Hind Sight is 20/20

[Young2Kinsler]

With Tyson Chandler coming back to the AAC for the first time since the championship celebration, I look back sadly. The more I think about it, the more I think we should have given Chandler a nice deal and kept him in Dallas.

The guy was a journeyman before Dallas, and it seemed he had found a real home here. He was good in the community and on the court, and he just fit in. His weaknesses were made up by Dirks strength, and Dirks weaknesses were made up for through Tyson's strengths.

I know everyone wants to hope for the sexy vision of Dwight and Deron, but that is a VERY best case scenario way of thinking. If I could do it over again, I think we should have signed Chandler(who is still very young) and then made a big run at a player like Deron Williams.

Sure if you get Howard, you can say, well we don't need Chandler. But if next season you go into games without Howard or Tyson, then I think it really starts to hurt.

Just my 2 cents, looking back makes me happy, and sad.

[BlueJayFanDan]

If we don't get Dwight, we are going to look dumb for getting rid of the best center we have ever had.

[thedfactor]

It's Dwight or bust passing on keeping Tyson without a doubt.

[LongWayFromHome]

If 3D really happens it will be epic.

What you are suggesting is very conventional.

Conventional thinking gets teams a ship every 20-30 years. If 3D happens we could very well win 2-4 more (depending on how long/well dirk plays).

Even if there is only a 10% chance you get dwight end deron, it would still be the correct risk to take.

[Skizzik]

I would have loved to kept Chandler, but I disagree that letting him walk wasn't necessarily the right move. There's a lot more factors than just 3D at stake. If we had kept Chandler, we now have two guys signed for $30M+ a year for the next several years. We'd have amnestied Haywood almost certainly, so while we gain a better center, we dump off another center.

I think it would hurt our chances of landing Deron at least a little. While it seems clear Deron really is sold on either Dallas or Brooklyn, if we had resigned Chandler, that means no Dwight. And swings Deron's chances of staying with the Nets up a bit more.

Now on top of the $30M committed to two players, we still have a group of aging veterans and limited young talent. DoJo projects as a sixth man. Roddy has flashes, but who knows if he'll ever be able to run an offense. He can score with regularity, but just doesn't have the court vision or instincts any great point guard has. Manhimi could be a great backup center. Wright could be great, but like Manhimi is blocked by a better player at his main position.

Plain and simple, rebuilding was coming. As Dirk aged off in to the sunset...where are our points coming from? Roddy, maybe...then who? We don't have another young scorer in this lineup. And Chandler isn't a scorer either. It would be a starless team that would always be in the playoffs and rarely make it to the second round. This team needs a makeover in the very near future, why not free up the cash to do it when Deron and Dwight are on the market? If we don't get either one, people will act like we gambled and lost. But in reality, this was an inevitable reality regardless.

[Thumper 88]

True^

[DAL*CWB]

The game changed with the new cba. We night not see it this season but come next season the new luxury tax will begin to hurt a lot of teams. I actually think our FO is being very smart knowing of the changes that are coming and preparing.

[asmarks18]

I just think you could have found a team to take Chandler for a TPE in the offseason or traded him to Orlando with a sign and trade for Dwight. Seems like it wouldn't be that hard to do. And if for some reason Howard gets dealt to the Nets by the 15th you have some insurance with Chandler still on your team.

[Young2Kinsler]

I know the reasons for letting Chandler go, and they are good ones, but I still think what might have been. I think Chandler on this team is VERY effective, and is a good piece to keep building with even if Dirk were gone before Chandler was. His new deal is only taking him to age 31-32, so some of the best years of his playing career might be in there.

[BlondeBomber41]

Mr. Westbrook,

We here in Memphis have been anxiously awaiting a chance to make our pitch to you ever since we saw you'd be hitting the free agent market. We feel you'd be the perfect guy to lead our team where it has never been, the NBA Finals and beyond.

The Grizzlies over the last couple of years have been a very good team, as I'm sure you can attest to from the 7 game series between OKC and Memphis two years ago in the playoffs. The only thing I believe this team is missing is a star player, a true #1 option who can lead them. That's why when we heard you were going to be a free agent we aggressively cut cap room in order to be able to go after you.

Here is a breakdown of the roster you'd be joining if you came to Memphis.


Marc Gasol
In the frontcourt you would have the luxury of an All Star center in Marc Gasol. Gasol has emerged as a top 3 center in the NBA and at only 27 years of age you two would combine to make a fantastic inside/outside duo for years to come. He is completely untouchable and locked into a long term deal, so he'd always be here with you.


Serge Ibaka
You know all about Serge Ibaka. NBA First Team All Defender, incredible shot blocker, emerging offensive player, young as hell. He's a great player to have on your team and would give you a familiar face to play with.


Tony Allen
If you come to Memphis, you'll be in the backcourt with a NBA First Team All Defensive player in Tony Allen. Along with Serge Ibaka they will anchor our perimeter and front court defense and we feel a backcourt of you two together would be the perfect combination.



Wilson Chandler
To clear the salary needed to pursue you we traded Rudy Gay and replaced him with Wilson Chandler at SF. While this move does mean a dip in scoring at the SF spot, we are still very confident Chandler can give us 12-15 a game in the starters role and provide solid outside shooting and tough perimeter defense. We feel the point production lost by going from Gay to Chandler is made up in large margin due to the defensive upgrade from Gay to Chandler. Wilson Chandler is signed long term and is a young piece you could grow with here in Memphis.


Klay Thompson
Our sixth man will be 2nd year man Klay Thompson, who had a terrific rookie season. After the Warriors traded Monta Ellis Thompson averaged almost 19 points a game and is a sniper from behind the arc. I know you are very aware the benefits of a good 6th man and outside shooter from your time with James Harden, and we feel Thompson can be our version of that to you. His ability to shoot the ball will open up lanes for you when you're on the floor together.

Other players you would be joining include SF Marvin Williams and PF/C Trevor Booker, who had an excellent year last year for the Wizards. Both would provide quality depth off the bench.

Another thing we think you'll like is the drafting of 19 year old, 6-6 PG Tony Wroten. We would love to have you here in Memphis to start in front of and mentor Wroten, teach him how to be an outstanding player in this league. We wanted to bring in a young guy you could take under your wing and teach the ways of the NBA to, and we feel we got a pretty good one.

One thing you will notice when you look at our core is it is very very young, with Tony Allen being the "old guy" at age 30. If you joined the Grizzlies, not only would we be a contender now, but well into the future.

Marc Gasol - 27
Serge Ibaka - 22
Wilson Chandler - 25
Tony Allen - 30
Klay Thompson - 22
Marvin Williams - 26
Trevor Booker - 24
Tony Wroten - 19

Also, keep in mind that even with your addition we'd still have over $15 million dollars in cap room to add to the team. The team you would be agreeing to join would only get better and deeper as the offseason continues.

In Memphis you'd get the max contract allowed, you'd get to contend on a young loaded roster as the #1 option, and you'd fit the role perfectly. What else could you ask for?

We are offering the max contract allowed, a 4 year deal totaling $61,164,881.

This deal also includes a 100% guarantee that we will not trade you after we sign you, and a guarantee we will not trade All Star Center Marc Gasol or your buddy Serge Ibaka. We feel it's important that you know the key pieces to our young squad will be around for years to come.

Year 1: $13,674,480
Year 2: $14,700,066
Year 3: $15,802,571
Year 4: $16,987,764

If you have any questions about your role or any concerns at all about how the team is built is, feel free to ask away. We'd love to hear what you think of our team.

Sincerely,
The Memphis Grizzlies

[DAL*CWB]

I just think you could have found a team to take Chandler for a TPE in the offseason

We did get a TPE for him. The one we used for LO.

[asmarks18]

We did get a TPE for him. The one we used for LO.

No, I meant this upcoming offseason. I was saying we should have resigned Chandler and then dealt him later to clear space for Howard but if Howard chose not to come here you still have a great center in Chandler.

[thedfactor]

The use of the TPE from Tyson on Lamar looks worse everyday.

[AnthonyTyrael]

The use of the TPE from Tyson on Lamar looks worse everyday.

Typical case of "The sight of the cake made my mouth water". Sadly, they should have looked at the label saying, best before... instead of buying it quickest possible.

[MFFL2008]

I like what everyone is saying... and I agree with most of it, but there are a lot of snags that could have happened if we kept Chandler. IMO, this was probably the least drama-free way to make the 3D pipe dream happen... If it does happen.

It's actually not easy to make a trade in today's NBA... if you haven't noticed. Who is to say we could have made a deal with anyone for Chandler, and that the NBA would keep their noses out of it.

I like what Cuban and Nelson have done in the last few years. It lead us to a championship, so they have my trust ALL THE WAY. I know they are doing everything in their power to make this dream happen for the future of this ball club. If we don't get one or both of the the Ds to add to our already existing D... BLOW IT UP!!! We start to rebuild. Either way I am a MFFL!!!

LET'S GO MAVS!!!