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But the summer will be more than just about plugging holes for the Grizzlies. They'll have difficult decisions to make with six players entering free agency while trying to manage a payroll that will have little room under the luxury-tax threshold next season. "We've been thinking about that all along," general manage Chris Wallace said. "But we don't have to make any final decisions until the beginning of July when free agency starts. So we'll let the dust settle from this season and move forward deliberately on those final decisions." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Free Agency, Chris Wallace 

Ronald Tillery: Griz GM C Wallace cwallace@grizzlies.com is auctioning 4 seats w/dinner for Game 2 for teen cancer patient. Email 2 bid. Have to beat $2,500 Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Chris Wallace 

The Grizzlies have raised their game. Now Memphis fans have to raise their game. That was the gist of a four-hour meeting Saturday of team owner Michael Heisley, his top executives, and several Memphis business and community leaders. The meeting was prompted by, among other things, recent reports that Oracle CEO Larry Ellison is interested in buying the team and possibly moving it to California. The newly created advisory board or local board of directors — the title is not yet clear — met in an office at FedEx Forum. This account is based on interviews with participants Kevin Kane and Henry Turley. Others at the meeting were Stan Meadows, Chris Wallace, and Greg Campbell representing Heisley and the Grizzlies, and Memphians Pitt Hyde (a minority owner) Bryan Jordan, Lawrence Plummer, Billy Orgel, Otis Sanford, Bob Henning, and Joe Hall, the head of a public relations firm in Nashville that worked with NBA NOW 12 years ago. Absent were Staley Cates, Willie Gregory, and Beverly Robertson. Memphis Flyer

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, Chris Wallace 

Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace admitted he got the idea to sign free agent Gilbert Arenas after reading a blog post on a Grizzlies fan site. “[The idea] came up a couple weeks ago and we gradually worked towards it,” Wallace said on The Chris Vernon Show. Host Chris Vernon pressed Wallace about the issue, and the GM caved. “I’m going to admit this, I’m going to come clean. I’ll be honest about it, okay? … I’m in the office of [President of Business Operations] Greg Campbell, he says, ‘You outta read this thing that’s on a blog today.’ And I don’t read the blogs, but this guy wrote this case for Gilbert Arenas, and I read the thing and said ‘Greg, you know something? This guy makes some sense.’ “I thought about it and said, you know, we gotta look into it a little further. “So I called his agent up. I’m willing to admit it — I pride myself on being open-minded — and you look at the finances involved, and the group of players involved, and why not?” Larry Brown Sports

Memphis Grizzlies, Free Agency, Gilbert Arenas, Chris Wallace 

Memphis moved below the NBA’s luxury-tax threshold by getting rid of Young’s $948,000 salary. Sanchez, who is playing in Argentina, will never wear a Grizzlies uniform. “Sam preferred another location because he wasn’t playing,” Griz general manager Chris Wallace said. “Sam earned his keep around here and is clearly an NBA player. He was a guy who was a big part of us being able to be successful when Rudy Gay went down last year. But teams evolve.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Rudy Gay, Chris Wallace 

Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace confirmed that the team recently received a disabled player exception to compensate for the loss of Darrell Arthur. However, Wallace predicted that it is unlikely the Griz will use the exception. The Griz have roughly $1.1 million to use in order to aid a potential trade. "I can't say for certain if we'll use it," Wallace said. "It's fairly small as exceptions go. It's just one more piece to have. When you look at the restrictions around it, the probability is we won't use it." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Trade, Chris Wallace 

The Griz can't use the exception to sign a free agent. It can only be used to acquire a player in a trade. That player also must be in the final year of his contract. Wallace said the Griz applied for the exception to add another tool that could be used in a potential multiplayer transaction. The NBA granted the exception last Friday because Arthur was lost for the season with a torn Achilles' tendon. Memphis will have until March 5 to use the exception. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Trade, Chris Wallace 

The Griz are on the verge of re-signing backup center Hamed Haddadi, general manager Chris Wallace confirmed. Haddadi, an unrestricted free agent, attended the game after arriving in Memphis from Dubai earlier in the day. The Griz are expected to sign Haddadi to a one-year deal. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Free Agency, Chris Wallace, Hamed Haddadi 

The Memphis Grizzlies waived guard Ish Smith, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. NBA.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Chris Wallace 

Chris Vernon: Grizz GM Chris Wallace on the show: "I don't see any way that Marc Gasol is not signed with us" Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Free Agency, Chris Wallace, Marc Gasol 

You also spent time with Gasol in Barcelona. What is your strategy in trying to re-sign Gasol? Are you in essence recruiting Gasol even though he's a restricted free agent? Chris Wallace: I've had several conversations with him just telling him about our plans with the team and asking him what his opinions are of the team. It's like being a recruiter like we were when we picked him up in the trade. I'm telling him this has been a great place for you. He came in from Europe and his value and status has increased three straight years here. Our team has significantly improved during that period of time. He stepped up in the playoffs. And there's no reason why he can't continue to thrive individually here. And our team will thrive in the future. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Free Agency, Chris Wallace, Marc Gasol 

Is Mayo a guy who is on the trading block come draft night? Chris Wallace: I've said this time and time again. Look at who has been traded the last few years. You've had Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady and Ray Allen. The vast majority of players in the NBA who have lengthy careers get traded at some point. That's just the nature of the game. So I never tell a guy he can't be traded. We're looking at every option to improve our team and we're happy with what O.J.'s done here. He definitely provided us with a pick-me-up in the playoffs, particularly in Game 6 of the Oklahoma City series. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Trade, OJ Mayo, Chris Wallace 

Chris Vernon: Grizz GM Chris Wallace told the Celtics/Nowitzki/Pierce draft night story on show yesterday - fav part: Dirk almost went to Kentucky or Cal Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Draft, Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Wallace 

The Grizzlies may or may not figure out a way to win Game 5 in Oklahoma City. They may or may not find a way to win this playoff series and advance to play Dallas in the Western Conference Finals. But in a season of can-you-believe-this-moments, this may be the one that lingers longest in our memories. This night of drama and of history. This night when the game was as full and as wild and as brimming with peril and possibilities as the river that has been making some history of its own. “This is what it’s all about,” said Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace, who was wandering around the Memphis locker room well after 1 a.m., shaking hands with his guys. “Except for getting the win, it doesn’t get any better than this. This is why you get a team.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Chris Wallace 

Hamed Haddadi: damesh garm...our general manager, chris wallace, made this video for us...it is very nice and i have watched... http://fb.me/G5NJNDfJ Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Chris Wallace, Hamed Haddadi 

About a year ago, when it was clear the Grizzlies were on to something, Popovich softened his stance. “I was just trying to be a wise-ass,” he said of his previous comments. But (Chris) Wallace never heard from Popovich personally, and he’s okay with that. “I never took any offense,” he said. “I have so much respect for him and R.C. (Buford). There’s no question they have created the finest organization in the league.” San Antonio Express-News

Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich, Chris Wallace 

Guess who walked into Staples Center last night side-by-side with Griz forward Zach Randolph? Answer: The team's owner, Michael Heisley. When asked if that was a sure sign that his contract extension was all but a done deal, Randolph smiled and said: "They're saying its close." Raymond Brothers is Randolph's agent and he's been locked in nonstop negotiations with Griz general manager Chris Wallace for the past week. After poking around a little bit today, I'm told that the issues left on the table are so minor that a deal could be finalized and announced as soon as today. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Michael Heisley, Chris Wallace 

Popovich wasn't alone in condemning the February 2008 trade in which the Grizzlies sent Gasol and a 2010 second-round pick to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, Marc Gasol and first-round picks in 2008 and 2010. With Pau Gasol joining Kobe Bryant, the Lakers would go on to make the NBA Finals that season -- after beating Popovich's Spurs in the Western Conference finals -- and win championships the subsequent two years. "Part of the occupational hazard of [being an NBA GM] is from time to time you are going to be raked over the coals in the court of public opinion," said Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace, who was in his first season in his position at the time of the deal. "Still, it's much preferable to the occupational hazards of most jobs." SI.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Chris Wallace 

"We were winning 26, 27 percent of our games [with Pau]," Wallace said. "And it became apparent that the enthusiasm for playing [in Memphis] had waned for Pau. We'd never won a playoff game and the town appeared bored with the team. So I told our owner, Mr. [Michael] Heisley, that as good as Pau is, it's probably not going to work within the time left on his contract because I didn't see a realistic way for us to get the megastars around him he needs. "So, rather than slog through for the next couple years, we decided to go in the proverbial new direction. And we came to the conclusion the Lakers had the best deal because they had a big expiring contract in Brown and what I considered four first-round picks with the two yet-to-be exercised picks, Crittenton, who was a first-rounder, and the rights to Pau's brother, Marc. SI.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Chris Wallace 

"Pau's been like an NBA version of an organ donor with how he's provided life to this current team," Wallace said. "Instead of harvesting his heart, his kidneys or his corneas, we got picks, we got his brother -- a starting center -- and we got cap room that we could use in free agency or in doing trades. We got over half our roster in the deal." SI.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Chris Wallace