Diesel's Save the Franchise trade:

[Diesel]

I like this trade:

Theo/CC to Memphis for Lo/Battier/Knight. This trade is PERFECT. Battier would be a good fit here. He scores, can shoot, etc. Lo is not a perfect fit, but he'll work. Knight would be a good guy to have out of our backcourt. We could then resign JT.

JT/Knight/Dickau

Diaw/Hansen

Battier/Holcomb

SAR/Hendu

Lo/Nazr

Then maybe I would consider offering Loren Woods a contract? Maybe?

Atlanta trades: PF Chris Crawford (4.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.2 apg in 7.6 minutes)

  C Theo Ratliff (8.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 0.9 apg in 31.1 minutes)

Atlanta receives: SF Shane Battier (9.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.4 apg in 30.6 minutes)

  PG Brevin Knight (3.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 4.2 apg in 16.9 minutes)

  C Lorenzen Wright (11.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.1 apg in 28.3 minutes)

Change in team outlook: +11.5 ppg, +4.5 rpg, and +5.6 apg.

Memphis trades: SF Shane Battier (9.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.4 apg in 30.6 minutes)

  PG Brevin Knight (3.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 4.2 apg in 16.9 minutes)

  C Lorenzen Wright (11.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.1 apg in 28.3 minutes)

Memphis receives: PF Chris Crawford (4.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.2 apg in 5 games)

  C Theo Ratliff (8.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 0.9 apg in 81 games)

Change in team outlook: -11.5 ppg, -4.5 rpg, and -5.6 apg.

TRADE ACCEPTED

You have been assigned Trade ID number 1175463

[Lascar78]

yes that trade's perfect for us but I don't see jerry west falling for it

[Guest]

He gives us emotion.I miss his emotion on our team.This

robotic team has gotten on my nerves!He can hit the

mid jumper from the corners and rebound and he's not

a terrible defender....just not a great one.

I honestly don't think Theo is worth those two.

[Guest]

biggest problem is that JT would be our only guy with real 3pt range and we'd be somewhat of a "tweener" team...lacking the athleticism to truly run (Battier lacks just a bit...maybe Hansen has it off the bench, maybe). It could work in a more (not complete) half court set, but we'd have to play a team game and have solid coaching...a sniper off the bench would still be a must...

[Diesel]

JT would not be our only three point threat.

I think Battier and Hansen has good three point range. IN fact, if we remain where we are now, we have less three point options. I just happen to believe that this gives us a team that has a future.

[Diesel]

I don't think it's a case of West Falling for anything. From my understanding, West wanted Theo?

http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/grizzlies/art...2134129,00.html

In reply to:

---

We're simply looking for a big body who can play a little bit," West said, adding that the Griz can't afford to become luxury-tax payers in a small market.

Adding a center - even at a discount rate - would push last year's starter Lorenzen Wright to the bench - something Wright is comfortable with if that big man is an obvious improvement.

---

I read before where West had inquired about Theo and the memphis writer sad that Knight has said that Theo is untouchable.

I hope that it's not a case of hard feelings by Knight. Knowing that West took his job......

I would really like to see this trade done.

[Gray Mule]

You know where Gray Mule stands on this one.

But, just in case you have and doubt:

I vote with Diesel for this one !!!

Lazy Lou is not an all star center -- we go down hill here.

C. Crawford, when well, is a good player but Battier

is better and he is, as far as I know, healthy -- we go up.

Bonus! The bonus for the Hawks is the "Extra " player

we get to help out with the training, ball handling, etc.

that we really need.

"IF" If Hawks do make the trade, which I hope they do,

we still need a couple of players.

Dead eye, three point shooter from the bench. Someone

who can come in and hit two or three in a row and turn

things around in a hurry.

A "BIG" man to take a licking and keep on ticking, clog

up the middle on defense, grab some rebounds, not get

run over or intimidated by the opposition, trade fouls,

if necessary and go back and set down, having played

his five or six minutes per half. Not wanting or needing

a fourty minute stretch every night. Willing to play

for a vet minimum salary, if old or league minimum if

a young lad.

[KB21]

Players like Shane Battier are a dime a dozen. You don't go around trading top tier shot blocking centers for dime a dozen swingmen.

There is a reason the Grizzlies want a center to push Lo to the bench. He's not a starting caliber center. Lo would be a starting caliber four, but he's not a starting caliber center. He lacks the defensive instincts to be a center.

All you do is fill one hole by creating another, when you can get a comparable player to Battier with the MCE while keeping the league's best shot blocker.

[Gray Mule]

"Sign me up for a dozen of those dime a dozen players."

Gray Mule

Didn't realize we could buy them that way! Guess I just

have no clue. See Diesel, what you have done to the

old man. Here I thought this was a good deal, the

salaries match and everything and Hawks get my man.

Turns out, you can buy him by the dozen. Heck, get us

a dozen and we'll release everyone else and save a

heck of a lot on both salary and caproom!!!