12 Years Ago in Summer

Paul Pierce had shot 37.3% from three last season, making him a reliable long-range shooter. But Pierce's asking price was too high and didn't fit the Grizzlies' salary cap structure. Besides, Pierce probably wouldn't adapt well to being a spot-up three-point gunner.

Caron Butler, who had won a championship with the Mavericks a few years ago and faced Link more than once, had still shot 39% from three last season while averaging 10 points per game. He also played active defense and seemed like a great fit for the Grizzlies. But the Pistons had already snatched him up first with a two-year, $9 million deal.

3-and-D forward P.J. Tucker had shot 38.7% from three last season and was also an excellent option. But the Suns' three-year, $16.5 million offer was probably something no other team in the league could match, including the Grizzlies.

Lewis? Too old and too slow. Sefolosha? Too expensive. Ariza? Fucking even more expensive!

After thinking it over and over, Wallace simply couldn't find anyone suitable for the Grizzlies.

Never underestimate role players. How good a championship-contending team truly was depended, to a large extent, on its role players.

Stars determined the ceiling; role players determined the floor.

If the role players weren't strong enough and the bench lacked depth, then once the playoffs arrived—once it became a battle of foundations and limits—the team would only be waiting to get eliminated.

An NBA championship was never easy to win, let alone for the Grizzlies, who were charging toward a three-peat. Every team would do everything in its power to stop them. This year's playoffs might bring the Grizzlies even greater trouble than the previous two years.

Therefore, Wallace had to carefully consider whom to bring in. If they waited until the middle of the season to seek