The Memphis Grizzlies, mired in a second straight season of futility, have traded Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, and first round draft picks in 2008 and 2010.
In a separate trade, the New Jersey Nets acquired Stromile Swift from the Grizzlies in exchange for Jason Collins.
News of both trades was first reported by Ronald Tliiery, staff reporter for The Commercial Appeal, and can be viewed on-line by visiting The Memphis Edge.
The Grizzlies are currently 13-33 and are well out of the playoff picture for this season. With a lackluster off-season that saw the Grizzlies sign Casey Jacobsen, Juan Carlos Navarro, Andre Brown, and Darko Milicic, the chemistry needed to compete in the NBA has been non-existent.Milicic has been a complete disaster, averaging 6.4 PPG and 5.6 RPG—horrific numbers considering the Grizzlies signed him to a three-year, $21 million dollar contract. Unless my math is terribly wrong, Darko is averaging one point for every million he's earning this season.
The Grizzlies, perhaps, were further motivated to make these trades in an effort to reduce payroll. During this past off-season owner Michael Heisley didn't hide the fact he was looking for a buyer.
Coupled with Heisley's desire to sell the team, Jerry West resigned his position as President of Basketball Operations at the end of last season, leaving the team in a state of flux.
Former Boston Celtic GM Chris Wallace was hired this past June to replace West, and it appears he's been a busy man the past few days. For a man with less than one year on the job, Wallace is facing an uphill battle in turning the Grizzlies around.
With the announcement of these trades, the Grizzlies may be the only team in the NBA with four point guards. With the glut of players at that position the Grizzlies may not be done dealing. Other trade options include sending either Kyle Lowry or Navarro to a team in need of help at the point.
Swapping the long-term deal of Gasol for the one year Kwame Brown has remaining on his contract will further bolster the Grizzlies chances of signing an impact player this off-season. Brown certainly has the potential to be a solid NBA player but has yet to realize it. Considering he's had enough time, like Milicic, to prove his NBA-worthiness, I don't see the Grizzlies retaining his services beyond this season.
The Grizzlies have enjoyed a respectable level of success since arriving in Memphis in 2001. The Grizzlies made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history during the 2004 season, and made the playoffs the following year as well. However, the Grizzlies were swept out of the first round in both playoff appearances, and haven't won a playoff game in franchise history to date.
Being that I reside in Memphis I was glad to see the Grizzlies make these trades. The Grizzlies aren't without a solid core of young players that have the potential to be very good NBA players.
Rudy Gay, Hakim Warrick and Mike Conley, Jr. have played well this season and appear to be the foundation on which the Grizzlies can build upon. The FedEx Forum in downtown Memphis is a state of the art facility that provides the Grizzlies and the University of Memphis with an exceptional basketball venue.
The potential for a bright future is in place and the trades made today will relieve the Grizzlies of salary, making room for additional players via trade or free agent signings. While at present the situation in Memphis is a bit gloomy, today’s activities may well be the turning point toward renewed respectability.
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