The most Griz-specific story of note around web today comes from CNNSI.com’s Scott Howard-Cooper, who quotes an NBA executive warning the Grizzlies off Ricky Rubio:
A rival general manager is on the phone discussing the Grizzlies’ options with the No. 2 pick. Ricky Rubio is the second-best prospect in the draft, he says, echoing the feeling of most peers, and Rubio would make Memphis better.
But …
“If I’m the Grizz, I probably trade the pick.”
Pretty much everyone who has any contact with the team considers a trade at #2 a strong possibility, but the reasons Howard-Cooper cites in addition to the difficulties surrounding Rubio: The emergence of Mike Conley at the point and the need for more size up front.
While those things may well factor into the Grizzlies’ decision-making, they shouldn’t factor too strongly: The team needs to be focused on getting the most talented player it can get and sorting the rest out.
Howard-Cooper’s story also includes this rival GM talking up Hasheem Thabeet in connection with the Grizzlies. While the Griz do have interest in Thabeet, I think you have to consider the source here.
ESPN.com’s Chad Ford has a rumors piece up with a couple of Griz items.
