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Post by LoCo89 on Jul 1, 2014 12:50:58 GMT -6
GM LoCo walks up to the podium to greet the assembled members of the press:GM LoCo: Good afternoon everyone. As usual, we will cover the end of last season, then go into this off-season, before finally finishing up with any questions that there may be. GM LoCo: We felt that last seasons addition of John Stockton really helped us remain in the thick of things both in the race for the Midwest Division and in the Playoffs. We beat an always tough opponent for us, the LA Lakers, in a hard-fought seven game series and then were unceremoniously swept by the Golden State Warriors. While it may be easier to make excuses, as they were one of the best teams in the league and had the MVP Shawn Kemp, it still certainly left a sour taste in our mouths as I'm sure it also did for the fans. GM LoCo: Going into the first part of the off-season, we were without our draft pick, the 23rd pick, as we had traded it to Orlando as part of the Hubie Davis trade. Which meant that the only real play we would have would be in free agency. With this years implementation of RFA, it added a bit more strategy to the off-season. We decided to go after a few of the Restricted Free Agents, and ended up with former Toronto Raptors PG Greg Anthony. While his numbers may not have been the best we believe that may have had something to do with sharing ball handling duties with Magic Johnson. We believe he has the talent and skills to be the PG this team needs. GM LoCo: Next was signing our own FA Chris Gatling. In order to make space, we had to move Willie Anderson for essentially nothing. even though he was one of the more sought after Free Agents this season, he chose to return here and complete what he said was "unfinished business." We are extremely glad to bring him back and hope that he can build upon his All Defensive First Team honors. The plan was always to make sure that we did not hit the luxury tax this season, since we knew our tax bill would only rise after this off season. There was always a Plan B if Chris did not return, but as I said before we are extremely glad to bring him back to pair with Brad and are glad we did not have to use those contingencies. Seeing as we only have 11 on our roster, we hope to sign at least a few more guys before we head to training camp in Memphis this season. GM LoCo: As always, we will now be taking any questions. As usual Brad & Chris are here to answer any questions you may have for them. thank you. |
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Post by WigNosy on Jul 1, 2014 12:54:20 GMT -6
One of the hallmarks of the VanMemphis team has been a strong dedication to making sure other teams' trade blocks never see the light of day, even though the Grizzlies are an organization known for building through the draft and free agency and don't often make trades. Last season there was some pushback - do you think that your team will be more open to making trades in the future than they have been in the past?
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Post by Nick Malone 77 on Jul 1, 2014 13:04:43 GMT -6
Nick Melon; Charlotte Observer: How tough of a decision was it to lose John Stockton in free agency and bring in someone that was given an unfair predicament in Toronto in Greg Anthony? Do you think he is ready to lead among the other proven vets you have in the locker room in Brad Daugherty and Gatling?
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Post by JNR on Jul 1, 2014 13:06:26 GMT -6
Generic Wolves Reporter: Do you feel that you overpaid for Greg Anthony?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2014 13:06:44 GMT -6
Ron Jermey here, ever consider that sour taste that was left in your mouth by the Warriors may be semen?
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Post by LoCo89 on Jul 1, 2014 13:19:14 GMT -6
One of the hallmarks of the VanMemphis team has been a strong dedication to making sure other teams' trade blocks never see the light of day, even though the Grizzlies are an organization known for building through the draft and free agency and don't often make trades. Last season there was some pushback - do you think that your team will be more open to making trades in the future than they have been in the past? We are not worried about the response from the rest of the league. Especially with the way our team is built, it is doubtful that we will be changing our ways in terms of trading, especially since we feel we'll never get true value for our guys.Trust me when I say this, it's a lot easier staying pat in this league then dealing with some of the GMs out there |
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Post by LoCo89 on Jul 1, 2014 13:25:38 GMT -6
Nick Melon; Charlotte Observer: How tough of a decision was it to lose John Stockton in free agency and bring in someone that was given an unfair predicament in Toronto in Greg Anthony? Do you think he is ready to lead among the other proven vets you have in the locker room in Brad Daugherty and Gatling? We will be indebted to John for helping us to climb to where we were last season after being the 5th worst team in the league. However, the plan with Stockton was that he was a stopgap and he knew that from the beginning, so it was not as hard as you think. Especially for what we brought him in for and his age, it would not have been prudent to bring him back for a second season with us. We wish him all the luck in his time with Toronto and wherever he goes after that. GM LoCo: On Anthony leading, he is still growing as a PG and we'd rather have him worry about that part of his game rather than the leading aspect. We have the established veteran guys that can allow him to do that and hopefully flourish here |
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Post by LoCo89 on Jul 1, 2014 13:27:48 GMT -6
Generic Wolves Reporter: Do you feel that you overpaid for Greg Anthony? : Possibly, but that's just how Free Agency goes when you want a player, especially one that fills a need for your team. He wouldnt be the first, he won't be the last |
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Post by LoCo89 on Jul 1, 2014 13:29:05 GMT -6
Ron Jermey here, ever consider that sour taste that was left in your mouth by the Warriors may be semen? Yes we have considered that possibility. We even went to the hospital to get the kit after that ro un d. |
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Post by NOLa. on Jul 1, 2014 13:30:51 GMT -6
Jason Jones from Sac-Bee, the VanMemphis front office is rumored to be cheap with contracts in trade talks but maxed out Anthony in FA. What do you see in Anthony that no one else saw?
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Post by LoCo89 on Jul 1, 2014 14:00:37 GMT -6
Jason Jones from Sac-Bee, the VanMemphis front office is rumored to be cheap with contracts in trade talks but maxed out Anthony in FA. What do you see in Anthony that no one else saw? Not sure what you mean by us being cheap in trade talks, as I can assure you that there are very few trade talks with us at all. Gm LoCo: On to what we saw in Anthony. We have been developing methods to track league leading stats and compare them to ability and talent of various players over the past two seasons and what we have seen is pretty eye-opening. Using this new data, we're not sure if what we saw was being overlooked or simply missed, but between the data that we had compiled on other players, what we had seen from him defensively on the court, his shared duties with Magic possibly stifling him, and our own cap situation we felt that it was important to take a shot at Greg and we were willing to pay to bring him here. We felt that a max deal was the only way to assure him coming over even though Toronto's GM Wave had assured the league that he would not be paying the max to keep him, even though he did take a little longer then anticipated to assure us he would not be matching the max offer |
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J2
Junior Member
Washington Wizards
Posts: 955 
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Post by J2 on Jul 1, 2014 14:03:55 GMT -6
Johnny Junior, The Washington Post: What's your situation at SF? You were quick to unload Willie Anderson, but there doesn't seem to be a ready-made answer on your roster.
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Post by LoCo89 on Jul 1, 2014 14:28:23 GMT -6
Johnny Junior, The Washington Post: What's your situation at SF? You were quick to unload Willie Anderson, but there doesn't seem to be a ready-made answer on your roster. |
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Post by gmessi2 on Jul 1, 2014 14:34:44 GMT -6
Are you concerned that Mr Daugherty has been focusing a lot of his off season to NASCAR?
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Post by LoCo89 on Jul 1, 2014 14:44:19 GMT -6
Are you concerned that Mr Daugherty has been focusing a lot of his off season to NASCAR? GM LoCo:  No we are not concerned. We understand basketball is not really a lifelong career, and we are not only encouraging Brad to pursue his interests,but also helping him learn about the business aspects of the sport incase he ever wanted to go into that line of work |
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Post by Conroy on Jul 2, 2014 9:58:09 GMT -6
Sports Guy Bill Simmons here, with Gatling and Daugherty now locked up longterm, is the plan to keep them Grizzlies for life? They've been a formidable front-court ever since they've played together it now seems they've got a young tough back-court with Anthony and Davis as well. Is this the most excited the fans have been in the preseason in VanMemphis in a while?
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Soundwave
Full Member
Toronto Raptors
Winter is coming
Posts: 2,465
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Post by Soundwave on Jul 2, 2014 11:53:55 GMT -6
Guy Fawkes, Roanoke times:
Any truth to the rumor that Gatling's Qualifying Offer was not originally accepted due to the fact that you forgot because you were too busy discussing the beautiful landscape of Roanoke?
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Post by LoCo89 on Jul 2, 2014 12:46:34 GMT -6
Sports Guy Bill Simmons here, with Gatling and Daugherty now locked up longterm, is the plan to keep them Grizzlies for life? They've been a formidable front-court ever since they've played together it now seems they've got a young tough back-court with Anthony and Davis as well. Is this the most excited the fans have been in the preseason in VanMemphis in a while? I believe that that is certainly our goal. The beauty of both of them is consistency. Gatling has improved every year since he's been in the league and Brad is one of those guys that you know what you're gonna get. Year in and year out, he's a 20-8 guy with an All-Star appearance. We look forward to pairing those two with Hubert and Greg for the foreseeable future |
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Post by LoCo89 on Jul 2, 2014 13:51:59 GMT -6
Guy Fawkes, Roanoke times: Any truth to the rumor that Gatling's Qualifying Offer was not originally accepted due to the fact that you forgot because you were too busy discussing the beautiful landscape of Roanoke? Thats.... thats not exactly what happened... A look of fear crosses his normally calm and even keel look of his face. Gatling puts an arm on his shoulder as a sign that they are there with him.Chris Gatling: It's ok Mr. LoCo, you're in a safe place man. LoCo pats the hand on his shoulder. He then talks a deep, steadying breath.GM LoCo: Thanks Chris. It wasn't that I was discussing Roanoke, that's the sort of rumor that got it, and it made sense for a history major, so why wouldnt it for I, a GM in the NBA. However, that was not the case. You see, at the time I did happen to be vacationing in Virginia, so it all fit. But... that wasnt the real story. After the season ends, I like to get away from both Vancouver and Memphis and usually take a nice vacation somewhere quiet. That was the case with my trip to Virginia this season. It was overall, exactly what I wanted. A nice cabin on the lake, with a phone and fax line, tv if I so chose, and books aplenty. We knew that we were gonna wait and see how the Restricted Free Agent Market shook out as news was coming in through my fax at the cabin of who was receiving the Qualifying Offers from their respective teams. GM LoCo: The last night in my cabin just happened to coincide with the deadline for QOs. So as I was sitting there, running some cap projections and some models against some ideas that my team and I had come up with, thats when it happened. I began to hear the most horrendous screams. I looked out the window and there was this glowing mass. As my eyes sort of grew accustomed to the light I began to see that the mass was not what it seemed. Rather than a mass of glowing light, it was actually comprised of individual shapes of light. As they came more into focus, I realized that I was looking at glowing people dressed in colonial garb running for their lives. I was so confused and immediately wondered why they all seemed to be running towards my cabin, away from the lake. GM LoCo: I became more curious as the people came closer, and eventually decided to open the door. As I did, they all seemed to not take notice of me as they continued to run and scream from this unknown terror. One man finally seemed to notice me and shouted, "Sir, I implore you to run, she is coming, she has destroyed Roanoke and now looks to doom all those who came from it." I began to try to ask questions, before the man realized that he was wasting precious time trying to warn me and decided to follow the rest of the people. As the light people became fewer and fewer, I began to notice that the ones that were left behind and nearer the lake were slowly disappearing. As if someone or some thing was putting them out one by one. GM LoCo: Finally, only one light remained, it was that of a boy, he was hobbling and crying out for his mother and father who appeared to have left him behind so as not to be slowed down by him. As he came closer, he began shouting at me, "Please sir!! Please help me! I dont know what is happening!!" As he began to reach out, I began to walk towards him, but then I saw it. Or rather her. It was the most beautiful women, pale, garbed in all black carrying a scythe. I stood there frozen in fear as she came closer to the boy. He saw me looking behind him and turned around and screamed as he saw her. "Nooooo!! Please, leave me alone!!" The woman said nothing as she approached the boy. He began to try to run towards me once again, but tripped. He turned to look at her from his place on the ground and begged and pleaded with her as she raised the scythe. He let out one last blood curdling scream as she brought it down, and he simply vanished in a smoky trail of light. GM LoCo: She began to walk towards me. I felt fear take me, as I struggled to beg for my own life. She looked at me curiously as I dropped to my knees, accepting my fate. I began to think of all of the things that I missed out on. Marriage, children, but most of all, an NBA championship. I realized that she hadnt swung yet, let alone raised the scythe, and she finally spoke. "I am not here for you. I am here to reclaim those lost souls from the doomed colony of Roanoke. However, I do need something from you before I can leave." "What...what do you need?" I asked, unsure of what I would be able to offer a stealer of souls. "I need about tree fiddy." It was around this time I realized that this girl was about 8 stories tall and a crustacean from the paleozoic era. That damned Loch Ness Monster had gotten me again, "Damnit Monstah, I ain't givin' you no tree fiddy!" I yelled as she swam away into the distance. All the players begin to finally break from their stoic stares and smiles begin to form as all five of the men on the podium began to crack up laughing.GM LoCo: No but seriously, I just forgot, busy drinking and lost track of time. It happens. We look forward to Training Camp and the beginning of the season, hope you all enjoyed this presser!! |
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Post by DarthVegito on Jul 2, 2014 14:26:21 GMT -6
Do you indeed agree that the Midwest is by far the toughest division in the league? And how do you see the Midwest shaking out?
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Post by IamQuailman on Jul 2, 2014 15:51:46 GMT -6
Will Maukie of the Milwaukee Tribune: I just had a question from a SuperFan named "Doug". He wanted me to ask the front office how his dick tasted. I'm not sure of the reference, but I think he's talking about a fellacio.
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Post by IamQuailman on Jul 5, 2014 17:05:25 GMT -6
Awarded 5 Pts (to Preseason presser pts)! THANKS FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION!
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No we are not concerned. We understand basketball is not really a lifelong career, and we are not only encouraging Brad to pursue his interests,but also helping him learn about the business aspects of the sport incase he ever wanted to go into that line of work
credit loco for photoshop
