The offseason may be just beginning for the Memphis Grizzlies, but that doesn’t mean that the work stops for Chris Wallace, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations. Wallace embarked to Europe this week for the continuous scouting process that goes on from year-to-year in the NBA on the pro, college and international level. Before the Grizzlies top basketball executive left, he took time out with Grizzlies.com to talk about the impending draft, free agency and the importance of the 2010 offseason for the Memphis Grizzlies franchise.
Grizzlies.com: Do you think its possible to find a region of the world with untapped talent in this day and age of advanced scouting methods?
Chris Wallace: Not really; and partly because there’s so much information today with the explosion of the internet and all the DVDs that are available. The world is much smaller than when the first international players were brought over. Even if the player is from a developing country without a basketball infrastructure, like Hasheem Thabeet for example. The odds are heavy that this player will either come to the United States for high school, college, or both, or go to Europe and become a professional player. There has yet to be a player out of Africa that has come straight to the NBA. They’ve gone to Europe or to a U.S. high school or college and then to the NBA.
The highest level of professional competition outside the NBA is in Europe. That’s where you have the most developed system, the best facilities and coaching, and the financial commitment from the clubs. So the South American players, even though the clubs in South America lack great money, you’ve had a couple come directly to the NBA. From Brazil you’ve got Nene and (Leandro) Barbosa, but all the Argentineans have come through Europe. (Manu) Ginobli, (Luis) Scola, (Fabricio) Oberto and (Anderson) Varejao included. There was so much known about them that they went first round. Then you go into the far East, where your major basketball country is China. You have quite a few players, obviously one big player being Yao Ming, who came directly through the draft.
If a player has great chance to be a major NBA player, the odds are astronomical that they won’t be picked up by a national team or club. It’s just very remote that they’re not going to get through that dragnet at some point. There hasn’t been a guy that blew right through the draft, that no one has never heard of.
Grizzlies.com: How has the drafting process changed from when you started in the NBA?
Chris Wallace: There’s more sophisticated information now. One of my first jobs when I was with the Denver Nuggets was to scout Tony Kukoc. He was a hot name in the ’90 draft and I went over there and I watched him. Back then the film was harder to get. It wasn’t as good of quality as it is now. It was more of frontier situation because the information wasn’t readily available. But now every team has someone that is experienced scouting internationally. And if you ask a question its very simple to get the answers now. There’s just way more coverage because of the internet, so it’s more scrutinized .
Grizzlies.com: Do you think that when taking into consideration the big step forward the team made this season that this will be the most important offseason in franchise history?
Chris Wallace: I do believe it is because we have the ability to sign Rudy Gay and Ronnie Brewer to longer term contracts. We have three picks in the first round. But there are also moves that our players can make and most of them improved last year.
Grizzlies.com: With as much at stake, are you taking a different approach to this offseason as compared to years past?
Chris Wallace: We have to prepare very intensely for the draft because every pick is in the first round. With three first rounders I doubt we get into the second round because that would mean either buying a pick or using future resources to get that pick which probably won’t happen. All those contingencies have to be explored between now and June 24 (NBA Draft Day). Then we end up in the second draft which is the free agent draft. So you’ve got to be prepared for all those players to become available. There are great opportunities out there for us.
Grizzlies.com: Is your draft philosophy to draft for need or talent?
Chris Wallace: You have to be careful in the draft. The draft is a vehicle we have in the NBA to restock and improve our roster. Every player who isn’t selected is available to be picked. If you can get talent and need to line up that’s great, but you have to be careful. The whole thing is sort of like a moving target because while you want to bring talent, you also have to look at existing players in those positions.
Grizzlies.com: Much has been made of the 2010 free agent class. Do you expect movement around the league to justify buzz?
Chris Wallace: I think it will be a very active free agency period since there are so many teams that have cap room.
Grizzlies.com: There was a report in the Commercial Appeal that the Grizzlies coaching staff has extended an invitation to O.J. Mayo to participate in Summer League to work on his playmaking abilities and improve his ability to play multiple positions. What are your thoughts on players playing multiple positions?
Chris Wallace: Flexibility and adaptability are tremendous assets in any sport. The guys that can play multiple positions add to their value and gives the team more security.
Grizzlies.com: We have a very traditional starting lineup. Do you see any of our other starters shifting into different roles?
Chris Wallace: We do have guys that generally play one position. We’ve got a couple of guys that can play multiple positions. But in the NBA the size is not as important as it used to be in the post. I think our power forwards can play center. Marc Gasol can play power forward and Rudy can also play in backcourt if necessary.
Grizzlies.com: Can you give me your thoughts on the playoffs to this point?
Chris Wallace: We had one sweep in the East, and you have some teams that are higher seeds that could be eliminated in the first round. Everyone in the West has won at least one game right now. You have teams that are high seeds—like the Lakers, Mavericks, and Nuggets—that are scraping right now to advance. It’s not a given that these three teams are going to advance. The Lakers series is tied with a young team in OKC that’s improving by the possession. It just shows you the quality of teams in this conference.