By Craig Neslage

Examining the future of the Grizzlies

Jerry West went back to his old sanctuary-silent. He walked into the arena where he posterized so many helpless defenders with probably the sweetest jumper in league history with a big question: how do I rebuild a once proud franchise? Magic is gone, but there is still a nucleus. Nick Van Exel, a second round pick, averaged around 15 points and 7-plus assists in five seasons. Elden Campbell played steadily for the team for eight seasons. Eddie Jones was a strong defensive player, and an equally good scorer. Vlade Divac, combined with Campbell, put two very talented seven-footers on the same team. However, West wasn’t happy.

In the off-season in 1996, he went out and got another big man, Shaquille O’Neal. In the draft that year, he had the 24th pick. That wasn’t high enough for him. He traded away a star center in Vlade for the right to Charlotte’s 13th pick, some high school kid named Kobe Bryant. That move was about as popular as male waiters at Hooters. Campbell and Jones played two seasons with Shaq and Kobe, and West felt his behemoth center and young back up two-guard were ready to hold it down. He traded Campbell and Jones to Charlotte for another piece to the puzzle, Glen Rice.

Quietly, he had built a supporting cast around his power pack. He took Derek Fisher in 1996 with the 24th pick. He traded Nick Van Exel for what turned out to be Tyronn Lue. With the 23rd pick in ’99 he took Devean George. After the 1998 season, he picked up the final piece, Coach Jacko, as he is referred to by no one else but me I assume. In case you didn’t know, the Lakers have won every championship since (P.S.: If you did not know stop reading now please.)

But let’s get right down too it, eh? This isn’t an article about the Lakers dynasty. This is an article about a team only true NBA fans can read about. An abominable franchise for much of their existence, the Grizzlies have been in the league for 7 years while not making the playoffs in any of those years and getting booted out of their original home, Vancouver, after only six seasons. Let’s put it this way: with their franchise’s first draft pick, they took Bryant Reeves. They have taken four all-star talents, in Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Mike Bibby, Steve Francis and Gasol and only one is still with the team. ‘Nough said, don’t you think?

Now they have West and again, he has a core. Pau Gasol is the reigning Rookie of the Year, Jason Williams is a top of the muffin point guard, Michael Dickerson is a talent, Lorenzen Wright is a quick big man with scoring and rebounding skills (he had 33 point, 26 board game vs. Dallas this past year), Shane Battier is improving heading into his second year, Stromile Swift has been slow in developing, but has started to do so, and they now have Kansas’ Drew Gooden. A good nucleus yet again. So, what are we to expect from the big boss now?

Well, I’ll tell you what not to expect: West to sit in the skybox with his thumb up his…well, let’s just say he’ll be making changes. It is already rumored that the only two players on his roster that are not up for grabs are Gasol and Battier. Here are the two possibilities for the Grizz in the future:

1: West feels he has young talent makes no big moves. Mind you this will not happen (it is safe to say that Swift will not have a surprise party thrown for him in West’s house.) With that aside, what will Memphis look like?

Point: Williams-Looks like he’s starting to settle down some. He is like Dennis Rodman: so good at what he does, but may not be worth the headache.

-Brevin Knight-I love Brevin. His all around game is rock solid.

Shooting Guard: Dickerson-Good scorer and very athletic. Will show himself to be underrated if he’s healthy.

-Wesley Person-Lights it up like a Menorah when on. Can play D if he feels like it.

Small Forward: Battier-He is tough on D, has some touch on offense. He is untouchable for a reason.

-Swift-He is athletic and young. I tend to think he will be ok. That just won’t be in Elvis-town.

Power Forward: Gasol-A big reason why the 2002 draft featured so many foreigners. He will be an all-star.

-Drew Gooden-He’ll be good. Getting comfortable from the outside will be important.

Center: Wright-Athletic as well (noticing a pattern here?) Plays aggressive, but not furious. Health is always a factor.

-Tony Massenburg-Not really a center but he should get minutes because of his toughness. Does nothing impressively, but as a third or fourth option at F-C, does he need to?

I think this team is good. Give them a few years and a couple of free agent pick-ups, and they could be a wrecking ball.

2: This option is that Jerry dissects this present team and forms a whole new one. The scary thing is, no one but him knows what he wants to do. In a few years, if you find that 70% of more of the players I just mentioned are on other teams, the Grizzlies will be on track to become Jerry West’s next great accomplishment.