<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There is only one problem Michael Heisley has with Forbes magazine's annual list of the 400 Richest Americans. When the financial publication includes the Grizzlies' majority owner (he's ranked 374th), it relies on what Heisley views as nothing more than an educated guess to gauge his wealth. Either way, Heisley remains among the elite given this year's Forbes 400 included only those with more than nine figures to his/her name. Heisley's worth is valued at a cool $1 billion. That's not what Heisley wants to sell the Grizzlies for, by the way. But some may say it's close to his asking price of more than $350 million, which observers claim is the reason the professional basketball contents of FedExForum remain on the shelf. When a potential sale will get finalized isn't the $1 billion question anymore. This is: What will the repackaged Grizzlies look like this season? "This could be an interesting team," Heisley said with customary candor as his team enters its sixth season in Memphis. "We could do a lot more running than we've done in the past. Without Pau (Gasol), we've probably got to get down the court and get easy shots. We're going to be fast and very athletic. The question is can we make shots?" There will be many more questions for the Grizzlies to answer on the court. Uncertainty is an issue off the court, too, because of five matters that can be regarded as loose ends. Going, going, going Perhaps the way to sell an NBA franchise is to negotiate with a potential buyer who can keep a secret and has enough money in his bank account. Notice that the Seattle SuperSonics' sale to an Oklahoma City businessman didn't grab headlines until, well, the deal was done. Heisley still is waiting on a Brian Davis-led group to show him the money. That hasn't happened. Once upon a time, Davis' bravado could be heard in an establishment near FedExForum allegedly proclaimed he would make The Commercial Appeal eat its words after reporting his lack of financial wherewithal. Davis' pursuit of the Grizzlies has lasted since January. Word on the street is that Heisley will attempt to keep the organization stable by ending negotiations if a deal isn't in place by next month. "I don't know that that's true," Heisley said. "Obviously if someone comes up to us and says they want to buy it, then I'd probably talk to them. We still talk to Davis. He still hasn't come with the money yet. But if Davis were to come up with the money tomorrow, I'd still own the team for the first half of the season because you can't get (a sale) done in that length of the time." Lame duck coach Time is short for Griz coach Mike Fratello given that he doesn't have a contract beyond the 2006-07 season. Fratello hasn't asked for an extension, either. The veteran coach who took over following Hubie Brown's abrupt retirement has stated that he intends to honor his deal. And Fratello isn't willing to concede that the lame-duck status is a negative situation. Heisley shares the view even though there remains a public perception that Fratello may not finish the season. "He's got a year's contract to play out. I find it hard to believe that that's a sign of a guy about to be fired," Heisley said. But there are more than a few signs that point toward a little pressure mounting on Fratello. While Gasol's foot surgery will keep him out four months and would seem to create empathy for Fratello, there will be a microscopic view on how the head coach manages without the franchise player. In what amounts to a mild mandate, Fratello's objectives are to play more of an up-tempo style and develop young players. Lacking the all-star, post-up presence of Gasol provides should make it easier for Fratello to meet those goals. Then again, allowing rookies and second-year players to grow while living with their many mistakes is asking Fratello to reach back a decade into his coaching handbook. He's done this before while in Cleveland but not without the leverage of a long-term contract. Players aren't the only ones whose behavior bears watching in the last year of a deal. How's the reconnect? Hire a marketing agency. Check. Add a public relations firm. Check. Lower season tickets prices, and develop a Fan Advisory Board to pick the public address announcer and discuss things from bottled water to popcorn. Check. Check. The Grizzlies' business side has even invited season-ticket holders to a private barbecue where they can meet and mingle with team president Jerry West along with players. And that's naming only several ways the organization has reached out to its customers for the purpose of solving an apparent disconnect with the fans. Deeming those ideas a success likely depends on whether team president of business operations Andy Dolich finishes the season. Nearing the end of his deal, Dolich asked for and received a six-month contract extension during the off-season. </div> Source
