<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Shane Battier arguably is the most popular professional basketball player in this city. He's also one of the most valuable. And while it sounds strange: Battier could end up helping the Grizzlies get better by leaving. That's one of the main options Grizzlies president Jerry West explored Tuesday on the eve of the NBA draft. Realizing it must make bold moves this offseason to satisfy glaring needs in the backcourt and up front, the organization plans to chase deals throughout tonight's NBA draft. Battier is the biggest bone the Grizzlies are throwing at teams hungry for a deal. Expect the Grizzlies to operate with a simple draft-day formula: They want to move up from 24th into the top half of the first round, and they're willing to cash in a coveted asset to make something happen. "We need to do a good job in the draft this year," West said. "You have to give something to get something. Would we do that? Absolutely. ...Your mind is working constantly on how to get a player in here that will make a difference. Sometimes you do that at the expense of trading someone people wouldn't like (you to trade)." All-Star forward Pau Gasol is the only player on the roster West deemed "untouchable." Battier and guard Mike Miller have already been included in trade discussions. West said two other players -- presumably Eddie Jones and Hakim Warrick -- are often mentioned by league executives. What has West heard most leading up to the draft? "Endless lies," West said amid laughter. "Every agent painting a prettier picture of his player than might actually be. It's amazing some of the calls you get. Some are insulting." While saying the Grizzlies must be willing to take risks, West cautioned that he isn't interested in change for the sake of change. The Grizzlies have already turned down a deal that would have landed them one of the league's starting point guards, West said. "It was a player we didn't think would help our team (based) on the way we play," he said. "We're still early from concluding our talks with people to see if we can move around a little bit, and get a player we'd really like to have. More importantly, he'd serve a role for our team and be capable of playing right away." Ideally, the Grizzlies will exit the draft with a combo guard and a beefy power forward who would allow Gasol to move to center. The Grizzlies' most urgent need is a point guard to shore up a depleted backcourt. Chucky Atkins, Bobby Jackson and Antonio Burks become unrestricted free agents July 1. As it stands now, Memphis has only two ball-handlers under contract in second-year player Anthony Roberson and veteran Damon Stoudamire, who is rehabilitating from major knee surgery. "If you look at the needs of our team, they're varied," West said. "We think the greatest chance to get what we want might be at guard down at our position (No. 24). We've had a lot of guards in here." The Grizzlies have charted numerous scenarios in an attempt to determine who will be on the board when it's their time to choose. This draft is considered deep, but lacks star power. Uncertainty about how it will unfold, however, starts at the top. The Toronto Raptors will use the No. 1 pick to take Italian star Andrea Bargnani, according to most mock drafts. That the Raptors hired Bargnani's former coach as vice president and general manager may have tipped their hand. Like every draft, there will be players taken a little bit higher than expected, and some will fall. "You might get as good a player this year at 24, 25 or 26, as people might get up there in the teens, for sure," West said. "There are players down there that have value. The problem is you always have to prepare for the worst-case scenario." That could mean upsetting the fan base in the short-term to satisfy the masses over the long run. Tip-ins: The Grizzlies have not held trade discussions with the Utah Jazz about Carlos Boozer, contrary to published reports. Insiders report that the Grizzlies aren't interested, even though the Jazz are shopping Boozer. ... Participating in the Grizzlies' final predraft workout Tuesday were Florida State's Alexander Johnson, California's Leon Powe, Spain's Joel Freeland and University of Memphis forward Waki Williams. </div> Source
