S72 Memphis Grizzlies Press Conference

[K-100]

Hey everyone,

Welcome back to another season of Sim League.

The Grizzlies are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It has been a long time coming but our fans have trusted the process and their patience is about to be rewarded. We missed the playoffs again last season but we got lucky in the draft lottery and ended up with the #1 pick. We ran to the podium to select Dalton Knecht who will immediately start for the Grizzlies this season. It is a really exciting time right now for the franchise and if folks are sleeping on the Grizzlies they better wake up soon because the Grizzlies are about to take the league by storm.

We approached free agency with a straightforward plan. Find frontcourt help to round out our lineup. We zeroed in on Mark Shinn immediately and managed to ink him to a contract before retaining Gradey Dick on a team-friendly 2-year deal. I consider the offseason to be a big success but it is easy to get an A on paper. Now we need to get results on the court.

Overall, I am excited to get the season started and see this roster in action. We are still playing the waiting game while we wait out the Pistons dynasty to run its course, but I believe we are going to cause a lot of headaches around the league soon.

[Black Superman]

Desert here.

You have missed the playoffs 7 straight seasons. Will your fans finally get to flood FedEx forum for playoff games this season?

[LazyTitanSmash]

Is Mark Shinn a player who could be on the move or does he fit into your long build?

[garbageman]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: You mention the Pistons dynasty coming to an end soon, and while it has been going on, you've been patiently collecting and developing assets. When Detroit does eventually break up the band, what other teams do you see trying to rush in and fill the void that your team will have to compete with to replace the Pistons as the top banana? And overall, do you think it will become the new norm for a small minority of superteams to compete while the majority of the league waits for those teams to disband, or will there be some semblance of parity for a while?

[greepleairport]

The pressure is on Dalton Knecht to live up to his expectations. What kind of output do you expect from him?

[AngryBanana]

Do you have a favorite player on this roster?


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[AngryBanana]

Do you have a favorite player on this roster?


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[jlmarines]

Miguel Treviño Morales, Teremana.com; You finished the preseason 2-4. Are you planning to make any roster moves?

[K-100]

Desert here.

You have missed the playoffs 7 straight seasons. Will your fans finally get to flood FedEx forum for playoff games this season?

yes, cant wait

[K-100]

Is Mark Shinn a player who could be on the move or does he fit into your long build?

I'll never say never that he could be dealt, but I think he fits in the long-term plan

[K-100]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: You mention the Pistons dynasty coming to an end soon, and while it has been going on, you've been patiently collecting and developing assets. When Detroit does eventually break up the band, what other teams do you see trying to rush in and fill the void that your team will have to compete with to replace the Pistons as the top banana? And overall, do you think it will become the new norm for a small minority of superteams to compete while the majority of the league waits for those teams to disband, or will there be some semblance of parity for a while?

I'd divide the teams into three parts. The "win now" squads are the Bulls and Suns. They pose the biggest threat to Detroit this season but if they miss, they will sell their superstars and start over. The next tier of teams is the "almost squads", which are teams like the Celtics, Mavericks, Warriors, and Lakers. I think they are the teams on the rise but with their looming tax bills I think they will disband sooner than later so while they are farther along than the Grizzlies at this moment, I am not too worried about them long-term. The last group are the "potential threats". Teams like the Cavs, Nets, and the Pelicans are slotted here. I think the Pelicans especially are building something special with their prospect pool but I'm not 100% convinced any of these teams will navigate the next few seasons without a stumble here and there to make the leap from potential contender to actual contender. Hopefully they prove me wrong, but I feel confident here.

I do not think this will be the new normal, however. It takes way too long to build up a team via the draft. My patience is an outlier here, not the norm. New GMs want to win now and will be aggressive to contend faster and for the sake of the league that is a good thing.

[K-100]

The pressure is on Dalton Knecht to live up to his expectations. What kind of output do you expect from him?

I think Rookie of the Year is the expectation. I reckon he will finish 3rd in scoring with about 16 ppg.

[K-100]

Do you have a favorite player on this roster?


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No

[K-100]

Do you have a favorite player on this roster?


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Yes

[K-100]

Miguel Treviño Morales, Teremana.com; You finished the preseason 2-4. Are you planning to make any roster moves?

Yes. I'd like to swap the Hershal Gilmore expiring contract for another vet.