re: Jarell Martin rumored to have a 1st round promise from Memphis

Whatta douche

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I think they are realizing they need to get quicker and more athletic to keep up with the direction the NBA is going now.

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as a long time Grizz fan, we need all the perimeter jump shooters we can get. As much as I like Martin as an LSU fan, I'd be upset if we drafted a big in the 1st

ETA: unless for some reason we can't resign Marc Gasol (I doubt he signs elsewhere)

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Only thing I can think of is so the player has incentive to stop working out for other teams, thus giving your competition less access to information?

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That's the supposed incentive for the team giving a "draft promise". Team A hopefully prevents Team B from getting a up close look at a guy they really want. For the player, he doesn't have to work out anymore thereby minimizing the chance the chance of bad info getting out or worse, an injury like poor Michael Qualls suffered

To me, I think this is nothing more than agent puffery. "Hey rest of the league. My guy is will definitely be gone by #( ). So if YOU want him, you better do whatever needs to be done to take him before that spot."

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As an LSU and Grizz fan I will say this kind of makes sense.

Grizzlies really need two things:

1) Shooting
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2) A backup 4 with some athleticism.

If Grizzlies decide they can't get 1 at 25, 2 would make a lot of sense.

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There is also some increasing credence around the league to the idea that you can improve a jump shot with coaching and practice but you can't teach size/athleticism.

Many analytically savvy teams are opting for length over all else, believing that mechanics and repetition are all it takes to improve shooting. Obviously every player is different but Martin definitely falls into the group of uber athletic kids who might just be a few mechanical tweaks away from becoming a real dangerous all around threat.

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Good for him, guaranteed contract

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Only lottery picks get guaranteed contracts.

TigerRag reporting that Mickey also has a promise from a team drafting between 20-25.

Kinda odd that both have gotten a supposed promise in the same range. This close to the draft it's really hard to take anything too seriously but I guess we'll find out in two days what's legit and what's BS.

Kosta Koufos is almost certainly gone (unless Gasol leaves), so the Grizz do need another big to replace him. Jon Leuer did not play well and Jarnell Stokes looks good, but saw very limited time as a rookie. With Jordan Adams looking like a guy who will be able to contribute more scoring on the wing, Martin might be a better fit than some of you think.

Considering that Dave Joerger seems just as reluctant to play rookies as Lionel Hollins, I wouldn't expect whoever the Grizz draft to play huge minutes in year one. If they are going to get shooting help, it will likely come from free agency or a trade, because only a vet will be given much of an opportunity.

Here is another thing to consider. Zach Randolph still has a few years in him, but he is aging. The staff speaks highly of Jarnell Stokes, but he looks more like a solid back PF than a replacement for an All-Star caliber player. To me, Martin's athleticism makes him worth a good look. He has more upside than Stokes, and more versatility.

The Grizz have traded away their 2016 and 2018 first round picks and they have an aging team, so they are looking for a player that fits where they want to be after this core group begins to move on. So, even though he may not seem like the perfect fit right now, he could be down the road. If John Hollinger signs off, then count me in.