Wishing for some Grizzlies

[pearljammer10]

I understand why Danny let Tony go, and I supported that decision at the time.  In hindsight, though, Tony sure would have looked good on this team the last couple seasons.

On the "what if" theme, imagine how different the NBA would be if Danny had drafted Marc Gasol over Gabe Pruitt.  If Chris Wallace is to be believed, that would have meant that Pau doesn't end up in LA, and we'd have the starting big man we've been desperately looking for.

I've often wondered what would have happened if Boston didn't make the Garnett trade and instead waited and had acquired Pau to pair with Jefferson (as Pau would not have required Jefferson).  One of those things I think about.

I think that Jefferson/Pau would have been too weak defensively.

The Lakers worked defensively because of Odom's versatility as a PF defender/rebounder and as an outside threat to give Gasol room.

Gasol/Jefferson would have been rougher match, the C's would have had to have found a pairing that could get stops and would have had spacing issues similar to Gasol/Howard as Jefferson didn't have much of a jumper at that point.

Weak defensively yes, but a team of

Rondo
Allen
Pierce
Jefferson
Pau

Would have pertay sweet to watch.

[PhoSita]

I understand why Danny let Tony go, and I supported that decision at the time.  In hindsight, though, Tony sure would have looked good on this team the last couple seasons.

Based on the things Tony said around the time he left, I think the only way to keep him would have been moving Ray Allen to that 6th man role and installing Tony as the long term starter.

Would that have been better for the team?  I don't know.  Maybe if Ray actually agreed that was the best thing.  The way he reacted to being benched and put behind Bradley in the rotation last year tells me that he probably wouldn't be okay with that.

[Roy H.]

I understand why Danny let Tony go, and I supported that decision at the time.  In hindsight, though, Tony sure would have looked good on this team the last couple seasons.

Based on the things Tony said around the time he left, I think the only way to keep him would have been moving Ray Allen to that 6th man role and installing Tony as the long term starter.

Would that have been better for the team?  I don't know.  Maybe if Ray actually agreed that was the best thing.  The way he reacted to being benched and put behind Bradley in the rotation last year tells me that he probably wouldn't be okay with that.

I think that if Danny had initially offered a three year deal, Tony would have still been here. 

[PhoSita]

I understand why Danny let Tony go, and I supported that decision at the time.  In hindsight, though, Tony sure would have looked good on this team the last couple seasons.

Based on the things Tony said around the time he left, I think the only way to keep him would have been moving Ray Allen to that 6th man role and installing Tony as the long term starter.

Would that have been better for the team?  I don't know.  Maybe if Ray actually agreed that was the best thing.  The way he reacted to being benched and put behind Bradley in the rotation last year tells me that he probably wouldn't be okay with that.

I think that if Danny had initially offered a three year deal, Tony would have still been here.

Maybe you're right.

I just keep thinking of how he said that he was "overshadowed" by the Big 3 and playing on the Celtics didn't allow him to show everything he had to offer, or something to that effect.