2 Bad Options for #2

Here are two options I don't like:

1. Drafting Hasheem Thabeet. There's exactly one player that's built like Thabeet that's a star in this league, and Thabeet is not projecting to be the next Yao Ming. These days, centers (with a few notable exceptions including Dwight Howard) are role playing stiffs a la Eric Dampier.

The Grizzlies already have a center that's better than Thabeet. They don't need to draft a back up center with the #2 pick despite what Chad Ford thinks.

That brings me to another point. The Grizzlies shouldn't draft a guard unless that guard has the potential to be a star when paired with OJ Mayo.

If the Grizzlies find a guard (and I think Rubio qualifies) that has a strong chance of being a star paired with OJ Mayo, then the Grizzlies should draft him and trade Conley.

2. What I don't want to see happen is the Grizzlies draft a combo guard to share minutes with Conley and Mayo. The Grizzlies need to come away with someone who can play 35 minutes, whether by drafting Rubio or trading for a power forward. (No, Jason Thompson is not the power forward I have in mind.)

Ricky Rubio, Some Stats

In an ideal world, we could compare Ricky Rubio's stats with those of similar players to predict his relative success in the NBA.

Unfortunately, very few (ie none) 18 year old point guards have made the jump from Spain's ACB league to the NBA. Therefore, it's difficult to use Rubio's stats from last season to predict his performance in the NBA next year.

Rubio was at or near the top of his league in several statistical categories. For example, he finished #1 in assists per game. However, it's tough to predict how that will translate to the NBA.

I thought it might be interesting to compare Rubio's stats from last season with other players who ranked among the top in assists per game as well as Juan Carlos Navarro.

I added stats for Navarro from last season, from when he was 18, and from his rookie season with the Grizzlies. I also threw in Gasol's stats from his last season in the ACB league (age 20).

Rubio's all around stats are better than the other players I chose, but not by much. However, the other players are much older than Rubio.

Perhaps we shouldn't expect Rubio to immediately perform at the level of Derrick Rose or OJ Mayo since his stats aren't strikingly different from other ACB players who haven't made it in the NBA. If that's true, then drafting Rubio is about his age and potential.

However, Navarro and Gasol's stats aren't far off from Rubio's and both of them were among the best of their rookie classes.

Still, stats don't tell the whole story. Navarro was much older and more of a 2 guard while Gasol was slightly older and a 7 foot power forward. Therefore, their transitions to the NBA may be inherently different than Rubio's.

Still, these cases do suggest that an ACB stat line like Rubio's can translate into success in the NBA.

Below are some stats I pulled from ACB.com.

Think About It

What do you think the chances are the Ricky Rubio and Marc Gasol are sitting at a Tapas bar in Madrid trying to convince Juan Carlos Navarro to make a come-back?

#2

The Grizzlies had the second best outcome on Tuesday night when they received the #2 pick and the Clippers received #1.

If anyone is dumb enough to pass up on Blake Griffin or trade him, it's the Clippers, who have a history of making bad moves and are loaded at the 4 and 5 spots.

The Grizzlies have flexibility that puts them in a position to take on salary for the sake of improving the team.

One outcome I'd like to see is trading for the Griffin while taking on one of the Clippers big contracts.

For example, according to RealGM's trade checker, the Grizzlies could take on Zach Randolph's contract without giving up any players and swap picks. According the ESPN's trade checker, the Grizzlies would have to send players back, but both teams have enough assets to make something like that work.

RealGM also pointed to a Bay Area article that suggests that the Clippers are more interested in Rubio than Griffin.

If the Clippers aren't willing to part with Griffin, the Grizzlies are still in a good position with Rubio available at #2, and can package Conley with other players to get a forward.

NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday!

You can feel the excitement in the air. Grizzlies fans haven't had their hopes crushed like this since May 2008.

Hoping the Grizzlies win the 1st pick with a 7.5% chance is sort of like hoping the new Terminator movie will be good with McG at the helm.

Michael Dickerson?

The Grizzlies have decided to work out Michael Dickerson along with 20 or so borderline (at best) NBA players.

On the one hand, my parents getting me a Dickerson jersey 7 years ago because it was on sale now makes it seem like they were ahead of their time.

On the other hand, I'm worried the Grizzlies think that adding someone who hasn't played meaningful minutes in over half a decade is going to have a significant impact on the team.

I understand that it's possible to acquire an impact player and work out a bunch of D-Leaguers, but I want to hear about how the Grizzlies are going to acquire a power foward to pair with OJ Mayo as the NBA's new Chris Paul / David West combo. I don't want to hear about the next Quniton Ross.

On the bright side, my jersey collection is looking much better, and I might be able to forgive Marc for not choosing #16.

Grizzlies Dominate Playoffs

It's great to see Grizzlies like Shane Battier, Kyle Lowry, Pau Gasol, Dantay Jones, Hubie Brown, and Carmelo Anthony in the second round of the playoffs.

From the Sports Guy:

11:00: Lowry sinks a jumper after Brown trips and falls. Rockets by five. That trade continues to amaze me: Memphis GM Chris Wallace deciding, "We can either keep Lowry, pick up his option and pay him $5 million combined in 2010 and 2011 when he's worth twice as much, or, we can flip him for a late first-round pick that has a 12 percent chance of being as good of an NBA player as Kyle Lowry already is. Screw it, let's roll the dice!"

Quick question: If the Rockets can make it to the second round with Aaron Brooks, Von Wafer, and Kyle Lowry as their guards, then why can't the Grizzlies make the rotation of OJ Mayo, Mike Conley, and Kyle Lowry work?

That reminds me, I wish Michael Heisley would call Lionel Hollins and ask him not to play Marko Jaric ever again.

Here are my 2nd round predictions after 1 game:

• Cleveland in 4
• Celtics in 7
• Lakers in 6
• Denver in 6