West: Newcomers Will Contribute Right Away

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">His cheeks filled with glee pumped in by the three newcomers sitting to his left.

Try to wipe away the contentment etched on Jerry West's face.

Just try.
It would take a basketball-size scouring pad, judging by the mood Tuesday in FedExForum where West officially introduced the Grizzlies' 2006 rookie class -- Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry and Alexander Johnson.

West referred to one of them as an "all star" in the making.

He constantly teased another about his chatty and competitive nature, and expressed reverence about the other's head-to-toe toughness.

"Not to put any pressure on anyone," West eventually said, "but this is probably the happiest I've ever been walking out of a draft room."

The man that once finagled a way to grab Kobe Bryant for the Los Angeles Lakers couldn't hide his feelings.

West is, well, giddy about what Gay, Lowry and Johnson will bring to the Grizzlies.

Albeit far too early to determine just how large or small their impact may be, West wanted it known that the organization is counting on the rookies to do more than carry bags for veterans.

"We could not continue to do a patchwork lineup and get to where we want to be," West said about his aggressive draft strategy.

"We're going to stop piece-mealing a team together. ... And in the process, we did not blow this team up."

With that, the potential all star appeared polished, determined and a bit antsy to prove he's worthy of West's words.

"I expect a lot out of myself. Of course, I'd like to be Rookie of the Year and take the team past the first round. I want to have a strong showing," Gay said.

After walking the walk during summer-league play, Lowry talked the talked.

What can Grizzlies fans count on from him?

In a word: grit.

When asked to tell a story about being so competitive that he was once thrown out of an AAU game, Lowry offered only a sheepish grin.

"I don't know about that story," he said, "but I am competitive."

Johnson, sitting to his Lowry's left, laughed with everyone in the room.

But don't expect to see the beefy forward's cheesy smile often. Johnson acknowledged the team's need for an enforcer.

"That's how I've always played," Johnson said. "I'm ready to play that role."

West sounded so confident about Johnson's readiness to contribute in the paint that he told the assembled media "there was someone taken real high in the draft that I wouldn't trade him for."

The same goes for Gay.

"He has the ability to be an all-star player every year," West said before adding, "It's a bum rap that he disappears. ... He floats and glides."

Meanwhile, Griz coach Mike Fratello reiterated that he doesn't have an aversion for playing rookies.

He's done it before, and Gay, Lowry and Johnson seem to be in the right place at the right time.

"I look at their savvy and their understanding of the game," Fratello said.

Listen to West, and he already can see the light with these acquisitions.

"I might be going to my grave," West said, "thinking this was a special day for our franchise." </div>

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