http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2839940<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley said Monday he will take the team off the market if he does not have an offer to buy it by May 1.If the schedule holds, it will mean the end of Heisley's yearlong effort to sell the franchise, an uncertainty that has played into a dismal season for the NBA's worst team."I'm just basically tired, and I'm a little worn out," Heisley said of the decision. "I'm going to get re-involved, and we are basically going to run the team."Heisley's announcement came during a news conference before the Grizzlies played the San Antonio Spurs.The ownership question has been one of the issues hanging over the franchise this season. Coach Mike Fratello was fired in December, questions have lingered about the future of team president of basketball operations Jerry West, and leading scorer Pau Gasol requested a trade. And the team's poor play has contributed to declining attendance.Former Duke players Brian Davis and Christian Laettner tried to buy the team, but they couldn't come up with the $252 million needed to purchase Heisley's controlling share or the $360 million necessary to purchase the team.Heisley said he has talked to two or three groups about the sale, but nothing has been accomplished.Heisley said he did not begrudge Gasol's request for a trade as the Grizzlies rebuild.Heisley said the team will now concentrate on the draft, hoping to land one of the top picks. He did not mention any players specifically, but said the franchise is not far from returning to the level that took the Grizzlies to the playoffs in the previous three seasons.Texas freshman star Kevin Durant has already made himself eligible for the draft and Ohio State center Greg Oden might do the same."We have a chance in this draft to get a tremendous player," the Grizzlies owner said. "This is probably the strongest draft since I've been in the NBA. Hopefully, God will shine on us and give us the pingpong ball."Obviously, we're very anxious and hopeful that we will get either one or two."He said West will be with the team through the draft, but did not talk about the team president's future beyond that. He also said West will have input on the team's general manager and new coach, but the final decision will rest with Heisley.Heisley said he still thinks the franchise would be better with a new owner."I truly believe Memphis deserves to have an owner who lives here, who's active, who's really involved," Heisley said. "Someone like [Dallas Mavericks owner] Mark Cuban, who would basically energize the situation. I think that would be better than having a guy like me, who's 70 years old.</div>I love Heisley. Hes not the greatest owner, but he is is looking out for the best of the Grizzlies and Memphis. Supposedly, hes been offered some nice offers but felt they had intentions to move the Grizzlies..so he didnt sell them. He understands that another owner is better, but he wants us o keep the team. So it seems he'll keep it until somebody who is from the Memphis area is ready to buy it. It would be awesome for Penny Hardaway and some other partners bought us...that would be great. But realisticly, we are on the brink of a great team despite the leagues worse record.
Now, its a matter of who we draft really. Oden-we keep him, Durant-we trade him..then after that, we might just trade the pick...or we'll draft Horford.
I like the sound of Kevin Durant in Memphis. Say that scenario happens, what does the lineup look like if Gasol leaves and Durant is in?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Okay, Memphis is garunteed a top 4 pick, with two future legend players coming out. Thats atleast a 50% chance of getting one of them, but with weighted stuff and all that, probably a better chance. So this is just my opinion on what the Griz should do this offseason.And with the 1st pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.....The Boston Celtics pick Greg Oden.. So what happens if we have the 2nd pick? Of course the pick would be Kevin Durant. But picking Durant will pretty much blow up our team. If we draft Durant, this is what I think we should dolay Durant at the PF spot, and trade Pau Gasol. Trade him to Chicago for Ty Thomas and Ben Gordon. Or if still offered, rip the Celtics with Gasol for Jefferson . Trade Miller for a big man maybe...like NeneLineup would look something like thisg-Kyle Lowrysg-Ben Gordonsf-Rudy Gaypf-Kevin Durantc-NeneMaybe sign Darko Milicic for center with our cap...while also bringing in some vet players for these younger kids.have Warrick and Ty be our off-the-bench scorer.or we could do a lineup like thisg-Ben Gordonsg-Rudy Gaysf-Tyrus Thomaspf-Kevin Durantc-Neneno defense...ALL OFFENSE...which I wouldnt be proud of at all....</div>http://www.bballworld.us/forum/Where-do-we...ere-t27975.htmlProbably not just like that, but thats how much our team might change if we end up with Durant..he would really change us. But who knows, we might keep him and Gasol and only trade Miller.
NO!!!!!!!!!!Yall cursed the sh*t outve the griz...its almost gone(hell, some of it has leaked into the Tigers)
I was joking around, It's just that the Raptors AND the Jays are the only canadian teams. You guys just need Colangelo.
