[/h2]I don't want to give Rudy a max deal.[h2]NBA Free Agency: Rudy Gay could be the Grizzlies' latest huge mistake[/h2]
Mon May 24,2010 12:28 PM ET By Rob Mahoney
Among this year's free agent class, there are the can't-miss prospects (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh), the impressive consolation prizes (Joe Johnson, Amar'e Stoudemire), and then a third, less illustrious subgroup: those destined to be overpaid.
Carlos Boozer seems a likely candidate as any, as a team with cap space and money to spare will probably end up throwing entirely too much money at a power forward that can score and rebound, but little else.
The same may be true of Rudy Gay, who as a young, talented, free agent, is sure to draw some interest this summer. That last sentence however, comes with a bit of a caveat: whereas guys like LeBron, Joe Johnson, and Carlos Boozer are unrestricted free agents, Gay's restricted free agent status essentially ensures that if Rudy is going to find himself on a different roster next season, someone will have to overpay him. Otherwise, that team risks the Grizzlies matching their offer to Gay and keeping him at a reduced cost.
There's just too many teams with available cap space this summer for someone not to take a swing at Rudy Gay. The LeBrons and Wades of this class can only go to so many teams, which will inevitably leave someone out in the cold with no star to call their own. Then, in their moment of vulnerability, a team could conceivably look to invest in Gay as a long-term pillar of their franchise, and they're doomed to regret that decision down the line.
Rudy Gay is a fine player, but he's far from an NBA star. He's a dynamic talent, but whether or not he's capable of making the jump from good to great is certainly in question. At present, he's simply well above average, which is nice, but not quite centerpiece material.
No one bother to inform Grizzlies' owner Michael Heisley of that apparently, who is posturing going into the free agency period. From Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal
It's tough to validate free agent talk at this point in the year, but if Heisley really is intent on retaining Gay no matter the cost, the Grizzlies are in some serious trouble. At present, their best move is likely to let Gay walk and try to move forward while building around O.J. Mayo and Marc Gasol, and locking Rudy up with a long-term deal would eliminate much of their financial flexibility going forward.
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Grizzlies searching hard for backup to Conley
It was impossible to know in the moment if Mike Conley bumped into his next point guard counterpart when he crossed paths with the latest collection of draft prospects working out for the Grizzlies.
Finding a backup for Mike Conley is a priority for the Grizzlies in the upcoming draft. They're not finished looking at point guards yet.
Finding a backup for Mike Conley is a priority for the Grizzlies in the upcoming draft. They're not finished looking at point guards yet.
Yet this seemed all but certain Wednesday: As Conley entered the FedExForum practice gym for his personal workout, he came face-to-face with an organizational goal for the June 24 draft. The Grizzlies, should they exercise all three first-round selections (12, 25, 2, will likely come away with a point guard.
For all intents and purposes, Conley is the lone player under contract at the position. Jamaal Tinsley and Marcus Williams will be free agents July 1. Local product Lester Hudson is a shoot-first player working to become more of a distributor but his contract for next season isn't guaranteed.
The situation — combined with a weak free-agent crop of point guards — is why the Griz took a hard look at guards Armon Johnson (Nevada), Jerome Randle (California), Ishmael Smith (Wake Forest) and Tory Jackson (Notre Dame).
By draft night, Griz coaches and executives will have entertained about 10 point guard candidates from a pool of 25 players expected to visit Memphis.
General manager Chris Wallace insisted the team would not sacrifice talent for the sake of satisfying a need during the draft. However, there will be more attention paid to who is available at point guard when the Griz are on the clock.
"If things are close, you may shade it in the direction of a point guard," Wallace said. "But you have to make certain things are close. It's not point guard or bust with the picks. The need and the talent may not match up with the pick. But there are players in this draft that are viable backup point guards."
Kentucky's John Wall and Ohio State's Evan Turner are far and away the most coveted players at that position. They will be off the board within the first three picks with the Washington Wizards expected to make Wall the No. 1-overall pick.
Wallace's rationale for looking at backup help at the point in this draft is partly based on Conley having a clear head start on the other prospects. Conley is about to enter his fourth season.
Griz director of player personnel Tony Barone Sr. agreed.
"Michael Conley had a good year. He improved his shot. He runs the team. He's got a high basketball IQ," Barone said. "For him to continue to get better we've got to help him at the backup position. We have to get great quickness or size at that backup position. Conley will get better because of that."
The session Wednesday didn't disappoint, and offered the mixture of size and speed the Griz will consider.
Johnson, 6-3, had no trouble connecting on shots from three-point range. He didn't show much of a mid-range game and wasn't as strong as advertised when posting up his smaller counterparts. Johnson, though, finished strong at the rim and proved he is a physical, aggressive defender.
"This would be a great situation," Johnson said. "I feel like I could step in and help this team. It's a situation where there seems to be playing time."
Randle is only 5-10 but might have made the biggest impression. His quickness and feathery jump shot from long range stood out. During an exercise where the players were required to attempt set shots, Randle sank his first nine and 19 of 25 from just inside the 3-point line. He made 15 of 25 from beyond the arc.
Please avoid Bledsoe at 12...Please avoid Bledsoe at 12...Please avoid Bledsoe at 12...
Ronald Tillery: Rudy Gay's ready to answer the bell
Rudy Gay might not be a member of the proposed, star-studded free-agent summit of 2010.
But he plans to be a heavyweight next season.
The Grizzlies' soon-to-be restricted free agent forward has engagedin a training regime earmarked for boxers since the regular seasonended. Gay, who is about to enter his fifth NBA season, has taken hisoffseason workout to another level as he prepares for a USA Basketballtraining camp next month and a possible maximum contract offer whenfree agency begins July 1.
"I'm not fighting anyone," Gay said this weekend when reached byphone. "I'm going through the training. There's no more in-shapeathlete than a boxer."
Gay said he picked up the idea of training like a boxer from otherNBA players such as Cuttino Mobley, Al Harrington, David West and ManuGinobili.
The likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and AmareStoudemire will soak up most of the big money. On the second tier, Gaywill be highly coveted.
One team that will make a strong run at Gay is the MinnesotaTimberwolves. Team owner Glen Taylor and president of basketballoperations David Kahn have already targeted Gay as an attainable playerto uplift the struggling franchise.
Griz owner Michael Heisley continues to insist that Gay will be aGrizzly next season. Memphis (namely Heisley) has the right to matchany offer sheet that is presented to Gay from another team.
I've had a feeling for awhile the T'Wolves or Clippers would offer Rudy.
I hope Heisley isn't dumb enough to match a (near) max offer.
Workouts target 12th pick
The Grizzlies will begin to audition players targeted for their 12th pick in a week.
Scheduled to appear next Sunday in one of two sessions featuring atotal of 12 players are Paul George, Xavier Henry, Luke Babbitt, CraigBrackins and James Anderson.
That group is designed to take a look at forwards and guards who cananswer the Grizzlies' call for more shooting, size and athleticism.
The team will also conduct a workout June 15 (featuring SherronCollins, Greivis Vasquez and Avery Bradley) for what will be an intenselook at backup point guard candidates.
A June 16 workout is geared toward more forwards with Ekpe Udoh, Larry Sanders and Latavious Williams among the key names.
At least prospects are willing to workout for the Grizzlies this year.
