DRAFT DAY:
Geoff Calkins says it may get interesting for Griz fans.
The Memphis Grizzlies have acquired a 34-yearold point guard who averaged four points a game, shot 32 percent from the 3-point line, can’t play defense and has mused openly about retiring this offseason.
And, yes, you should absolutely be excited about this.
Not because Luke Ridnour will have any real impact on the Grizzlies.
Because he suggests that moves are coming that might have a real impact on the Grizzlies.
Because the deal implies the Grizzlies aren’t necessarily going to be content to wait for the draft to roll by and make their pick at 25 and call it an evening.
The offseason is starting.
The Grizzlies are going to try and make themselves better.
And the first, unlikely step in that process was the acquisition of a point guard who may never play a minute for the franchise.
So welcome to draft day, Memphis fans, and, go ahead, allow yourselves to revel in it. Never mind the failures of the past. Never mind the selection of Hasheem Thabeet. Or the selection of Drew Gooden. Or the selection of Troy Bell. Or the selection of Tony Wroten. Or the selection of Xavier Henry. Or the selection of, geez, this is getting depressing, isn’t it?
But it’s not like the Grizzlies have never had a successful draft night. They drafted Kevin Love, Kyle Lowry, Greivis Vasquez and DeMarre Carroll in the first round. Who can possibly quibble with any of those players? Except, they were all sent away.
So, OK, maybe it’s harder for Griz fans to revel in draft night. Especially when the Grizzlies pick 25th, a draft position which has yielded such NBA stars as Reggie Bullock, Marshon Brooks, Dominique Jones, Morris Almond, Johan Petro and Martin Muursepp.
Some of you want the Grizzlies to pick a shooter at 25. I want them to pick a guy who can play. Nobody the Grizzlies pick at 25 is going to see the floor this year anyway. But it would be nice if the pick could see the floor in a year or
two, especially since the Grizzlies have already dealt away their firstround picks in 2016 and 2018.
Look at Jordan Adams, by way of example. He spent most of the past season on the bench. But he could well play an important role with the Grizzlies next year. At least, that is the fervent hope.
In the meantime, the Grizzlies acquired Ridnour for the rights to former second-round pick Janis Timma, which set off great ripples of excitement in Memphis, which is both understandable and hilarious.
Timma will never play for the Magic. Ridnour will likely never play for the Griz. But the Grizzlies could deal Ridnour and his $2.75 million salary and — for reasons that I won’t explain lest you perish from boredom — bring back a player making more than $4 million a year.
THAT player might well be able to provide the shooting the Grizzlies are looking for. Or might be able to help replace Kosta Koufos, if and when he bolts.
The larger point is, the Grizzlies are clearly positioning themselves to make significant deals. And that’s worth getting excited about. The franchise hasn’t had great luck of late finding pieces to complement Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley and Tony Allen. But that’s no reason not to try again.
Maybe they’ll deal Jeff Green to a team intrigued by his expiring contract and his upside. Maybe they’ll try and move up in the draft. But the Grizzlies didn’t get Ridnour because they need another aging point guard. You can surely revel in that. To reach Geoff Calkins call 901-529-2364 or email calkins@commercialappeal.com