Grizzles make Multi-Player Trade

[cd021]

The Memphis Grizzlies (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/mem/memphis-grizzlies) have completed a multiplayer trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/cle/cleveland-cavaliers), slicing more than $6 million off their payroll to get under the luxury tax threshold.

Memphis sent big man Marreese Speights (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3460/marreese-speights), guard Wayne Ellington (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3981/wayne-ellington) and guard Josh Selby (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6467/josh-selby) to the Cavs for forward Jon Leuer (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6452/jon-leuer) and a future first-round draft pick.

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/mem.png?w=80&h=80&transparent=trueThe Grizzlies will fall below the luxury tax threshold after sending Marreese Speights, Wayne Ellington and Josh Selby to Cleveland for Jon Leuer and a future first-round draft pick.

The pick is the most valuable part of the deal for the Cavs because it has protections that would send Cleveland the next draft pick the Grizzlies have between Nos. 6 and 14 this season and 2016, making it a likely lottery selection. It is the sixth first-round pick the Cavs have traded for since 2010.


The Grizzlies, under pressure to reduce payroll, had been in trade talks with teams around the league involving stars Rudy Gay (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3005/rudy-gay) and Zach Randolph (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/1017/zach-randolph).
This deal is expected to ease those concerns in the short term and allow the Grizzlies to keep their starters together. Memphis owes Gay, Randolph and Marc Gasol (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3206/marc-gasol) nearly $50 million combined next season.

Memphis is currently 26-14, fourth place in the Western Conference and second place in the Southwest Division, five games behind the San Antonio Spurs (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/sa/san-antonio-spurs).

To get the deal done the Cavs used salary-cap space to absorb some of the contracts and waived guard Jeremy Pargo (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6497/jeremy-pargo). The Grizzlies will receive a trade exception of more than $4 million that they can use in a future trade over the next year.

Speights averages 6.5 points and 4.7 rebounds and has been a key big man off the bench for the Grizzlies. He makes $4.2 million this season and has a player option at $4.5 million for next season. Ellington is averaging 5.5 points off the bench. Selby has played in only 10 games, averaging two points. Leuer, who the Cavs claimed off waivers over the summer from the Houston Rockets (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/hou/houston-rockets), has only played in nine games, averaging 2.4 points.

The Grizzlies owe the Minnesota Timberwolves (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/min/minnesota-timberwolves) their next non-lottery first round pick over the next three seasons as part of a previous deal. The Cavs would get the Grizzlies' next lottery pick, as long as it falls outside the top five, over the same span.

From ESPN

I don't think this has much impact in any future meeting with the Spurs. Though Speights played pretty wells as a backup big.

[Obstructed_View]

Seemed like Speights had the games of his life against the Spurs. Anything that costs them depth on the front line is good for the other west teams.

[timvp]

Damn, that was a great trade by Memphis. WTF is Cleveland thinking?

Speights sucks; he has the worst defensive instincts of any bigman in the league this side of Drew Gooden. He's decent offensively but Memphis didn't need him since Darrell Arthur is closing in on 100%.

Wayne Ellington is nothing special. He's basically a decent 11th or 12th man. A guy who only puts points on the board who scores less than 13 points per 40 minutes isn't worth much more than the minimum. I don't even know why the Grizzlies played him so much since he really doesn't help in any area.

Josh Selby is only in the league because he's a summer league phenom. In actual NBA games, he has sucked. Besides, the Grizzlies have a similar prospect in Tony Wroten who is better anyways.

In return for that threesome of suckage, the Grizzlies get a first round lottery pick? Are you kidding me? On top of that, John Leuer had a pretty damn good rookie season. And his skillset (a bigman who can shoot from the perimeter) fits in pretty darn well. Hell, Leuer might be better than Speights, Ellington or Selby.





Three bad players they didn't need plus shedding $6M in contracts for a future lottery pick and a decent prospect? Hollinger just destroyed the Cavs in his first trade. :wow

[polandprzem]

Cavs are doomed for good :D

[crc21209]

I think it leaves the Grizzlies the same for now in the short term. They lose depth, that's for sure. All 3 of those guys took up some minutes for their team, and now they don't have as much depth. What do they have off the bench now? Just Bayless and Arthur?

[Kuestmaster]

we could have send them bonner or neal for that 1st round. damn.

[Obstructed_View]

The Grizzlies aren't getting a pick, they're giving it up, right?

[Obstructed_View]

The wording of that is screwy, it reads like both teams get a first round pick. That makes no sense.

[Stump]

timvp, my understanding of the deal is that the Cavs, not the Griz, would acquire the pick. That first part is confusing.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

In return for that threesome of suckage, the Grizzlies get a first round lottery pick? Are you kidding me? On top of that, John Leuer had a pretty damn good rookie season. And his skillset (a bigman who can shoot from the perimeter) fits in pretty darn well. Hell, Leuer might be better than Speights, Ellington or Selby.





Three bad players they didn't need plus shedding $6M in contracts for a future lottery pick and a decent prospect? Hollinger just destroyed the Cavs in his first trade. :wow

The way I read it it's the Grizzlies who owe Cavs the pick. Still a good financial trade for them though.

[timvp]

Seemed like Speights had the games of his life against the Spurs. Anything that costs them depth on the front line is good for the other west teams.
I think you're thinking of Arthur, tbh.


I think it leaves the Grizzlies the same for now in the short term. They lose depth, that's for sure. All 3 of those guys took up some minutes for their team, and now they don't have as much depth. What do they have off the bench now? Just Bayless and Arthur?

Selby never played. A healthy Arthur can fill in for Speights (any leftover minutes can be handle by Leuer). Pondexter can fill in for Ellington (like he did sometimes anyways). And they can sign someone off the street who will be able to give the ~10 PER Ellington provided.

The Grizzlies lost two deep bench players and a D-League player. That'd be like if the Spurs traded Bonner, Blair and Joseph ... technically it's depth but not really in actuality.

[timvp]

timvp, my understanding of the deal is that the Cavs, not the Griz, would acquire the pick. That first part is confusing.

:wow That article posted was wrong:


Memphis sent big man Marreese Speights, guard Wayne Ellington and guard Josh Selby to the Cavs for forward Jon Leuer and a future first-round draft pick.

[Obstructed_View]

I think you're thinking of Arthur, tbh.

You could be right. He definitely seems to abuse any backup Spur he plays against. Thought Speights did the same thing. Everyone was so bad in that playoff series there was plenty to feast on tbh.

[polandprzem]

At what player they can make a push in offseason ?

[will_spurs]

The wording in this article sucks. This part:


The pick is the most valuable part of the deal for the Cavs because it has protections that would send Cleveland the next draft pick the Grizzlies have between Nos. 6 and 14 this season and 2016, making it a likely lottery selection. It is the sixth first-round pick the Cavs have traded for since 2010.

makes it pretty clear is the Cavs who receive the pick. That makes a lot more sense too.

[polandprzem]

I'm so way behind in total post it's not even funny

[Stump]

:wow timvp failure.
:lol It happens to the best of us. Personally, I like the trade for both teams. Cleveland is accumulating assets using their cap space while the Griz can keep their core together.

[Spur|n|Austin]

That's not gonna be good for business.

[timvp]

Alright, after gluing my brain back together, this deal is still good for the Grizzlies but it makes more sense.

The real deal = "Memphis sent big man Marreese Speights, guard Wayne Ellington, guard Josh Selby and a future first-round draft pick to the Cavs for forward Jon Leuer."

Trash for Leuer is a wash. (I'd rather have Leuer than those three at a cost of $6M, though.)

The first round draft pick is basically a bet by the Grizzlies that they'll remain a playoff team for the rest of this decade. That's a decent bet but it's also somewhat risky. They're a couple injuries away from sliding down and losing a late lottery pick, IMO. So, yeah, that's a risk.

But the big win for the Grizzlies is it looks like they'll be able to keep the rest of their team together.

All in all, an acceptable trade by both sides. The Cavs are basically paying $6M for a chance at a lottery pick ... which isn't a bad gamble. The Grizzlies are shedding three players they didn't need for a decent prospect and the right to keep their team together, while taking the risk of losing a lottery pick down the line. That sounds pretty smart, too.

[Bruno]

This trade is a huge fail for Memphis.

In July, they made moves like re-signing Speights and Haddadi that put them above the tax. 6 months later, they have to trade away a lottery pick to erase these moves and go under the tax.

[loveforthegame]

Grizzlies wasting no time. They're signing Delonte West, Bill Walker, and Sasha Vujacic.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/225725/Grizzlies_To_Sign_Walker_West_Vujacic

[Darkwaters]

timvp, my understanding of the deal is that the Cavs, not the Griz, would acquire the pick. That first part is confusing.

Whoa, a Stump appearance. Whats up man?

[Kidd K]

Grizzlies wasting no time. They're signing Delonte West, Bill Walker, and Sasha Vujacic.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/225725/Grizzlies_To_Sign_Walker_West_Vujacic

Interesting. . .Vujacic is a good shooter, and West is a decent backup. No real comments on Walker, but they added to their offense with those signings. West is a decent defender too, so their defensive depth is going to be pretty solid.

[Chinook]

This trade is a huge fail for Memphis.

In July, they made moves like re-signing Speights and Haddadi that put them above the tax. 6 months later, they have to trade away a lottery pick to erase these moves and go under the tax.

This is totally going to be the Nuggets in a year or two.

[timvp]

This trade is a huge fail for Memphis.

In July, they made moves like re-signing Speights and Haddadi that put them above the tax. 6 months later, they have to trade away a lottery pick to erase these moves and go under the tax.

Hollinger looks like he's having an impact since they're undoing a lot of dumb stuff.

Walker, West and Vujacic is a pretty damn good haul for this point in the season.

Leuer, Walker, West and Vujacic > Speights, Ellington and Selby

The loss of a lottery pick at some point in the future hurts in theory but 1) if they keep winning it won't be a lottery pick 2) saving $6M now for them to keep the rest of their team intact isn't a bad deal for a 10-14 pick, IMO

Given their current position, this is a trade the Grizzlies should have been glad to make. Keep winning and it's a great trade.

[Cry Havoc]

Given how bad the Cavs are right now, this actually might help them in the short-term.

[timvp]

The best thing about this deal for the Grizzlies in the short-term might be that it allowed them to add some much better shooters. They are last in the NBA in three-pointers made. In today's NBA, you can't be that bad at shooting threes and still be a true championship contender. It's just not possible anymore with the current defensive rules.

Walker, West and Vujacic are all good three-point shooters. Leuer is a bigman who will likely become a capable three-point shooter.


Good, quick makeover, unfortunately.

[Cry Havoc]

The best thing about this deal for the Grizzlies in the short-term might be that it allowed them to add some much better shooters. They are last in the NBA in three-pointers made. In today's NBA, you can't be that bad at shooting threes and still be a true championship contender. It's just not possible anymore with the current defensive rules.

Walker, West and Vujacic are all good three-point shooters. Leuer is a bigman who will likely become a capable three-point shooter.


Good, quick makeover, unfortunately.

Expected from Hollinger. That has to be one of the most underrated moves made this season. Great hiring by Memphis.

[LittleCriminal]

I'd rather have Spieghts coming off the bench than Bonner and Lamont..
Spurs should trade Bonner and Ass Hat to Cavs For Spieghts!!

[Bruno]

Hollinger looks like he's having an impact since they're undoing a lot of dumb stuff.

Walker, West and Vujacic is a pretty damn good haul for this point in the season.

Leuer, Walker, West and Vujacic > Speights, Ellington and Selby

The loss of a lottery pick at some point in the future hurts in theory but 1) if they keep winning it won't be a lottery pick 2) saving $6M now for them to keep the rest of their team intact isn't a bad deal for a 10-14 pick, IMO

Given their current position, this is a trade the Grizzlies should have been glad to make. Keep winning and it's a great trade.

I agree that this deal has virtually no impact on their level for this year but it doesn't change that what Memphis has done this past few months is horrible.

In July, they conscientiously made moves that put them over the tax. 6 months later they had to give up a possible lottery pick to unfold these signing.

Even if the trade in itself isn't that bad, the combination of it with the July signings are horrible. Had Memphis been a little more cautious in July, they would be right now below the tax and still have that lottery pick.

[ace3g]

I mentioned in the nba forum thread:

Chris Vernon ‏@ChrisVernonShow (https://twitter.com/ChrisVernonShow) @DraftExpress (https://twitter.com/DraftExpress) tell me about Joe Ingles - grizz considering him and told he could get out of contract.

I hope the Grizz stay away from Ingles, because I think he is a player the Spurs should go after in the future.

[ElNono]

In July, they conscientiously made moves that put them over the tax. 6 months later they had to give up a possible lottery pick to unfold these signing.

I think you're missing they changed ownership and management between last July and now.

[Bruno]

I think you're missing they changed ownership and management between last July and now.

No, I'm not and I've said in another post: http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124967&page=66&p=6312238&viewfull=1#post6312238

And the uncertainty about ownership isn't an excuse, it's an aggravating factor. It should have pushed Chris Wallace to be more cautious and not go in the luxury tax territory.

[letmk]

Contrary to what Timvp said, I think it's a bad trade for Grizzlies from pure basketball perspective. Just ask their coach Lionel Hollins, does he want to minus those players from his roster? I bet not.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Contrary to what Timvp said, I think it's a bad trade for Grizzlies from pure basketball perspective. Just ask their coach Lionel Hollins, does he want to minus those players from his roster? I bet not.

Why?

Delonte West, Vujacic > Selby, Ellington
Lauer, Walker > Speights

[Cry Havoc]

Per Reddit, a Cavs fan:


I love this trade as a Cavs fan. None of them are stars but we just managed to pull three players under 25 years old, two of them rotation players for a playoff team in the West, along with a first round draft pick just for Jon Leuer and biting the bullet on some cash to save Memphis from the tax.

[freetiago]

Well memphis did add some good shooters but i have faith lionel hollins will kill all their confidence just like he did to OJ Mayo

[iManu]

Hollinger!!! *Shakes fist* :jack

[cd98]

Alright, after gluing my brain back together, this deal is still good for the Grizzlies but it makes more sense.

The real deal = "Memphis sent big man Marreese Speights, guard Wayne Ellington, guard Josh Selby and a future first-round draft pick to the Cavs for forward Jon Leuer."

Trash for Leuer is a wash. (I'd rather have Leuer than those three at a cost of $6M, though.)

The first round draft pick is basically a bet by the Grizzlies that they'll remain a playoff team for the rest of this decade. That's a decent bet but it's also somewhat risky. They're a couple injuries away from sliding down and losing a late lottery pick, IMO. So, yeah, that's a risk.

But the big win for the Grizzlies is it looks like they'll be able to keep the rest of their team together.

All in all, an acceptable trade by both sides. The Cavs are basically paying $6M for a chance at a lottery pick ... which isn't a bad gamble. The Grizzlies are shedding three players they didn't need for a decent prospect and the right to keep their team together, while taking the risk of losing a lottery pick down the line. That sounds pretty smart, too.

I haven't looked at his stats, but isn't Wayne Ellington their only three point shooter. On a team where offense is hard to come by, giving any of it up can be significant.

[ElNono]

No, I'm not and I've said in another post: http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124967&page=66&p=6312238&viewfull=1#post6312238

And the uncertainty about ownership isn't an excuse, it's an aggravating factor. It should have pushed Chris Wallace to be more cautious and not go in the luxury tax territory.

So the new management should just stay pat and assume the fuckups Chris Wallace did last July?

[cd98]

Grizzlies wasting no time. They're signing Delonte West, Bill Walker, and Sasha Vujacic.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/225725/Grizzlies_To_Sign_Walker_West_Vujacic

Well, I guess that fixes their three point shooting.

[cd98]

Contrary to what Timvp said, I think it's a bad trade for Grizzlies from pure basketball perspective. Just ask their coach Lionel Hollins, does he want to minus those players from his roster? I bet not.

The trade, if coupled with the signings, is actually very good. I think Speights is a little better than he is given credit for here, but Arthur coming back basically made him unnecessary. In fact, I think they traded for him because of Arthur's injury. I'm not sure how West will turn out given how kooky he was with the Mavs. It got so bad they had to cut him, I think. But Vujacic is a good shooter, if open, and he will get lots of good shots with two quality post players and a good penetrating point guard.

Draft picks can be very useful, but let's be honest, a lot of them don't pan out and given how tight the salary cap is going to be, trading first round picks will probably be fairly common. Hard to say that they will miss that pick right now. Of course, didn't Memphis get burned on this type of draft pick trade the year they were in contention to draft Lebron?

[Texas_Ranger]

It was said that Vujacic wont leave Efes.

[hater]

Speighs is a scrub who would always kill us with daggers, so it's a good trade for Spurs.

[Bruno]

So the new management should just stay pat and assume the fuckups Chris Wallace did last July?

Well, I'm mostly blaming Wallace who is still Memphis GM.

Regarding Memphis new ownership, it's not sure they've made a mistake since the Grizzlies sale was complicate but they likely should have let know Wallace that they weren't fine with paying the tax before he made these moves in July.

[letmk]

The trade, if coupled with the signings, is actually very good. I think Speights is a little better than he is given credit for here, but Arthur coming back basically made him unnecessary. In fact, I think they traded for him because of Arthur's injury. I'm not sure how West will turn out given how kooky he was with the Mavs. It got so bad they had to cut him, I think. But Vujacic is a good shooter, if open, and he will get lots of good shots with two quality post players and a good penetrating point guard.

Draft picks can be very useful, but let's be honest, a lot of them don't pan out and given how tight the salary cap is going to be, trading first round picks will probably be fairly common. Hard to say that they will miss that pick right now. Of course, didn't Memphis get burned on this type of draft pick trade the year they were in contention to draft Lebron?

If they can find replacing players at cheaper price, then it might not be bad. But the trade itself only makes sense from a financial point because they basically ship out players with draft pick to save money.

[ElNono]

Well, I'm mostly blaming Wallace who is still Memphis GM.

Regarding Memphis new ownership, it's not sure they've made a mistake since the Grizzlies sale was complicate but they likely should have let know Wallace that they weren't fine with paying the tax before he made these moves in July.

I understand (and share) the criticism of what Wallace did back in July but Heisley only reached an 'agreement in principle' mid-june, and the sale didn't go through till the end of october. I'm not really convinced the new management had much of a voice back then.

It should also be noted that the new ownership has brought in a new VP of basketball operations since the acquisition, so while it's true that Wallace remains the GM, they do seem to be looking to move in new directions.

[Strategic]

I don't see much upside to Leuer, probably a fringe player. The Griz do need a solid fourth big man, hopefully they didn't find one in this trade.

[racm]

Per Reddit, a Cavs fan:

Exactly. Memphis didn't give up their core but just gave Cleveland a bench.

Apart from Waiters (who seems to be groomed into the Manu/James Harden/Crawford role of bench scorer/playmaker), their bench stinks. Leuer couldn't beat out Luke W:lollt:loln for the backup PF spot, fwiw.

[Stump]

This trade is a huge fail for Memphis.

In July, they made moves like re-signing Speights and Haddadi that put them above the tax. 6 months later, they have to trade away a lottery pick to erase these moves and go under the tax.
I disagree (to an extent).

The Grizzlies had made the decision that they needed to get below the cap at just about any cost, even if it meant breaking up their core. This deal allows them to accomplish that without giving away Randolph or Gay. The alternate of giving away one of their star players would not only force them to surrender their contender status, it would be detrimental to a fanbase that is finally getting to see their team be relevant. Seriously, who would want to be a fan of the Griz after they blew up a good team to save a few bucks?

Any stupid FO moves that forced this trade (spending too much on role players, giving Gay a max contract, etc.) are a separate matter. Again, taken by itself, the trade was pretty solid for Memphis.

[FireMicoHalili]

Damn, that was a great trade by Memphis. WTF is Cleveland thinking?

Speights sucks; he has the worst defensive instincts of any bigman in the league this side of Drew Gooden. He's decent offensively but Memphis didn't need him since Darrell Arthur is closing in on 100%.

Wayne Ellington is nothing special. He's basically a decent 11th or 12th man. A guy who only puts points on the board who scores less than 13 points per 40 minutes isn't worth much more than the minimum. I don't even know why the Grizzlies played him so much since he really doesn't help in any area.

Josh Selby is only in the league because he's a summer league phenom. In actual NBA games, he has sucked. Besides, the Grizzlies have a similar prospect in Tony Wroten who is better anyways.

In return for that threesome of suckage, the Grizzlies get a first round lottery pick? Are you kidding me? On top of that, John Leuer had a pretty damn good rookie season. And his skillset (a bigman who can shoot from the perimeter) fits in pretty darn well. Hell, Leuer might be better than Speights, Ellington or Selby.





Three bad players they didn't need plus shedding $6M in contracts for a future lottery pick and a decent prospect? Hollinger just destroyed the Cavs in his first trade. :wow

uh the Grizz are GIVING AWAY the pick. Leuer is soft. Jesus Christ hahahaha how asinine was this

[timvp]

uh the Grizz are GIVING AWAY the pick. Leuer is soft. Jesus Christ hahahaha how asinine was this

Thanks, Scoop :tu

[cd021]

I don't see much upside to Leuer, probably a fringe player. The Griz do need a solid fourth big man, hopefully they didn't find one in this trade.

They really don't need another big man, both ZBO & Gasol are capalbe of playing 36 minutes in the post season,They have Arthur to pair with either when one goes to the bench. Speights was a luxury that would have pushed them into the luxury tax (pun not intended)

[cd021]

Per Reddit, a Cavs fan:

Give him a break, Anyone who roots for the Browns, Cavs, & Indians are used to being losers. Why should the Cavs care about keeping a team from the tax?

[cd021]

Dan Gilbert-"I personally guarantee we will win a championship before the Memphis Grizzles."

Via Twitter.:rollin

[cd021]

The Cavs should appear on that show, you know..."Hoarders". Half the league called, they'd like their draft picks back.

[Strategic]

They really don't need another big man, both ZBO & Gasol are capalbe of playing 36 minutes in the post season,They have Arthur to pair with either when one goes to the bench. Speights was a luxury that would have pushed them into the luxury tax (pun not intended) I agree with you on 3 being enough. The only issue is if one of them gets hurt and misses a few games then they are stuck with using Haddadi(sp).

[cd021]

13 minutes a game for Haddadi , shouldn't completely ruin them if that were to happen. They also could steal some minutes and go small with Gay at the 4.

[Strategic]

Dan Gilbert-"I personally guarantee we will win a championship before the Memphis Grizzles."

Via Twitter.:rollinMaybe when pigs fly or when Lebron comes home, or whichever comes first?

[cd021]

Maybe when pigs fly or when Lebron comes home, or whichever comes first?

After next season, if you believe ESPN...

[Ice009]

Speighs is a scrub who would always kill us with daggers, so it's a good trade for Spurs.

When did he kill us with daggers? He wasn't even on the 2011 team.

[racm]

I think he meant Darrell Arthur.

Wasn't Wayne Ellington also part of the 2009 UNC championship squad? Is Chris Grant trying to get them all (he already had Danny Green, and he also got Tyler Zeller in the draft).

[td4mvp2k]

Ellington was good. Not good for them with him traded.

[TJastal]

I agree that this deal has virtually no impact on their level for this year but it doesn't change that what Memphis has done this past few months is horrible.

In July, they conscientiously made moves that put them over the tax. 6 months later they had to give up a possible lottery pick to unfold these signing.

Even if the trade in itself isn't that bad, the combination of it with the July signings are horrible. Had Memphis been a little more cautious in July, they would be right now below the tax and still have that lottery pick.

Richard Jefferson and Matt Bonner both say hi

[TDMVPDPOY]

why did they got rid of speights, i thought he was decent....as in hitting big shots, call them flukes whatever you want, his still better then turd towers

[Chinook]

I guess this explains why the brought Hollinger in. The Grizzlies are going to have to go ultra-cheap on their role players if they expect to keep their core and remain under the tax. When you factor in salary increases and whatnot, the Grizzlies should be back in the tax next season. They probably won't be able to re-sign Allen as it is. If Hollinger's method works, the Memphis should be able to find a lot of talent cheaply.

I still think they should've just traded Gay away, though.