Demolition: Complete

Note: This column appears in the July 3rd print edition of the Memphis Flyer. Demolition: Complete On draft day, Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace finished what he started with the Pau Gasol trade. Now that the dust has settled on last week’s NBA draft, longtime Grizzlies fans could be forgiven for not recognizing their team. The dismantling of a team that suffered through three consecutive playoff sweeps from 2004-2006 began at the ’06 draft, when Jerry West wisely jettisoned local object of worship Shane Battier to bet on the all-star upside of incoming rookie Rudy Gay. The process followed the next summer when the team selected Mike Conley with the fourth pick, adding some need oomph to a point-guard core that had included stale veterans Damon Stoudamire, Chucky Atkins, and Bobby Jackson. But, this February, new general manager... [read full story]