It looks as if Antonio Burks will call FedExForum home afterall.
The Memphis Grizzlies obtained the rights to Burks from theOrlando Magic in the June 24 NBA Draft.
The Magic drafted the lifelong Memphian with the 36th pick butdealt him about 20 minutes later for cash considerations. While themove ensured Burks would continue his career along the Mississippi,he was unaware of the Grizzlies plans until ESPN broke thenews.
"I was hoping it would still happen, but I didn't know at thetime, Burks said. "Once I saw the Grizzly logo with my name underit, I was very happy."
It looked as though Burks, the Tigers' homegrown point guard,would end his career without calling FedExForum home. His Tigersteammates will move into the new building next season.
But thanks to a flurry of activity in the second round of thedraft, Burks can now join them as a member of the Griz.
Memphis started the evening with just one draft pick, a secondrounder at No. 49. But the Grizzlies decided they weren't happywith standing pat. The traded the rights to a future second roundpick and cash to Seattle for Texas Tech standout Andre Emmett. Thenthey grabbed Burks.
With their original pick at 49, the Grizzlies selected SergeiLishouk from Ukraine, bringing their total number of picks tothree. However, the 6-11 forward, said team manager Jerry West, isnot expected to help immediately. He may stay in Europe for anotherseason to continue to improve.
Both Emmett and Burks, however, could contribute right away.
In a draft where a record eight high school seniors were taken,Burks and Emmett represented a different senior class. Emmettplayed four years at Tech, including three under Bobby Knight.Burks played three seasons under John Calipari at Memphis. Thatcollege experience, combined with the players' athleticism andquickness left West excited about the Grizzlies draft picks.
"We really believe both these players are undervalued," hesaid.
"This is an exciting day. Maybe some people wouldn't be excitedabout kids taken in the second round, but we are, because wethought both of them were first round draft picks."
Time will tell if Emmett and Burks will have productive NBAcareers, but each of them did plenty to impress West and Grizzliescoach Hubie Brown.
Emmett, a shooting guard for the Red Raiders, was named to histhird consecutive All-Big XII first team in 2003-2004 season. Hewas also named second team ESPN All-American his senior season. Heled the conference with 20.7 points per game and shot 52.3 percentfrom the field.
"Without the ball, he's one of the best I've ever seen at thecollegiate level," West said. "He can just get open."
Brown was impressed in a similar manner.
"As far as Andre is concerned, we're always impressed withpeople who can score from endline to endline," he said. "He was thequickest guy in the draft with the basketball in our workouts. Whenyou have a person who is a consistent 20 point scorer at thecollege level, especially in the conference he played in, shootsover 50 percent and is also a rebounder, these are all gifts."
Burks capped his college career as Conference USA player of theyear, averaging 16 points, 5.5 assists and 2.4 steals a game. Fromhis junior to senior seasons, Burks drastically improved his shot.In 2002-2003, Burks hit just three three-pointers. Last season,that number jumped to 57.
Despite his vast improvement on the offensive end, it was Burksdefense at the Pre-Draft Camp in Chicago that impressed West andthe Grizzlies scouts.
"I watched a one-on-one defensive drill," West said. "I'm not sosure anyone scored against him. I can't tell you how many times hestole the ball or deflected it where it would put it in play forour defensive team.
"And the first line of defense in the NBA is in the backcourt,so what do you want back there? You want athletic people who aregoing to play really hard that can cover. And I mean reallycover."
Based on what he saw of Burks in college, West said he believesBurks is capable of bringing that tough defensive presence to theNBA.
"I've watched teams here in Memphis (against the Tigers) not lettheir point guard bring the ball up the floor because of hisquickness and defensive ability," West said.
Brown said Burks' strengths as a point guard compliment hisphilosophy very well, making him a potentially valuablecontributor.
"With the athletic ability Antonio Burks presents and the factthat the defensive end of the floor is very important in his game,"Brown said, "that compliments what we do here because as you knowour point guard is in a pressing situation after every score."
Unless the Grizzlies make further off-season moves, Burks andEmmett will compete for playing time with a glut of other guardsnext season. Memphis already has three potential point guards,starter Jason Williams, Earl Watson and Troy Bell.
Emmett will share minutes with Shane Battier, Bonzi Wells andMike Miller, among others.
Even with a potentially crowded backcourt, Brown is excitedabout the picks and has no problem adding two players to the numberof quality guards his team already has.
"Professional sports are about competition on a daily basis,"Brown said, "and we think we've added two major diamonds in therough for our style of basketball."
The rookies will get their first taste of NBA action in thecoming weeks. They will participate in a rookie/free agent camp inCalifornia from July 10-24. Their first day of practice with theGrizzlies veterans will be Oct. 5.
