With a nod to Led Zeppelin, there are transition years,
and then there’s 2007 for the Memphis Grizzlies. It’s hard to imagine a
professional sports franchise being in more flux than the local NBA outfit,
particularly when you consider that the face on all four levels of operations —
ownership, front office, head coach, star player — may well be different when
the next season opens in November. Even more compelling is the fact that the
tipping point for the entire transformation happens to be as small and light as
a ping-pong ball.
Whether you interpret this on a literal or metaphorical level,
the Grizzlies’ position in June’s draft is going to make all the difference in
the world for all four levels mentioned above. Should Memphis land either the
first or second pick — and with it a franchise-player-to-be in either Greg Oden
or Kevin Durant — there will be new life for a franchise still looking for its
first playoff win.
On the other hand, should their preponderance of ping-pong
balls in the lottery hopper get the Grizzlies no better than third — Al Horford
anyone? How many season tickets will Joakim Noah sell? — shoulders will slump
as if Bryant Reeves’ latest paycheck just came due.
Here’s a look at what we can expect, from the owner’s
box to the court, as the Grizzlies’ Summer of Change unfolds:
OWNERSHIP — Here’s the beautiful, cold truth
about capitalism: you can sell your product, service, or talent for precisely
what the market will pay. Not a penny more. (There are thousands of home-sellers
across the country who would be happy to advise Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley
about the reality of moving inventory in a sagging, war-weary economy.) Heisley
may want $252 million for his 70-percent share of the franchise. To this point,
not a solitary buyer has stepped forward with a check near that amount. And
considering the draft lottery is May 22nd, Heisley’s recently established
deadline of May 1st for any offers appears to be at least three weeks premature.
With the image of Brian Davis and Christian Laettner holding up uniforms at a
press conference — their shabby bid being the best Heisley has seen to this
point — we armchair economists have to believe the franchise is overpriced. But
imagine what Oden or Durant might do for the lowest average attendance (14,654)
in the NBA. May 1st is no deadline, Mr. Heisley. Come May 22nd, you can either
name your price, or determine how much it should be lowered.
MANAGEMENT — Based on his comments last Tuesday
— “I’m not a youngster anymore” — the legendary Jerry West will ride off into
the Memphis sunset come July 1st. West says he’ll remain with the team long
enough to find the new coach and, presumably, a replacement (or two?) for
himself. Before West’s arrival in 2002, the Grizzlies employed a pair of
front-office decision-makers in Dick Versace and Billy Knight. Among the
dynamics to consider is just how much impact on personnel decisions the new head
coach will be allowed. Even with West’s hinted departure, though, that ping-pong
ball would seem to carry some weight. How could Mr. Logo pass up the chance to
help build a team around Oden or Durant?
COACH — Until now, Marc Iavaroni’s claim to fame
was being the fifth starter for the 1982-83 world champion Philadelphia 76ers, a
team that featured All-Stars Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Andrew Toney, and
Maurice Cheeks. This offseason, Iavaroni’s will be the hottest name among
head-coach candidates. (And that Italian surname fits perfectly into the recent
trend of basketball bosses in the Bluff City: Calipari, Fratello, Barone.) What,
precisely, can Iavaroni bring a franchise significantly shy of the firepower he
currently enjoys as an assistant with Phoenix? Once again, it all depends on
that ping-pong ball. With Oden or Durant at FedExForum, the idea of “pushing”
offensively is a lot more palatable than it was in 2006-07. Whether or not the
Suns are still playing beyond May 22nd, Iavaroni would be wise to see how the
lottery shakes out before making a decision on his future.
STAR — Pau Gasol may not have burned a bridge
with his trade request last winter, but he sure lit a match. Having watched
Gasol for six years now, Memphis fans understand he’s what might be called a
“complementary All-Star” (see Scottie Pippen, James Worthy, or Kevin McHale).
With Gasol as lead-bear — both on the floor and in the press — the Grizzlies
plateaued with three winless playoff appearances. If Memphis lands one of the
prize draft picks this June, Gasol may be able to step back and merely excel as
Robin to a rookie Batman in 2007-08. If Memphis falls to third in the draft, the
franchise should seriously consider finding a deal that brings more youth and
financial flexibility. After all, without Oden or Durant, the rebuilding is
going to take some time.
