--G Quentin Richardson, acquired on draft night from the Knicks for C Darko Milicic, will be traded to the Clippers on July 8 in exchange for F Zach Randolph, who's owed $33.3 million over the next two seasons, but averaged 20.8 points and 10.1 rebounds last season and can improve the Grizzlies' frontcourt production.
--The move to get Quentin Richardson and dump Darko Milicic was a no-brainer after drafting Hasheem Thabeet, especially after dealing Richardson to the Clippers for F Zach Randolph. Milicic was the odd man out among the three Griz centers (Thabeet and returning starter Marc Gasol). "Darko would not have been a happy camper with the depth chart," GM Chris Wallace said. "With Quentin, I know he can shoot the three ball. He's been a capable player throughout his career.
Milicic is about to enter the final year of their contracts. Milicic is due to earn $7.5 million as part of a three-year deal he signed with Memphis as a free agent in 2007.
--Thabeet spoke with a couple of Grizzlies in the weeks leading to the draft touching base with former UConn star Rudy Gay and guard O.J. Mayo. Thabeet had a clear grasp of the Griz situation.
"I'm going out there to be active and grow up with them as much as possible," Thabeet said. "You can see the progress I've made from Day One. I want to be productive. I'm going to work hard to get better every day."
--Hollins said he wouldn't be adverse to playing Marc Gasol and Thabeet together. He even ventured that Thabeet is further advanced at this age than when retired NBA center Dikembe Mutombo came in the league.
"He's got a lot more agility and fluidity than Mutombo could dream about," Hollins said of Thabeet.
--The Grizzlies never considered drafting Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio, though Memphis would have drafted University of Memphis point guard Tyreke Evans had the right offer been made. But that offer never materialized.
"There weren't a lot of good offers out there, and some of them were laughable," Hollins said.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "When I got here for high school, people said I couldn't walk, chew gum and dribble a basketball at the same time. It was the joke. But I've grown a lot." -- Grizzlies first round draft choice Hasheem Thabeet on his rapid improvement after playing basketball for just six years.
