Grizzlies hold 3 1st-round picks, many options

Basketball Betting Lines

06/23/2010 -

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -The Memphis Grizzlies have three first-round draft picks and many options Thursday night.

They can package picks and trade for a current NBA player, combine picks and one of their players to move up or simply use all three to bolster their roster. Or they can concoct something else entirely with the No. 12, 25 and 28 selections.

``I think we're prepared to use all the picks in any way, whether we trade to move up, whether we decide there is value to the pick that we could sell a pick, or whether we can move down to the second round and make a value pick there,'' said Tony Barone Sr., the Grizzlies director of player personnel.

Memphis wants to improve its roster after going 40-42 and missing the playoffs for a fourth straight season. The Grizzlies need a backup point guard, more athleticism on the perimeter and more accurate 3-point shooting.

``We won't hit all of them in the draft, but we could address multiple needs,'' general manager Chris Wallace said.

Whatever Memphis does, team officials hope to avoid the somewhat lost pick from a year ago. Sitting in the second spot with Blake Griffin going No. 1 to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Grizzlies opted for Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet.

The 7-foot-3 Thabeet was supposed to give Memphis a defensive presence in the middle. Before the season was over, he was so much of a project that he became the highest drafted player ever demoted to the Developmental League. He is part of a second unit that included fellow rookies DeMarre Carroll and Sam Young and was spotty at best.

The Grizzlies' bench managed only 20 points a game last season, and it's why Memphis wants more production from its reserves.

The push for a point guard comes a year late. John Wall of Kentucky is expected to go first to the Washington Wizards. After that, the next best point guards, such as Eric Bledsoe of Kentucky, Nevada's Armon Johnson and Oklahoma's Willie Warren could be available when Memphis picks late in the first round.

The Grizzlies worked out Kentucky forward Patrick Patterson and could be interested in Kansas guard Xavier Henry or Nevada forward Luke Babbitt with the 12th pick. Paul George of Fresno State worked out for the team Tuesday and also seems to be drawing some attention.

``I could come here and add a lot of depth to this team,'' George said when asked how he might fit in with the Grizzlies. ``Hopefully, we get Rudy (Gay) to come back. I wouldn't mind if he leaves. That would be an extra spot. But it would be a good team.''

Wallace quickly said he was glad George didn't work in the front office because keeping Gay, a restricted free agent July 1, is a priority.

Barone sees very little difference between players after the top 10 prospects. Barone said their decision could change depending on who's still available when the Grizzlies are on the clock.

And the possibilities continue to change with lots of trade talk, including the Grizzlies trying to swing a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves to use their second and third picks to move up. The Grizzlies' last big draft night deal came in 2008 when they took Kevin Love with the fifth pick overall only to trade him away within hours for O.J. Mayo.

``All of that stuff is swirling around right now,'' Wallace said. ``It's like the trade deadline. Then you get down to post time, and the things that were talked about won't be reality at that point.''

Owner Michael Heisley was at Wednesday's final pre-draft workout and shot down reports he said he had been reading.

``We don't have an active trade on the books,'' Heisley said.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds

Will he or won't he?  Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.

Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.

"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."

Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.

Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.

But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.

Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback.  It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.

Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1


Atlanta Falcons 50-1


Baltimore Ravens 15-1


Buffalo Bills 50-1


Carolina Panthers 18-1


Chicago Bears 10-1


Cincinnati Bengals 15-1


Cleveland Browns 100-1


Dallas Cowboys 15-1


Denver Broncos 15-1


Detroit Lions 100-1


Green Bay Packers 50-1


Houston Texans 100-1


Indianapolis Colts 6-1


Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1


Kansas City Chiefs 30-1


Miami Dolphins 40-1


Minnesota Vikings 75-1


New England Patriots 10-1


New Orleans Saints 18-1


New York Giants 20-1


New York Jets 30-1


Oakland Raiders 100-1


Philadelphia Eagles 18-1


Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1


Saint Louis Rams 60-1


San Diego Chargers 6-1


San Francisco 49ers 75-1


Seattle Seahawks 20-1


Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1


Tennessee Titans 40-1


Washington Redskins 50-1

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