What would make this a successful offseason for the Grizzlies?

What would make this a successful offseason for the Grizzlies?

[Applause] Mor with a running start elevat Point D oh my goodness TI game in overtime Gasol will turn his he is gone is on top s remain Conley now a three counting a 15o lead for Memphis and Blake Griffin gets into it on the floor with Randol hard to tell if there are any punches being thrown under there but Griffin took acceptance Adams going long Mor H it he hit it he hit it jat Insanity you got to be kidding welcome to grits and grinds a Memphis Grizzlies podcast my name is Keith parish and on today’s episode I’m joined Again by Sean Coleman Sean how’s it going buddy doing all right Keith we were talking before the the show started I know that glad you’re doing better trying to get better on my end but it’s just it’s that time of year so it it happens but always a pleasure to be with you Keith thanks for having me yeah so you have a Braves podcast you participated in a Braves podcast um are there Eerie similarities with the horribleness of the Braves season I don’t follow baseball at all but my understanding is maybe the Braves best player uh Torres ACL you of course had to deal with an entire Grizzly season where the Grizzlies uh got johnar for nine games are there too many similarities for Comfort absolutely uh the the Ronald aun Jr for those who listened and love baseball last year’s MVP just one of the most dynamic players we’ve seen in a while 2021 tore one of his ACLS we won the World Series that’s great so now we’ve decided to test fate twight unfortunately over the past weekend he tore his other ACL and the thing you know is is that if you were to if you were to compare a player who just is excited athletic just can do anything and everything on the baseball field like jarat can do with the basketball it would be Ronald aunia Jr you know they may be at different statuses in their respective sports but to make a long story short yeah just I’m tired about the teams that I love and cover going through all these injuries I’m ready for us to to get a good stretch of health and hopefully see some championships one yeah I sometimes am curious about what feels like a I don’t know what the right word is like a a theme of similarity between sports things like there’s there’s no connection between the Grizzlies and the Braves other than you and probably other sports fans in the South that makes sense that you would cheer for Atlanta baseball and Grizzly basketball that’s fine but then I think sometimes about like Tennessee sports yeah and I’m I’m watching Tennessee sports and I’m like wow so like the Titans just an embarrassing offense just can’t score what a humiliating game I just watched and then like the Grizzlies you’re just like what a humiliating offense I can’t believe the thing and then like Nashville socer I’m like what a humiliating offense I can’t believe I watched another z00 and there’s no I mean of course the Grizzlies spiked and were awesome you know for a couple years and of there was all injuries but there’s times where I’m just like why do all the Tennessee sports teams have terrible offenses I don’t get it but maybe it’s just random maybe I don’t know they have coordinated their colors at least and I feel like there’s a push there’s a push from Memphis fans to go back to the the city jerseys from two years ago the navy blue ones the awesome ones it was the awesome year they all wore all the Grizzlies players wore those yellow leg sleeves the navy blue jerseys they’re so much better than our Grizzlies regular jerseys and there’s a push to be like hey those are better let’s do that and I agree but I’m worried some of the hardcore Memphis fans some of the Memphis fans who are maybe not as positive towards fans in other cities when you realize the it’s the same color scheme of the Predators and Nashville soccer maybe that would be the Slowdown maybe that’ be the pullback like wait a minute we want to still be distinct grizzli distinct I just like I say and the Braves are right there you know you know they’re offensive to watch at times because of their offense here recently so I don’t know if it’s the jerseys I don’t know what it is I don’t know if it’s the respective Sports gods that we need to talk with and you know say say you know say the right things too we just Health just needs to be in better situation and hopefully it will be here soon so yeah hopefully it’s all um health related and it’s not like hey look at the Titans skill position players and now will Levis you’re like oh goodness um anyways uh let’s talk basketball um we’re we’re recording this in the midst of a very competitive well not well I don’t know 3-1 Western Conference Finals right now the Mavericks up 3-1 on the chamber wolves the Celtics have already advanced to the finals awaiting the winner of that Western Conference series when you watch these playoffs Sean and you see what the finals is going to be either Celtics Mavs or Celtics wolves are there any takeaways that you have from these playoffs and how they apply to the Grizzlies yeah uh the offensive efficiency that you got to be able to have to be able to survive and advance in the playoffs the Grizzlies have a lot of work to do to be able to get there um you know I think when you look at the correlation between you know these the four teams in the Conference Finals and I I look at the corporate spotles as the Grizzlies you know ultimate goal to get there cuz I think list of Luck’s going to have to be there for the Grizzlies to ultimately get there um you know I think you mentioned on a podcast you know a few weeks ago or a few podcasts ago you know for the Grizzlies to ultimately just have a really good shot at a you know being a true Championship Contender gig is going to have to become you know that you know significant level of player that fourth best player of the night pick that we get this year going to have to be that but you know last year it was revealed that you know the NBA champion has you know been top six and effective field goal percentage for 13 straight years well you know Boston’s one Indiana’s 2 Dallas is 7 Minnesota’s 10 Minnesota was able to beat Denver because they had enough defense their defense was structured enough to limit yic enough but also defend the three from Denver enough to be able to get the job done but now they’re facing the Mavericks team who just has enough jump shooting to be able to you know go over the the the size and length of of the timber wolves so what stands out to me especially when it comes to the ability to consistently make the right three in the right spot uh the Grizzlies have a long way to go they can they get there time remains to be seen I don’t see it being done in one offseason I can see us getting closer to that but the Grizzlies have a long way to go when it comes to their offensive efficiency especially from three you say one offseason would this not be our third off season of specifically addressing shooting and half court offense I mean that’s been the deal I mean also we can talk about second I mean they specifically let Kyle Anderson walk because they thought that was not the right type of player that you could have for playoff success meanwhile Kyle Anderson’s making impact plays while playing small forward Sean yeah he’s playing small forward a non-shooting small forward uh making some impact plays for the Timberwolves um it’s okay I’m not too hurt about it but um they have specifically spent the last two off Seasons being like we have to fix our half court offense we have to fix our shooting and you know the jury’s out from last year because the team was never healthy and you know so you’re like all right fine they finished I think they finished 29th in three-point percentage uh I believe the Trailblazer slid beneath them at the right at the finish line but like they were awful and of course had the worst offense in the NBA last year as they used the most players in NBA history but still I would at least say hey we’ve hopefully had several seasons to build up our our offense so maybe next year maybe there’s there’s just some tweaks a little a Twist here a turn there and they can get there but I don’t know the way you set it up made you feel like no we’re still as far as ever from being a top 15 top 10 offense well and you hope that you know the Reps that were there for Vince and Gigi you know for from this past season definitely could help out you know especially on that corner three opportunity you know could the Grizzlies you know have someone catch fire from the quarter three-point spot like PJ Washington did against OKC you know the Dallas OKC matchup you know you would love to see it so so all those threes that were shot this season I I didn’t mind it too much just because it was reps you you gave reps to your depth when you weren’t trying to win uh but yes you know I know I’m a strong advocate for Luke Canard it’s not because I think that Luke Canard is going to be a Conference Finals MVP it’s just that our team with the Luke Canard is at least closer to where we need to be than without Luke Canard but but even with him we’re still not where we need to be so uh that depth is going to have to show up and and I think when they’re talking about philosophical changes it’s putting players in the right spot but it’s also about being able to make make shots you know these teams are also very efficient at the rim and of course you know Keith as we talk about yeah the Grizzlies you know whe they’re healthy the Brandon Clark JN barant Desmond Bay Jarry Jackson Jr those will help out at The Rim but they’re two-point offense we were bottom three of the league as well so yeah soual is definitely going to be there but there’s going to have to be better positioning better movement there’s going to have to be better strategy of putting our players in position to succeed efficiently so also when you look at the playoffs have any of your opinions about rookies contributing I feel like that’s been some talk because of the Mavericks with Derrik Lively and of course the Grizzlies hoping they’re maybe nailing the draft pick away from being back into you know the second round of the playoffs um when we think about obviously the grizz’s hole at Center you know you think all right maybe you could fill that in the draft and then when you see the Mavs doing it um does that give you any optimism also like some some part of me initially I was thinking about like all right we have to get you know we have to get a spacing big I feel like a spacing big as far as someone who could actually stretch the court by shooting and not just by rebounding and screening that might be important because of John marant’s shooting limitations and what I see with the Timberwolves being able to play multiple non-shooters uh like with a gobear and then you see the Mavs with non-shooters I’m thinking all right well maybe it could possibly work but like what what what are your thoughts on um just the archetype of player that christas could even seek out based on the success some teams have had in the playoffs yeah Derek lley has been the Difference Maker and it’s been really impressive to see and you know that you know Donovan Clingan is not as fluid I think he doesn’t have the fluidity that a Derek Wy does uh you know in terms of his movement and things like that um you know I think that you know Klean is more of like a Rudy Gober though I’m not going to sit here and put that seemly on him I think that’s a bit unfair but someone like a kingan who’s very good defensively could be a rebounder could be a screener I think someone that could Elevate the overall offensive efficiency of J ban and jiren I think he stands out as someone that could you know have a little bit of a role for 20 minutes maybe in playoff games you know and not just rookies directly but the type of players that have stood out I think that something that stood out besides bigs maybe having a little bit more value than people thought in this uh uh uh uh playoff as you know guard lineups you know three guard lineups New York you know Indiana you know other teams have had success with these three guard lineups a reed Shephard you know I know that the Grizzlies having a jaw Reed bade lineup would be very very small I get that but that would be a very good offensive lineup as well due to efficiency things such as that you know I do think there are some rookies out there that could make sense you know I think aalon connect is someone that may be able to get hot and find a roll off off a bench uh but it’s it’s about these win out players and I think for the Grizzlies these playoffs may show that hey maybe there’s value in a win out player yeah there may be higher upside players that are out there but do we want to focus on players that can really help out offensively really be efficient and really help us out in our areas of need so you know I think that this shows that you know either rookies themselves or a player archetype of a rookie that is available could show value maybe earlier than some expect um another question about the players we’re seeing participate for the Celtics and the Mavericks and the Timberwolves I feel like we’re seeing Specialists maybe played off the court or at least I I think of offensive specialists I think of like a guy like Tim Hardaway Jr he’s not playing for the Mavericks cuz they’re like we just need guys who can play and you look at the Timberwolves have shortened their rotation and like they don’t really have that like maybe shooting specials on the team but despite that they’re like you know what we just have to play our best players and even the Celtics like you saw in game four against the Pacers they played Five Guys basically they’re they they they’re like all right Sam Hower we’re gonna play our Five Guys for like 40 minutes like part of me is like all right if we think about the Grizzlies team depth is important I I’m a I’m a huge proponent of depth that that I am especially when you don’t have a Tatum and a Jaylen Brown especially when you don’t have like the absolute Elite but I think you can look at the Timberwolves I mean I don’t know where you put Anthony Edwards you know League wide but like he’s probably not a top 10 player yet theirs is more about like just spreading the talent around I think maybe their talent their talent when you look at it like where would you rank cat and goar and Anthony Edwards I think that closely matches up to the Grizzlies where you would rank johnar and then jiren Jackson Jr in Desmond Bane and so I think all right we can maybe spread it thin um as far as like spread the talent out but at some point you got to be like oh we actually can’t play Monty Morris or we can’t play any of these other guys like we’re just gonna play our six seven eight guys and for me that’s where I’m like all right we don’t actually need you know when we talk about the roster and I’m thinking about like Luke Canard and I’m even thinking about like beyond that it’s like it doesn’t actually matter cuz we have to we have to upgrade someone in our top six right now someone in our top seven so like I don’t know maybe that’s a takeaway I’m having I don’t know if you feel similarly when you watch the playoffs absolutely um I I definitely think you know Anthony saying you know mentioned it um you know and others have mentioned it you know that you’re not seeing specialist play as much now but the thing that I’ll say is this is that I think that you also have to remember the context of the Grizzlies versus the context of these team the Grizzlies need a Luke Canard type shooting specialist much more than these other teams do because the Grizzlies don’t have as much shooting death so I agree I don’t think that you play a Luke Gard at 25 to 30 minutes I think that it’s the right usage of a Luke Gard to maybe get him hot in the right situations or against the right lineups that would be very very valuable to the Grizzlies but uh to your point the whole thing is is that you just can’t go out there and play 20 to 25 minutes of a player that can’t contribute on both ends you’ve got to be able to be very good at using them and as much as I want to sit here and say well Luke Canard can make a difference in the playoffs like he did for the you know Grizzlies posit way last year against the Lakers it was his usage by Taylor jenin that was in question so it’s not just about Luke canar contributions himself it’s also the question of Will Taylor Jin use him correctly so those big questions right there once again show I think that the bridge is a bit longer than some may anticipate of what the Grizzlies have to cross to be able to get to True contention yeah one of the great unknowable questions for Grizzlies fans is in retrospect looking at that Lakers series and wondering like how much was Dylan Brooks taking off the table and what if they’d had Le a little less Dylan a little more Luke if they’d gone more just straight offense um in that situation like what could have been and then of course you know like the all the cherry pick stats that that I use and others use about how good the Grizzlies were with johnar Desmond Bane and Luke Canard on the court you you you always have to have that like grain of salt like yeah but it was very small sample you know it like it it was overwhelmingly one game which really swings all that stuff and um anyways that’s another question um let’s talk about the grizzly draft pick so we’re coming up you know the draft is a little bit under a month away what are your current thoughts right now on how the Grizzlies should use use that ninth pick um kingan Donovan kingan remains a focus of mine I just I know that he is a DOD shooting big but I also think that with the cost control that you would have him with and what he could turn into um I I think that he’s someone that makes a lot of sense I’m even to the point of myself being comfortable to wear you know giving up 9 39 Santi Alama to move up potentially two or three spots to get Donovan Klean you know I I know if I’d put that on on the board right for the beginning but that’s the extent to which I would you know want to get Klean but if Klean goes at like I I don’t want to trade a future first or something like that for not of Klean he goes three he goes two something like that I don’t really want to do that other players that I really like are are Ron Holland because do like his upside I think he’s someone with Vince and if you bring him into the fold that would then give you more reason to make Marcus Smart Expendable and I think that Rod Holland could give you another option for a player that could become that fourth best player with your core uh and then two others the wiow players that I like are Reed Shepard as well as Dalton connect down to Tennessee just two highly efficient offensive players I know that the size is a bit of a concern with Reed Shepard but I think he makes up for that which is the overall positive play that he adds and I think the dton connects would be some really good shooting dep that need and also would make you know potentially both those would make Luke Canard you know Expendable to go and get things and then there’s some trade back scenarios and then you know what at the end of the day you know those are players that I like that I would love to go get in this draft um if the Grizzlies want to use that ninth pick to go get like a Jared Allen or someone like that but you know hey I’m all for them improving the team I do want to use the pick though because I think adding that level of Talent on another four-year deal with Vince and Gigi to be a supporting Cas for job a and Jared that is ideal but those are kind of some names that I think make sense so far as far as actual rookies in this draft go I want I want to ask you a question of something I was asking myself uh a thing I do a lot on my solo podcasts is uh I was I was posing the question what’s a more likely what’s a more likely way that Grizzlies win a title if we if we ever win a title what’s more likely is it more likely that one it’s because the player we take in this year’s draft is a hit becomes a plus starter level player or better like what like what are the odds of that occurring is it 10% you know I don’t know 20% who knows um or lower uh but like is that more likely or is trading that ninth pick for a a third or fourth best player a a starter level guy maybe it is Jared Allen um maybe it is like I don’t know I’m thinking of even like worst starter level players the guy who people criticize me for always mentioning it’s like like C Johnson like that’s your fourth best starter or maybe fifth best starter um and then you add another starter with the ninth pick I mean even someone not as impressive like like a if you Wendell Carter Jr okay like a very average NBA player but an average NBA player who lifts you up from using a 10day guy or a two-way player the difference between Trey Jim and W Carter Jr the idea being um is it more likely you win a title because you hit a home run with the ninth pick or you trade for a starter or like a pretty good starter and then the growth of GG and Vince plus J Desmond and jiren and even Marcus kiling like that gets the Grizzlies to a title which one of those things you think is most likely I I think that the trade for the established NBA player gives them more of a champ to win a title I think that hitting the home run with that night pick extends the window and it’s more of a win Now versus well Sean if if you’re if you if you’ve increased my odds of winning a title why do I care I mean I guess I understand you want to be super shortsighted I don’t care about keeping my window open if I can maximize I think the next three years two years yeah I mean jiren’s gonna sign a 300 million contract with somebody in three years yeah I mean no two years from now right two summers now so and and I think what it is is at the end of the day for the Grizzlies you know what value does that ninth pick have you know how much do they have to add to that night very little yeah and so if you were to talk about a Marcus Smart you know for instance for me if I’m sitting here talking about a Marcus Smart than the KN pick for Jared Allen in a trade I’m actually sitting here saying okay why don’t I add a little bit more to that to see if I can make it smart and died for Jared and 20 because then you get the impact player that you’re looking at but also I think that you could go get like a Tristan da Silva or somebody like that who I like Tristan da Silva Sean he’s my newest one yeah so you can still get the best Both Worlds you get the player who probably helps you win more now plus also get that rookie contract but yeah at the end of the day I think that if you’re looking to in a win now way maximize your chances at the title using that ninth pick as a catalyst to be able to get another wiow rotation player you could trust in the playoffs that’s the best way to do it I would bet rather though be creative doing that and still be able to keep a first round pick instead of just completely playing trading the ninth pick away so the the Jared Allen idea so I like for me nine and Marcus Smart is intriguing um I think the problem the Grizzlies are going to run into the problem our team’s going to run into this summer is there are other franchises who want to make trades who probably have more tradable stuff and um the Pelicans are probably going to go hard for Jared Allen or even Darius Garland like the like the Pelicans and Cavs you know good chance they make a trade the Rockets apparently have some interest in Jared Allen which is I think very interesting and like the Rockets could trade more stuff the Jazz they don’t need Jared Allen probably but like they they’ve already said they want to trade 10 and 29 this year they also have a bunch of future picks like they’re going to be aggressive So like um it’s going to be hard for the Grizzlies to out bid some of these teams even like the Thunder the thunder in a very unique position I mean it’s unpainfully uh kind of similar to where the grizz’s were two years ago um the Thunder have more future picks than the grizz’s did two years ago but a similar situation the Thunder they have actually have cap space and they can trade for stuff so it’s going to be hard to track on these guys if it’s a male Bridges if it’s a Jared Allen that’s going to be tough but you would like Marcus Smart and nine I think is a fair offer for Jared Allen if the Cavs move on from either Darius Garland or Donovan Mitchell and then like would you also throw in a a lottery protected another first because I feel like once you make that trade it’s kind of like yeah why not but I don’t know if that’s too much are are there other guys that you would make a similar type type offer I mean the one that um uh I only mentioned this last episode because there was like Pistons beat Riders talking about it like the Pistons drafting clinging and like moving on from Jaylen durren that’s another one where um nine plus Marcus Smart Plus lottery protected for Jaylen durren is that something that would interest you I would not trade all that for Jaylen durren the reason why is because I think Jaylen dur I think that Taylor Jin can get more out of Jaylen durren defensively but Jaylen durren to me doesn’t add all the elements that like you know I wouldn’t trade that you know to for that type of player who you still had to develop that much listen I look at I look at pick 18 pick 20 and pick 25 I’m in the draft that’s I believe the pelican that or excuse me that is the magic that is the um Cavs and that is the Wizards and I would use nine plus whatever money match he extra picks it took to either go to Orlando and say hey nine plus Canard for window Carter Jr at 18 for instance that gives gets them up to potentially get their point guard uh nine and 20 OB or 20 would obviously be Jared Allen Marcus Martin I Jared Allen in 20 throw and whatever they and then the player who I I consistently feel would maximize a Jared at the five lineup that is that to me could be realistic to go get is did obia like I would do a nine and whatever it would take uh to nine for instance n and you know U Luke plus extra picks to go get did obia in 25 for instance those are some trade scenarios that I think happen I don’t think any of them are likely but those are the type of scenarios where you get a win down player that you need plus you that first round pick and so you’re maximizing value in one single move so I’m I’m a I’m a skeptic that the Wizards would trade Den abdia just because his contract is so cheap they they they hit on him with the ninth pick you know several years ago I think it’s G to take a lot more to get abdia the one guy who I think maybe I’d brushed aside too quickly last episode was Kyle kozma yeah kozma’s salary it’s not that much but he does have a 15% trade kicker so that kind of takes it where it gets a little bit uncomfortable as far as the grizzly situation with the luxury tax like kozma it makes some sense alongside jiren he’s not a plus Defender but he’s like a modestly okay rebounder which the thing I look at but he can create his own shot desperately needed for the Grizzlies like I don’t hate the idea of like trading for ausma I again think it’s super unlikely um like if you could keep Marcus Smart and you know match the salary but here’s the problem I come to i’ I’ve started messaging other podcasters and writers for other teams who the Grizz might engage in a trade and I think as Grizzly fans we always use Luke Canard as matching salary no one wants Luke Canard guys no one wants Luke Canard like I’m like listen I know you’re not you’re just trading for the matching salary we’re attaching an extra first round pick so you’ll take Luke Canard and they’re like ah you know no one wants him which also makes me think like there’s no way Luke canard’s option gets picked up I mean maybe so but my my personal fears of the Grizzlies not being willing to pay much luxury tax uh I feel like it’s super unlikely and the fact that this matching salary theoretical matching salary no one really wants to do it if like the guys running blogs who are normally let’s be honest normally um more willing to float trades they’re like oh yeah I’ll trade so and so for this salary if they’re all like nah I don’t want Luke canard’s salary that makes me feel like all right well we’re not I don’t think I think there’s a good chance we don’t we don’t pick that up um and we don’t make a trade for it well and that brings up the question though so then what are the valuable contracts out there that would trade you know and I and I get it you know the Grizzlies Luke Gard probably means more to the grizzly than just about any roster in the league do you decline his option extending three years 30 million you know sure and he has another really good season maybe you use him as a trade piece in the future what have you but if he’s not generating the interest that you need with his 15 bilon doll expiring option then what becomes it you know obviously Mark as smart is there does a combination of zer Sati you know become you know attractive for you know a a a Lotter or a a team that’s rebuilding that may be the way to go to get to you know that luk number so it it the one thing that I definitely can say is this assetwise the Grizzlies have picks they have they have a sweetener if they need to really want to go after a guy in Vince or ggd though I would not use either of them in most scenarios in my opinion but in terms of those attractive you know6 to 15 million contracts per year type players they’re pretty it’s pretty fair yeah a lot of attractive pieces yeah um let’s come back let’s take a break and I want to come back and just go through a few more of the prospects I want I want to narrow down on on your draft prospects we’ll do that right after this quick break Underdog fantasy is a unique way to play fantasy sports for cash you can do daily fantasy tournaments you can play best ball you can do highers or lowers I’ve been using Underdog fantasy for over a year I use it mainly for the NBA and NFL but they have every single Sport and now if you sign up for Underdog fantasy using my promo code F BBF Underdog will match your opening deposit up to $250 again that’s promo code F BBF as in Fast Break breakfast so if you want to give Underdog fantasy a try use that promo code or click the link in this episode’s [Applause] [Music] [Applause] description yes so we finished up talking about the Grizzlies draft assets or or the trade assets like the contracts I think the interesting contracts um Marcus Smart has value uh I think Santi Alama might he’s expiring though but he might be someone that’s that another team could be like okay I’m interested the GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr the idea of trading them it seems I don’t know anathema you know it seems horrifying but like let’s be real there’s a good chance they could be at their Peak value ever of their career right now coming off tantalizing you know like breakout years so like if you want to make a big trade like those are your those are your real chips um maybe laravia showed enough you know in garbage Time of the Season that like you could someone might value that yeah beyond that it’s uh it’s pretty Barren um but uh Sean let’s go through you gave me the names earlier uh you know Donovan kingan Ron Holland Reed Shepard dlon connect is that like that’s like your top four for who you would take yeah I would they’re available I I would those are the guys that I’m looking at right now I do like Stefan Castle uh but you know he he seems to certainly be someone who very much is wanting to put emphasis on what he can do with the ball in his hands that’s just not something that’s going to be available for the Grizzlies though I do like like his upside um Nia toic you know I I again someone who could do well with the ball in his hands but is he someone that’s more of a you know backup point guard type ceiling with the Grizzlies so those guys if they wanted to take them just for their upside I wouldn’t necessarily bat an eye at it but those four that I mentioned I think are are are the most sensible these guys could be available at the pick type guys you know I would put Ricochet you know if he were to fall I would definitely have interest in him but I don’t think he does but those four guys I mentioned I think make the most wi now or high upside sits in the way that the Grizzlies typically like prospects I really struggle with this whole class of everyone I start looking at where I’m like I don’t see how that person’s going to help next year but I mean Grant this is an extreme weakness of mine of looking at draft prospects not just that I don’t do it very much I don’t watch college but like then when I start actually watching you know breakdowns of their game I’m like oh my Lord like I don’t think that player is GNA that player is not going to help um in in in the next two years the one thing for like Reed Shepard something I’m like Reed Shepard and all his tape is beautiful because he made shots and so like the one thing that like sticks in my mind about Reed Shepard and I like want to look it up is is try to find out like is there a situation of just uh a guy playing out of his mind for a year like the idea that this guy was not a high draft pick he does not have like the athletic measurables I mean I know he had a big vert but like whatever um the and then you see him have this season where he was just on fire the whole year and I’m like is that true like I don’t know like what if that was just the random College year also of course you know Cal Perry playing him off the bench I’m like this is a that that weirds me out and maybe just blame calip Perry for being a weirdo having Dillingham and Reed Shepard coming off the bench like that and then his his his position being like a smaller guard I’m like ah it feels hard what if I just traded for I don’t know random Mia what if like I got Dorian finy Smith instead not that you would trade the ninth pick for Dorian finy Smith but still uh watching like how’s this guy going to be better than this guy and so I don’t know um it slows me down a lot what what are your thoughts on the idea a player just being amazingly good at shooting one year and then it go like the Brady Anderson of college Seasons uh he hit 50 home runs once never did it again I’m not saying Reed Shepard is doping um I I think what you bring up though is the um it’s kind of the net of value that they could offer right like with Reed Shepard and The Grizzlies where does he add significant value it would be him kind of being lightning in the bottle kind of like Inda got with TJ McConnell or New York got with Dante D venzo this playoff run you know you would hope for multiple type of performances like that with Reed Sheppard sure he could provided but is he going to be able to provide that for 30 minutes A Night in the lineup for the Grizzlies probably not it’s going to have to be just elite elite efficiency for 15 minutes A Night in the playoffs is that something you want to spend the ninth pick on it’s hard to see happening you know I think that he probably has more of that opportunity with a team that has a big guard um Dorian F Smith for instance like you mentioned he may not have that lightning in the bottle type he fish or Elite play but he certainly could add value for longer in the game so I think that that’s kind of where you are so you know I believe in skill over size I certainly do but you know someone like Reed Shepard you know I think it makes sense you just take him and make it work if he’s there at the N pick and you don’t have a trade but again when it comes to those we’ve got to play our best players in the best moments is Reed Shepard going to be one of those five guys but the way the Grizzlies are constructed probably not so for him to really add that significant value you want out of this night pick it’s going to have to be that Elite play for 15 to 20 minutes again that’s a very narrow you know Pathway to him being you know an incredible Home Run for the nin pick with the ways the Grizzlies are constructed so a lot of these guys we mentioned I mean Kling in raid Shepard topic um I mean maybe Ron Holland like those guys could be off the board or there’s a good chance most of those guys are off the board when the grizz’s pick at Ninth um you mentioned dson connect why do you like Dalton connect um more than like I don’t know um matus Baza or like more than Cody Williams um jacobe Walter those guys is it because you’re decked head to toe right now in ut Falls orange that may be it uh but um to me it’s it becomes the question of do those guys that we mentioned have the same level of offensive value when they’re 23 that connect does right now and to me that is a very hard question to answer with confidence you know the thing that I think that’s kind of not mentioned so much about this draft class is that you know overall the overall ceiling of these players is pretty low at the top but you’ve got a lot of these players Keith who also are are more defensive minded players than they are offensive players Holland Stefon Castle Donovan Kling and Reed Shepard’s defense um you Cody Williams you know they’re they got good defensive potential but they got plenty of questions about their you know offense the Grizzlies need offense and to me stands out Clingan the reason why I like him so much is because I think his screening rebounding and other things that he does pass could Elevate the offense for other players for the Grizzlies that’s why I like him but to me the reason why I like d to connect is because I don’t think he’s just a three-point shooter he could do some stuff off the dribble he can do some stuff getting to the rim moving off of you know initial actions being able to shoot in in the uh in the midcourt uh he could play a bit of Defense he won’t be any positive thing for a long period of time but with connect it’s just to me he’s someone that add shooting depth and again as we start said at the start of the show what stands out about these teams over the past few years that are in the conference bals and finals it’s elite shooting dep I think connect is someone that definitely opers that and it’s a big need for the Grizzlies yeah he’s uh he’s older than zier and Jake laravia that not not a problem um he’s almost the same age as Santi Adama Santi looks like a couple months older yeah I mean he’s he he does I guess project to be polished offense that maybe can come step right in um and and lift the Grizzlies there yeah I keep thinking when I look at these guys it it makes me one I mean I’ve already said it lean into trading for an established NBA player but also your idea of of trading back you know if you can pick up the 18th of the 20th or 25th pick because so many of these guys and even like the centers like I’m like where is this guy like like evees Missy I mean he might go high apparently like I’m looking at some other draft boards and people have in the top 10 so like that guy’s a shot blocker seems incredible um I initially was pretty high on Ron Holland but now like after watching more of him I’m like oh the offense is just so horrific um and then like I don’t know again think about the trade backs like the uh kle wear is that a is that a Superman name Sean I feel like you would know I mean I mean do we say Kell if we say Kell that’s Superman name right yeah yeah C Cel is is Superman but it’s close enough yes yes it seems like a Superman name so that means we’re in right and if you were to get a consistent motor in wear he would be that would be there for me but I think it’s something that has to to develop but like I say I mentioned Tristan D Silva again kind of like aalton connect he’s that guy who is a really good spot up shooting option bigger guy who could play the four in some jiren lineups potentially but he does other things like he’s not someone that’s going to sit here and be an elite offensive player but he knows what he’s doing off ball which I think is a is a quality the Grizzlies are going to really value in these players but when he gets the ball in place it’s not just about shooting he can attack Closeouts he can make the right pass play a bit of Defense he’s a smart heady overall player so Tristan to Silva comes up as an older Prospect but one that I think definitely Falls in line with what the Grizzlies value in terms of their uh Prospect uh priorities and what are your thoughts on Edy a lot of people seem to be fired up about the Grizzlies getting Zack Edy yeah to to me Edy is someone if they just absolutely feel that they can work with him trade back to get him I don’t necessarily like the idea of getting him at nine I’m not against Zack Edy as being a draft pick but the question that I consistently ask if he doesn’t have the Superstar level of usage and he’s not getting the Superstar call where does he effectively help out your best players if you’re going to try to play him in those High leverage playoff tight moments I think he could do a lot of good Off the Bench I think he can absolutely be a valuable rotation big Off the Bench but yeah I I think he can screen I think that he can rebound but do I necessarily think that he’s as good of a Defender as like a kingan or someone else I don’t think so do I think he stretches the floor like a ky filipowski does I don’t think so I just I I think with Edy you look at him and you think the Grizzlies need offense he adds offense that’s perfectly fine but is he going to be able to do that in a valuable way with much lower usage you know we’ll see but I don’t mind them necessarily um getting him if they were to go back in the 20s but I wouldn’t NE like if they were to go get Denny odia if that were to work out somehow they get 25 and then they use that to get e you’re not going to get any quals with me but I wouldn’t pick him at not if if sorry I didn’t mean to laugh Sean if if they get Denny Abdi and Zack Ed that would work for you very generous Sean if they if they well I’m just I’m just saying that that would be a good offseason to me it would be a good offseason so what so last thing for me a good offseason is defined by getting a starter level player a guy who maybe is not maybe he’s not a starter but like in a pinch can start like right now of course the Grizzlies are very very well set up with ja and Dez and jiren and then Marcus Smart and then a healthy Brandon Clark and then Vince Williams Jr and G Jacks for me those are seven guys where I’m like oh yeah that’s a heck of a team but it’s got some holes beyond that it’s like ah I hope Santi hits but like we might be done with the Santi Alama experiment and like whatever the rest of the roster to me it’s like we got to find another guy the bare minimum at that level hopefully someone even better my big worry is and I don’t know if this is grounded in truth but My worry is we’re going to do another year of actually kind of decreasing the number of playable players and that that’s a problem for me so like my definition of a successful summer is getting a starter level player and I don’t know if they will I think they might use the ninth pick and then that might be it and I’m like oh uh I don’t know if that’s going to work so what’s your uh first of all right so two-part am I am I correct and having maybe some pessimism that they’re not actually going to get me a starter level ma player and then two what’s your definition of a successful summer outside of acquiring jny ABIA my definition of a successful summer is adding another significant significant three four big Wing plus a a significant you know traditional Center um you know I talk about you know my home run summer would be Donovan kinging and Dy odia that’s probably unlikely to happen but if you add some version of that you know have one of those two already being NBA player so if you go get for instance a Jared Allen I had talked about you know then maybe you trying to get that 20th pick to get Tristan D Silva my whole thing is optionality at the end of the day you’ve got that Center who you could play with jiren take some load off of him during the regular season because in my opinion I think at the end of the day our best lineup in playoff situations is likely jiren at the five so I probably would actually go the route of trying to my biggest move would be going to see what I could do to get that three or four like a Mel Bridges Denny odia what have you but those are very very Andrew Wiggins your your suggestion Andrew Wiggins I think would be a good way to look at things but those it’s very hard to find that type of player it’s a bit easier to probably find a significant Center um but do you go with two bigs is is being your you know go-to Playoff lineup that’s going to be hard to do against a really good jump shooting team but in my opinion I think that you at least get the talents here and figure it out use the ninth pick to add some size get a rookie in there that’s either the five or that big and then what position you don’t fill with the rookie go get an established NBA player to fill the other one but we need to add size I think we need to add some efficiency on both ends of the court and to me if you can add shooting that’s great as well but a significant big wing and and a at least a rotational um five that that can you know do the things we need for them to do rebound block shots and screen that would be a successful summer to me it sounded great to me so to to to to recap I want to make sure I understood you correctly you want a playable big and another starting level player was that was that accurate yes now and when I say a playable big I’m not necessarily saying that they’ve got to be playing 20 minutes every Playoff round but someone that can at least you know be serviceable for 20 to 25 minutes during the regular season okay Sean I’m going to get you right now to pledge to what I’m calling the goalpost challenge all right when the Grizzlies do not acquire both of those things this summer I can’t have you praising their offseason all right you accept the goalpost challenge you accept the gopost challenge I can’t do it I feel like you were very that’s a high bar I just I was just like I want one playable guy we have to have one more playable guy you’re like I want a center and another guy I love it I like the optim okay you’re you do not commit cuz I feel like i’ listen I have I have non-online Grizzlies fans you know like I’d call them my regular friends my real life friends who are basically not online they are perplexed about the goalpost moving that happens every year with the Grizzlies it’s like wait why are we so excited about these players we already had those players they’re like oh but we have John marant and Desmond Bane and we had whoever it’s like yeah we we’ve had those guys for years I want more and every year it’s like no no no we got rid of those guys but hey we got this guy it’s like well I already had those guys so you I don’t know I think that I’ll simplify it a bit more like this for me a successful offseason for the Grizzlies if if your goal if you’re not going to trade Marcus Smart and your goal is your five that you want to go to um in closing lineups High leverage playoff games if that’s jaob Bane smart and jiren Jackson Jr find that four that fits him the best that to me is the the number one focus of of the off season for me cuz I think that that is probably going to have a higher ceiling than maybe a a jiren Allen lineup with jiren Jackson Jr I’ll take Jared Allen all day I think he’s a phenomenal player but at the end of the day if the Grizzlies are wanting to see what they’ve got with Marcus Smart make sure you support it by going to get that four that could really compliment jiren a k kosma is somebody that could do that I don’t know how they do that without trading to Marcus Smart that’s why I love Denny odia because I think that he’s a good fit with jiren but figure out how to find that four that could fit with jiren and those other three guys and to me that’s an offseason and that’s that starter level player in the best lineup that we could throw out there can that ja Dez Marcus one through three can that guard the Celtics or the Mavericks or the Wolves it can try probably not all right I’ve kept you too long thank you Sean always a pleasure talking Grizzlies with you you’re one of the best and brightest covering the Grizzlies so uh thanks as always got yep it’s it’s it’s hard to be negative for me but I’m just I haven’t lost you’re just a ray of sunshine so you can’t help it anyways uh thanks everybody for listening talk to you next time go Grizz go Grizz [Music]

On this episode Shawn Coleman joins Keith to discuss playoff lessons for the Grizzlies, his top options for the 9th pick, and exactly what would make this a successful offseason?

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