LoCo: Good evening everyone, we wanted to get this presser started sooner, but since it is the last day of practice, we wanted to make sure Chris Duhon was able to get a session with the guys in so we could see how he fits.
Well, where to start. While last season as a whole, was largely a success, we were not enthused about the way we lost the last 7 games and a shot at winning the division. While we once again advanced in the playoffs by beating a team in the Warriors that has been a thorn in our side, we lost again in a hard fought 7 game series to the eventual Western Conference Champions the Lakers. For our guys, seeing the Lakers walk off the court once again as winners...well it was demoralizing for them. And not just for the team, but for the organization as well. I was advised to go out and make changes that would keep us in contention, but would change the look of our team.
So started the off season, in the draft, we were able to grab quite a few guys that we hope can eventually contribute, but we were excited to be able to nab Hilton Armstrong out of UConn. However the draft was not the most exciting part of our off season.
First and foremost, we would like to thank Alonzo for all he has done for the Grizzlies organization, we owe a great deal of our winning culture and mindset to the former superstar, and wish him continued success on his NBA journey. However, it was a time for a change, we moved Zo and brought in one of the few guys that we believe can challenge Joe Johnson's shooting ability in sharp shooter Ray Allen.
We were also able to shore up our front court depth and defense by bringing in Keon Clark and Loren Woods. We also brought Brevin Knight for another stint as a PG on this team. However, we did not stop there, and as I alluded to earlier, we completed a deal to bring in Chris Duhon from the Atlanta Hawks.
It is our hope, that all of these changes will help to form a team that is not only strong in it's rotational players, but also talented throughout, with each man bringing a particular set of skills to the table. As always, we are excited with the opportunities that a new season brings, and we hope to make Memphis proud. We thank you for your time, and if there are any questions, we will answer them at this time.