An Open Letter to Chris Wallace (GM - Memphis Grizzlies):

Mr. Chris Wallace,

I just want to put my two cents in. I know you are getting bombarded with fan's who "know best" when it comes to whether or not to part with significant assets for Amare. I won't pretend to know enough basketball to tell you what to do. I just have one nagging thought - unless Amare is willing to sign an extension as part of the deal, I can't help but feel that when the season opens in the fall of 2010, we will have taken a huge step backwards.

We will have lost Amare and Rudy/Conley/Picks/Cap Space/etc and be left with OJ (thank god) and either Rudy or Conley and Gasol, and probably get shut out of the big-named free-agent players in 2010. Right now you have a promising young core in Rudy/OJ/Conley/Gasol and all the picks and cap space we could dream of. In a year, that could materialize into something special, and something stable (perhaps more important).

If you sell out the future just to make a run at the playoffs next year (because it wont happen this year) you'll find yourself right back where you started. Sure, the city will be abuzz about Amare coming to town, and we might even make the playoffs next year. But after that…we’ll be back to square one, talking about three-year plans and new coaches. Our previous GM, Mr. West, made the mistake of thinking that 3 straight trips to the playoffs would make this city attach itself to the team. It will take more than that, because its not about the playoff trips - its about how miserable the other 5 seasons have been.

Please don't trade out our chances at being a good, middle of the pack team that is always one draft pick or one well-timed free-agent signing (or trade) away from being a contender. I'd rather win 45 games a year and miss the playoffs more than we make them than mortgage the future for one full season with Amare. This trade – while worthy of headlines and gossip, is not a long-term solution to our teams needs.

You have subjected the fans to talk of patience and cap space. Of waiting till the time was right, of looking to the future and not forsaking it for “instant gratification” even when all we wanted was for our owner to spend enough money to prove that he cares. This trade will send the wrong message, that Mr. Heisley thinks the city can be tricked into caring about the team, in spite of the obvious long term negative impact this trade would have.

I grew up here in Memphis and you won't find a bigger supporter of this team. I preach it to my friends and family, as well as my co-workers. I just got out of law school, and the first purchase I made when I moved back to Memphis was a 22-game pack in the cheap seats for my fiancé and I. We can't wait until we can afford good seats, but we will always remember where we came from - the rafters, where the real fans sit. I hope this email finds you well, and I hope you make the right decision, even if its not the decision I would make.

If, by chance, you can get Amare without giving up Gay/Conley/Mayo/Gasol, I’d like to go on the record with my full support.

GO Grizz!
Jonathan L. May

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