I still find it baffling that the Memphis Grizzlies acquired Zach Randolph and used the second pick in the 2009 NBA Draft on a player who spent some time in the D-League, yet still improved by sixteen games nearly finishing at the five-hundred mark. If you can explain to me how that happened, I’d also like to know your take on who killed JFK and what really happened during the six seasons of Lost. Now the surprising Griz might have to make major decision on whether or not to break the bank on restricted free agent Rudy Gay.
By: David Kay
’09-’10 Season in Review:
First and foremost, I need to apologize to Griz general manager Chris Wallace who I dubbed the Notorious B.A.D.G.M. last summer when he pulled the trigger on acquiring Zach Randolph and the two years, $33.3 million left on his contract. Not only was Randolph extremely productive on the court, but he was also a good citizen who did not disrupt the chemistry of this young team or punch Marc Gasol in the face. Glad I got that off my chest. (NOTE: I wrote this the night before it was reported Randolph was tied to drug charges in Indiana and then the NEXT FRIGGEN DAY, he is accused of being involved in a strip club fight. Maybe I jinxed his “good citizenship?”)
Randolph helped Memphis have a surprising season as they almost finished with a five-hundred record. He and Gasol formed a formidable frontcourt while Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo were once again productive and showed promise for this franchise.
With the good however, comes the bad. The Allen Iverson experiment failed miserably as A.I. suited up for the Griz in only three games. Everybody knew number two overall pick Hasheem Thabeet was going to be a bit of a project when he got to the NBA, but I don’t think anybody expected him to spend some time in the D-League. Third year point guard Mike Conley did not make the strides that the Grizzlies were hoping and might be near the end of the rope as their point guard of the future. But all in all, Memphis exceeded everybody’s projections as to where they would finish this past season and might be closer to returning to the playoffs than expected.
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