, forward thinking draft picks. i dont see rubio not coming over as a big minus in the david kahn collum, just somewhat of a disappointment. in the long run the wolves will get value out of him, either through trade or on the court. the wolves losing foye and miller aren't that harsh either. foye is a solid NBA player, but he's not a stud, or even a starter in this league, just a solid tweener. and miller is a baller, but the kind that's better suited for a contending team, not a player you keep around at his price during a rebuilding process, which the wolves are fully aware they are in the middle of. unlike memphis.

the griz on the other hand are not a playoff team. if they eek in there i'd be surprised, but not totally shocked. they're an ok team, but dont seem to be really rebuilding or really contending this year. they're just in this strange limbo of mediocrity. they're doesn't seem to be a master plan, just some strong young players mixed in with some over priced, ball hogging vets. no plan, just whipped together.

i'd take kahn because he know's full well that he's starting over, with a young core that's comparable to memphis' (love, jefferson, flynn), but with no delusions of what this coming season will bring. if im REBUILDING my team i'd much rather sign ramon sessions and ryan hollins than allen iverson and zach randolph if only because of their age, potenial, and price.

 



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