Two days later...
It seems like the consensus is that the Grizzlies will definitely get a good player at #4, maybe even a great player. Certainly, great players have come from the #4 pick or even later.
However, I don't find much comfort in this. The Grizzlies are still the worst team in the league. Last time they added a 'good' player in the draft, it turned out to be Drew Gooden.
What's more troubling is Geoff Calkin's report that Michael Heisley is looking at PJ Carlisimo because Marc Iavaroni is too expensive. Now, I'm not certain Iavaroni is the best candidate (he's seems like a good choice.), and over-paying is not a great strategy (though it's probably one the Grizzlies will need to employ), but is PJ Carlisimo the great innovator that's going to bring the Grizzlies out of the cellar?
The Grizzlies will probably have to hire additional agents to handle all the season ticket requests once they announce Seton Hall's Coach of the Century will be taking the reigns. Stars will be begging to come play for the coach that drove Latrell Sprewell to attempted murder. (Okay, maybe that wasn't a big step for Sprewell.)
Carlesimo's NBA record speaks for itself: 183-222 (.452). He does have one thing the Grizzlies don't - post season wins. 3 of them. He was 3-9, and one time, he was one game away from winning a 5 game series with the Trailblazers.
I'll grant that Iavaroni's record is 0-0. However, he also doesn't have baggage. He's coming from a winning organization,. He has a vision that's exciting. He's a fresh new face that the Grizzlies will be able to declare their own (if he makes good). People will know Iavaroni as the guy who coached the Grizzlies, not the guy who got choked, the guy who interviews during the season, the guy who has a Russian nickname from his TV job, or the best NBA executive ever (for the Lakers).
Heisley is going to have to do better than PJ Carlesimo. He's going to have to invest some effort and money into the Grizzlies future since he didn't win the draft. Then, maybe someone will want to buy it from him.
7 comments:
Check out his interesting article from Marty Burns,
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/marty_burns/05/24/avery.coaches/index.html
Seems like there are lots of possibilities there for a fresh, young face. I agree that we have this addiction to picking coaches who are well past their prime and better suited behind the camera than the clipboard (though it worked with Hubie). personally I like Chuck Person coming in as a player coach. He still is as effective from the outside as Mike Miller during the playoffs.
On a side note, is the NBA trying to make it the worst finals ever? Between the Horry foul screwing over the suns and the no foul call on Lebron last night it seems david Stern not only wants his young superstars as far north and west as possible, he also wants no one to watch the finals at all.
I'm not even bothering with the Conference Finals, so I didn't know about the no call.
I agree - who cares?
Spurs - Pistons could be competitive, but no one will watch.
I am also a little dissapointed you didn't mention our boy Mike Miller getting on Team USA...
I thought about it - but I decided to stay focused on the topic at hand.
I hope Mike doesn't break his foot...
yeah, no kidding. BE FRIGGIN' CAREFUL!
I just gotta say,
PLEASE DON'T HIRE PJ!!!!
I'll only support the Rifleman, if we hire Terry Mills and Sam Perkins as assistant coaches.
I would go nutz if I had to hear PJ in Memphis. Absolutely horrible coach and much like Frat, there is a reason he could not get another gig.
www.GrizzliesNation.com
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