July 1
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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In a few days, the Grizzlies' 2009 draft class, along with some of their other first- and second-year players, and a sprinkling of free agent hopefuls, will begin preparations for the July 10-19 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. And two of the team's top players -- Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo -- will head to Las Vegas on July 22-25 to participate in the USA Basketball Men's National Team mini-camp. But the players aren't the only ones honing their skills for the upcoming season. With last week's NBA draft out of the way, members of the Grizzlies' business operations are huddling to come up with ways to promote what they believe is one of the league's up-and-coming teams to a city that has grown ..."
June 30
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Their stated goals are to secure a player that puts big-time power in one of the forward positions, and to land a backup point guard. The Grizzlies enter free agency Wednesday with a short shopping list, but one that is geared toward filling gaping holes. While insiders contend the organization remains undeterred in its efforts to consummate a trade for Los Angeles Clippers forward Zach Randolph, there are several other options the Griz can now consider in hopes of bolstering their frontline. Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley is determined to bring to Memphis a high-caliber power forward, making that his priority this offseason, less than two years after gift-wrapping Pau Gasol to the Los ..."
June 28
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Hasheem Thabeet did what he could to help his family. His father, an architect, had died of complications from diabetes, so Thabeet, at age 17 and all of 7 feet, found work as a bouncer outside a nightclub in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He was an intimidating presence at the door, blocking ill-advised attempts to get inside -- a skill set that, as it turned out, would prove invaluable in the not-so-distant future. But he also harbored a secret. "When a fight started," Thabeet said, "you wouldn't see me." If he had the habit of fleeing trouble then, there have been countless indications that Thabeet, in the five years since, has learned to cope with challenges, with long odds, with difficult ..."
June 25
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies went big tonight with the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft by selecting Hasheem Thabeet, a shot-blocking center from Connecticut. Thabeet developed into a defensive force in three seasons at UConn, where he averaged 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocks as a junior and helped lead the Huskies to the Final Four. At 7-3, Thabeet has rare athleticism for a player of that size – but his offensive skills are raw, which is not altogether surprising: He grew up in Tanzania and did not play organized basketball until age 15. The Grizzlies also own the 27th and 36th picks."
June 25
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley almost sounded like a toddler on Christmas Eve. He has a wish list for the NBA Draft. But the Chicago-based billionaire insisted he'll be as surprised as anyone by what the Grizzlies finally unwrap with the No. 2 overall pick. Heisley, in town Wednesday preparing to oversee the Grizzlies' draft war room, contended the organization's next move still was up in the air just hours before draft proceedings were set to begin. They've haven't come to a consensus on a player if the Griz exercise their top pick. They're still talking about trades. Heisley, though, guaranteed this: The Griz will wake up Friday morning a much better team. "We're going to be better," ..."
June 24
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Just because the Grizzlies are thinking big on the eve of this year's NBA draft doesn't mean they've settled on using the No. 2 overall pick to select 7-3 center Hasheem Thabeet. Or any player, for that matter. The Griz are just as likely to trade the pick -- and it appears that is their preference. Exercising the second pick -- almost certainly on Thabeet -- in Thursday's draft will be Plan B, given how much the team's decision-makers have focused on trade scenarios involving up to five teams. "The water still is a little muddy," general manager Chris Wallace said. "There are a lot of contingencies to go over before the draft." It is no secret that the Griz have held trade discussions, ..."
June 21
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist Geoff Calkins
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If the Grizzlies don't pick Ricky Rubio in the NBA Draft on Thursday, they better hope he doesn't turn out to be a star. They better hope he doesn't turn into an international sensation. They better hope he doesn't develop into a combination of Jason Williams and Jason Kidd. They better hope that he doesn't become a television darling, his astonishing passes shown again and again on ESPN. If the Grizzlies don't use the second pick in the NBA Draft on the consensus second-best player in the draft, they had better hope he's a bust. Or they'll look ridiculous. It'll be like the Pau Gasol trade, only worse. With Gasol, the Grizzlies could at least say he no longer fit into their rebuilding ..."
June 21
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Hasheem Thabeet could be the No. 2 overall pick when the NBA draft unfolds Thursday in New York. That means he would go to the Grizzlies. That would also complete what seemed like an improbable journey a few years ago when Thabeet -- an unheralded and awkward kid from East Africa -- entered Division 1 basketball and began to occupy space in the minds of NBA scouts. A 7-foot-3 center from the University of Connecticut and originating from Tanzania, Thabeet is no longer an enigma. He's widely considered a top-three pick, meaning if the Grizzlies don't select Thabeet, then Oklahoma City will. No, Thabeet doesn't come packaged with the name recognition of a Blake Griffin or the hype Ricky ..."
June 20
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Several top NBA prospects are showing signs of fatigue as the workout season comes to an end and the draft proceeding draws near. Former Arizona State guard James Harden spent this week attempting to clear a different hurdle. He's tried to make up for lost time. Illness and an ankle injury prevented Harden from working out for about a week following the Chicago pre-draft combine this month. So it was understandable to see Harden searching for a higher gear Friday during his solo workout for the Grizzlies in FedExForum. While Harden didn't make the strongest impression with orange cones serving as defenders, the 6-5 offensive dynamo's confidence is hardly on the same level as his weakened ..."
June 18
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The NBA Draft is a week away and Grizzlies brass remain in the same position they were thrust into after winning the No. 2 overall pick in last month's draft lottery. Memphis still is weighing several options. Owners of the No. 2 selection in a June 25 draft where only Blake Griffin is considered a consensus and immediate impact player, the Grizzlies are sifting through several scenarios that include exercising the pick with one of eight players or trading down to acquire multiple assets. There is even a proposed deal or two that would allow the Griz to acquire an established or emerging all-star caliber player for the No. 2 pick. Decisions. Decisions. Which direction will the Griz go when ..."
June 17
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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He stood in the middle of a familiar media horde. That's one reason Robert Dozier seemed so comfortable. The 6-9, physically gifted athlete came across as humbled, yet encouraged, by his experiences over the past several weeks. Dozier, a former University of Memphis forward, looked exhausted, too. "This was my 11th (NBA) workout," Dozier said Tuesday after proudly displaying his basketball wares for the Grizzlies. "It's down to the stretch (run). Everybody's body is a little tired right now." Translation: trying to cement your name in the minds of NBA executives is hard work with about a week before the draft. What Dozier can take solace in is that his draft status will place him somewhere ..."
June 16
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Former highly touted NBA lottery pick Nikoloz Tskitishvili's response was concise when a Grizzlies free-agent camp came to his attention. "Why not?" said the 7-foot Georgian forward. The feeling was mutual. Tskitishvili, the fifth overall pick by Denver in the 2002 draft, ran the court Monday as one of the more intriguing athletes participating in the Grizzlies' second offseason workout with erstwhile NBA players and undrafted professional prospects. Why does taking a look at Tskitishvili make sense for the Grizzlies? The answer is simple. "We figured why not take a shot?" Griz general manager Chris Wallace said after watching the session in FedExForum. "Maybe there's something there." ..."
May 30
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Former Grizzlies basketball boss Jerry West delivered a line at this time of year ad nauseam. "You ought to see my phone bill," West said of his tireless deal-making efforts leading up to the NBA draft. Chris Wallace has steered clear of that mantra -- until now. With less than a month to go before the draft, the Grizzlies are in exploratory mode with the No. 2 overall pick -- from trading up in order to pry No. 1-in-waiting Blake Griffin from the Los Angeles Clippers to moving down and acquiring an established NBA player. "We've had a good amount of activity, and it will increase the closer we get to draft night," said Wallace, the Grizzlies' general manager. "There's a different level ..."
May 24
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist Geoff Calkins
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"That's what he does," said Tony Barone Jr., pointing at the big screen. "And it was the right pass, too." We are planted at the big table in the big conference room. We are watching the man who should be paired with O.J. Mayo to give the Grizzlies the most electric backcourt in the NBA for the next ten years. Ricky Rubio. The no-brainer choice for the Grizzlies with the No. 2 pick in the draft if the team can't trade up to No. 1. Oh, Barone does not come right out and say this, exactly. He is the Grizzlies director of scouting. He has to remain cool and dispassionate. But how do you remain cool after the kid has just finished a break by throwing a behind-the-back no-look pass for a layup? ..."
May 24
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Ricky Rubio went down hard at midcourt, his groin giving way as he tried to defend Real Madrid's Sergio Llull during the first game of their Spanish ACB league quarterfinal series. Rubio limped to the bench, and this was disastrous for his team, DKV Joventut, and for an interested observer. Tony Barone Sr., the Memphis Grizzlies' director of player personnel, had traveled to Spain last weekend to scout Rubio, the 18-year-old phenom. But with Rubio sidelined, DKV Joventut fell behind by 24 points at halftime and never bounced back. Barone wondered whether Rubio would be able to return to the lineup three days later for Game 2. The real possibility existed that Barone would head home without ..."
May 23
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said Friday there was cordial talk -- and no threats -- when he met with the agent for Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio. "We had a productive and wide-ranging discussion. It was a good meeting," Wallace said from Los Angeles before he boarded a plane for Spain to watch the 18-year-old Rubio, who according to an Internet report might not want to play in Memphis. Despite the report by Draftexpress.com, the Griz, who have the No. 2 pick in the June 25 draft, have yet to receive a similar vibe directly from Rubio's camp. Wallace said he had a "cordial meeting" with Rubio agent Dan Fegan. "I also talked to him about some of his other clients," Wallace ..."
May 22
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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An Internet report that Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio may not want to play in Memphis remained just talk Thursday to the Grizzlies as team officials prepared to visit the potential No. 2 overall draft pick. Griz general manager Chris Wallace and head coach Lionel Hollins will board a plane bound for Spain this afternoon so they can watch Rubio play Saturday in an ACB League playoff game. Wallace referred to the trip as a routine scouting mission in which they also plan to interview the 18-year-old Rubio. "We're going to scout him. Lionel hasn't seen him, and I haven't seen him this year," said Wallace, who is seriously considering selecting Rubio since the Griz won the No. 2 pick during ..."
May 21
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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On the day after the Grizzlies experienced their luckiest draft lottery day since arriving in Memphis, they were rewarded at the box office. Already encouraging season-ticket sales were bolstered by the news that the Grizzlies, who were slotted sixth, jumped to the No. 2 position in the NBA's June 25 draft. The Grizzlies' ticket sales staff was more active Wednesday than in each of the past two years on the day following the draft lottery. "It's looking a lot better. I think people are excited about where we are, and where we can go with this pick," Griz owner Michael Heisley said. "We've got two first-round picks this year and two next year. And you're sitting there with two guys who made ..."
May 20
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist Geoff Calkins
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No. 2. As in, whoo hoo! WHOO HOOO! Don't bring me any of that sour stuff about the Grizzlies falling just short or anything. "I'm ecstatic," said Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace. You should be, too. After roughly 1,000 years of lottery misery, the Grizzlies got a huge break Tuesday night, when they won the right to make the second pick in the NBA Draft on June 25. Some of you might be ticked that they didn't get No. 1. Some of you are ungrateful sacks. "We dispelled the myth that we can't get lucky," said Wallace, which is exactly right. The Grizzlies could have picked as low as No. 9. The odds said they'd pick No. 6. The fans, who were gathered shoulder-to-shoulder at the ..."
May 20
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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He didn't have a lucky charm and delivered little-to-no emotion. That was Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins on Tuesday night during the NBA's draft lottery telecast. After the draft order was decided, with the Griz shockingly moving up to grab the No. 2 pick, Hollins had plenty to be excited about. And it showed. Hollins finally flashed a toothy grin from here to heaven while he talked about how things might just be looking up for the Grizzlies. Their string of bad lottery luck since moving to Memphis ended on a night the Griz had only a 7.5-percent chance of winning the No. 1 pick. The Los Angeles Clippers was more of a long shot but walked away with the top pick despite a 17.7 percent ..."
May 19
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Bluntly put, it is the stigma that stinks. Some NBA franchises are considered lottery teams no matter what because of their infamous futility. Others are deemed perennial losers because the team's playoff status seems like a fleeting moment in league history. If you're a Los Angeles Clippers fan, then you root for the aforementioned: a team that's made Secaucus, N.J., an offseason vacation home. Today, the Clippers will make their 20th lottery selection in the 25 years the system has been in place. The Grizzlies own the latter sentiment. They've been a member of the lottery club in all but three seasons of their eight-year Memphis existence. A segment of the Grizzlies' faithful and ..."
May 18
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The caller to a popular early-morning show on local sports radio sounded passionate. He came across as pro NBA. It's fantastic. The league is amazing. You get the picture. The gentleman loves this game. But that was only the preface to his main sentiment. The gist of his call contained words that were just as pointed and emphatic, but filled with skepticism. "If," the man said, "the Oklahoma City Thunder wins the lottery, I'll never watch the NBA again." Of course, he spoke of Blake Griffin -- the consensus best player in college basketball and top prize in this year's NBA draft lottery. Griffin also hails from Oklahoma City, so naturally he'll end up there as a pro, right? Just like ..."
May 15
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies forward Darius Miles was arrested Wednesday and released on bond after being charged with possession of marijuana following a routine traffic stop. Miles also received a ticket for driving with a suspended license according to the Associated Press, which first reported the story. The 27-year-old forward was alone in his car in a suburb of St. Louis when an officer stopped Miles for allegedly failing to use a turn signal. During a search of the car, police Sgt. Steve Evans said police found a small amount of marijuana in a plastic bag in the passenger compartment. Miles was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession because the amount of the drug was less than 2.5 grams, which ..."
May 13
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Of all the participants in an NBA free-agent camp designed to find diamonds in the rough, he is the only player with an official Web site that's impressive mainly because of its polish. Darius Washington still aims to improve the content so that he can better complement those bells and whistles. His winding professional basketball career took another turn this week, landing Washington back in Memphis to compete for the Grizzlies' affection. The former University of Memphis point guard has three things working for him. He's worked closely with Griz coach Lionel Hollins in a different situation. The 6-2 combo guard is still young enough and considered NBA ready. Plus, Washington remains ..."
May 12
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Michael Dickerson is best remembered in Memphis for suffering a rare groin injury, enduring two years of rehabilitation and retiring after appearing in just 10 games during that span. But the former Grizzlies guard is working out for the franchise again after a near seven-year layoff. Dickerson, who retired in 2003, is back with a different ache. "I want to put back on an NBA uniform," said Dickerson, who turns 34 in June. "I want to eventually leave the way I came in -- standing up and without an injury. That's what drives me to play again." Dickerson decided roughly 18 months ago to attempt a comeback -- an improbable journey that led him to FedExForum Monday when the Grizzlies tipped ..."
May 11
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace's prediction is that there could be up to four new reserves on the roster next season. At least a couple of those different faces may be familiar. Veteran NBA guard Michael Dickerson, who retired from the Griz in 2003 due to injury, and former University of Memphis guard Darius Washington are expected to be among the more 20 participants in the Grizzlies' free-agent camp that starts today and runs through Wednesday. Iowa Energy guard Othyus Jeffers, the NBA Developmental League Rookie of the Year, is another intriguing prospect the Griz invited to the two-a-day sessions. Wallace said the camp is the first step in identifying talent to immediately ..."
May 8
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Some luck is needed for the Grizzlies to come out on top of the NBA's draft lottery later this month. But all a potential Griz customer needs is a $45 deposit to win at the FedExForum box office for the 2009-10 season. That's because the organization announced a "Pick N' Pay" sales drive Thursday, tying season-ticket prices to the team's lottery position. If the Grizzlies land the No.1 pick, fans taking advantage of the promotion will pay just $1 per game for 41 regular-season home games and four preseason games. In essence, the $45 deposit will cover the season ticket. A second-place finish in the May 19 lottery drawing would mean fans pay just $2 per game or $90 for the season-ticket ..."
May 2
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Unable to manufacture regular-season success over the past three seasons, the Grizzlies can boast of having some of the best rookies during that span. Rookie of the Year award runner-up O.J. Mayo and teammate Marc Gasol were named Thursday to the NBA's all-rookie teams. Mayo was selected to the first team, joining Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose (Chicago, by way of the University of Memphis), Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City), Michael Beasley (Miami) and Brook Lopez (New Jersey). Gasol earned second-team honors with Kevin Love (Minnesota), Eric Gordon (L.A. Clippers), Mario Chalmers (Miami), Rudy Fernandez (Portland) and D.J. Augustin (Charlotte). The last two Grizzly players to earn ..."
April 29
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist Geoff Calkins
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Bulls center Joakim Noah grabbed the microphone from the postgame host Sunday afternoon and shouted to the fans going nutso. "This is beautiful!" he said. Those of us in Memphis wouldn't know, would we? I mean, it sure looked beautiful. Big crowd. Electric atmosphere. People hugging and screaming and otherwise celebrating a playoff -- you ready for this? -- victory. Yes, a playoff victory. Those words can go together, just like that. Playoff victory. Read it and weep. Or just stamp your feet in frustration as you watch fans all over the country reveling in another season of playoff basketball. It's fabulous, by the looks of it. Thrilling game after thrilling game. Impossible shot after ..."
April 19
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies finished the regular season with one of the NBA's worst records at 24-58. Now, their coaching staff and management want you to consider them armed and daring. "You have to consider all options when you're trying to accumulate talent," said general manager Chris Wallace. "I don't think you've ever amassed enough talent unless you're having a championship parade. Every team is a work in progress until you reach that level." The Griz are armed with three draft picks and more money to spend under the salary cap than 90 percent of their NBA competitors. Indications are that their summer dealings won't simply come down to whether they win the draft lottery next month. They are ..."
April 18
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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O.J. Mayo's strong finish to his rookie season garnered NBA recognition, but the Grizzlies' offseason got off to a bad start. Mayo received the Western Conference Rookie of the Month award Friday when the Griz also learned that they lost a random drawing to break a tie with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The tie-breaker determined draft order, so the Griz are slotted sixth, giving them 75 out of 1,000 lottery combinations. Minnesota will have one more (76) combination when the draft lottery unfolds May 19. Meanwhile, Mayo picked up the April honor after leading all rookies in scoring (18.5 ppg) and minutes (38.1 mpg) for the season. The 6-4 guard finished his first season ranked in the top ..."
April 17
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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One by one, they stacked boxes of sneakers and filled black garbage bags with items from their FedExForum lockers. The Grizzlies packed up the 2008-09 season Thursday morning with a 24-58 record following the youngest rebuilding season during their time in Memphis. As they move on to Year 2 of the much talked about Three-Year Plan, the Griz must determine how much is worth keeping and what to throw away. Of the 14 players who started the season, seven were 23 years old or younger. What did that makeup yield after a campaign centered on team building, player development and coaching more than the won/lost record? The Griz went from scrappy to scrambled, and then they were searching for ..."
April 16
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies wanted the final stamp on their best season record-wise in three years to be a solid impression of progress. Mission accomplished. Not that their 98-90 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night in FedExForum was some sort of basketball masterpiece with playoff implications. If anything, the Grizzlies' 24th victory in a regular-season finale attended by 12,736 was symbolic of how they feel about their situation. To borrow a phrase from President Barack Obama, the players are heading into the offseason with this mantra: Yes, we can. The hope is that message resonates with the city. "I would tell the fans to just be patient," rookie guard O.J. Mayo said. "We're a young ..."
April 14
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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He knew the city. He was familiar with the franchise. Heck, Marc Gasol had already spent time in the digs he eventually moved into after arriving to Memphis last fall. All of it used to belong to his older brother, Pau, who couldn't have set up Marc's logistical move to the NBA more perfectly even if it was by happenstance. That Marc Gasol's rookie season with the Grizzlies can be summed up as a near-seamless experience, too, isn't by accident. Marc figured the several years of professional experience in Spain would translate, and his impact on the Griz backed up the notion. He's easily considered among the best in what has proven to be a richly talented rookie class. "I showed myself that ..."