HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Grizzlies, sources say, were weighing the merits of calling up Greg Ostertag out of the D-League as a spot-minute addition to their tag team filling in for the injured Zach Randolph when the 38-year-old decided to end his comeback Jan. 19 because of unshakeable knee soreness. ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, D-League, Greg Ostertag 

Jason Kosmicki: No Sam Young tonight he has back spasms Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Sam Young 

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 

Griz coach Lionel Hollins emphatically refuted a Yahoo! Sports report that cited him as saying forward Zach Randolph would not return this season from a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Hollins said the writer misconstrued his analysis of Randolph's prognosis. "He asked me 'Are you trying to tread water until Zach comes back?' I said 'I'm not paying attention to Zach.' I said, 'when he comes back and if he comes back, I will then worry about Zach,'" Hollins said. "I'm concerned about the players we have now. I'd love for Zach to come back. I want him to come back and I hope he'll be back in the timetable they've said. I don't know if Zach's not coming back this year. I'm not a doctor. How would I know?" Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Injuries, Lionel Hollins 

Geoff Calkins: Before the game, Lionel Hollins said @Marc J. Spears mischaracterized his comments about Z-Bo's injury. #BlameTheMedia. Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Injuries, Lionel Hollins 

Me: When y ou got out of Wyoming in 2002, I imagine you thought that with a little luck here or there, you'd have a chance to play in the NBA. Josh Davis: From the beginning, I never actually dreamed that I would play in the NBA. That was not a goal of mine. I didn't think it was possible. I wasn't even going to play professionally until a lot of agents called me and said how much money I could make. So we decided to go play for Jesi; it's a team in the second division in Italy. The second year I played for the Idaho Stampede in the CBA. My wife and I were kind of saying that was going to be our last year. If nothing happened I would step down. But great things happened. I was MVP of that league (averaging 18.7 points and 9.6 rebounds) and things exploded. I got a call-up (playing four games for the Hawks) and things took off from there. When those doors opened you have to take advantage of it. NBA.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Josh Davis 

Me: How did you work your way to Memphis? JD: Last year I went to camp with them, probably as an afterthought, but they brought me in. I pretty much made the team. I was the last cut. They cut me because they didn't want to carry 15 players, and they had 14 at the time. It was a tough situation because I thought I'd made the team for a while there. So I played in Italy (for Bancatercas Teramo). They wanted me to come back over at one point, but then they ended up getting (Leon) Powe and it was good for them. I decided it was smart to stick around and try it because I didn't want to have to bring my family back over to Europe. NBA.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Italy, Josh Davis 

Me: When you came to camp this year, did you think 'This is it? What if I don't make it this time?' JD: We probably would have gone back to Europe. I'm in great shape and I was playing good basketball, and I think I've got a few years left. But ever since I left the NBA, every time I went to camp with somebody it was like it was going to be the last time in the NBA, or I'll go in Europe for a few more years. The fact that this opportunity came along, this is a miracle. I think God has a plan for all of us. NBA.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Josh Davis 

Me: Did you ever get to actually see the cities and countries you played in? Josh Davis: JD: Oh, sure. Moscow, Ukraine, Spain, Italy, Greece. We experienced so many cultures, were able to go to eat everywhere. To walk around the Kremlin was amazing. We went to Chernobyl and saw the museum. Me: Were you able to actually go into Chernobyl? JD: It's still pretty bad up there, but they have tours. When we lived in Kiev, you just did not eat any of the fish that was in the river. You never ate any of the produce that came out of the ground. You had to be careful. They downplay the amount of radiation that was there but when you talk to the people in the museum they kind of told you what was going on. I remember, it was kind of a conspiracy theory for me. They showed you the map of the radiation. The map shows the contamination spreading all around the city of Kiev, but apparantely the radiation never actually entered the city of Kiev. (Laughs.) It was scary. And we had our one-year old daughter there, so we had to work around that. NBA.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Josh Davis, Chernobyl 

Ronald Tillery: Enough with the ZBo hysteria. Team physician Dr. Fred Azar in Jan. 16 CA: “We’re pretty sure he’s going to come back this season." Dr. Azar, NOT Dr. Lionel Hollins, will determine the extent of ZBo's healing Monday after a second MRI Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Injuries 

While we're on the subject of trades, there are rumors the Cavs have interest in Grizzlies shooting guard O.J. Mayo. Scratch that from your list of trade rumors. It's not happening. News-Herald

Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, Trade, OJ Mayo 

Though the Grizzlies announced Randolph is expected to be out eight weeks from the time of his injury, Hollins said he doesn’t expect his star forward back this season. Even if Randolph does return, it could be difficult to reincorporate him after such a long layoff. Yahoo! Sports

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Injuries 

A year later, Gay is again healthy and has resumed his leading role with the team. He’s also on a mission to prove the Grizzlies can be even better with him in the lineup. “People were saying they did it without me,” Gay said. “It would mean a lot for me to make the playoffs to show how good this team is – not just me – and how much of an impact I could have on it.” Yahoo! Sports

Memphis Grizzlies, Rudy Gay 

After beating the Spurs, the Grizzlies lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a tough seven-game series in the second round. Their success had people questioning Gay’s value to the franchise. “I heard all of it,” Gay said. “It was to be expected because this was the furthest the team had gone in their existence in Memphis. I’m out, and they’re doing good. So, of course, they would think they would do better without me since I’ve been there the whole time. “That just motivated me. I know what I can do and I know what I helped this team get to, up to this point. And from talking to some of my teammates, they said, ‘We wouldn’t have got here if it wasn’t for some of the games that you won and some of things you’ve done.’ ” Yahoo! Sports

Memphis Grizzlies, Rudy Gay 

By declining the options this week on four lottery picks from the 2009 draft -- No. 2 Hasheem Thabeet, No. 6 Jonny Flynn, No. 8 Jordan Hill and No. 11 Terrence Williams -- Houston reduced its 2012-13 payroll by nearly $18 million: $17,577,291 to be exact. The Rockets drafted none of the four, who become unrestricted free agents in July, acquiring all of them in separate trades with Memphis (Thabeet), Minnesota (Flynn), New York (Hill) and New Jersey (Williams). ... The Grizzlies and Thunder on Friday were granted Disabled Player Exceptions to spend on replacements for players lost for the season to injury: Darrell Arthur and Eric Maynor. Both exceptions expire March 12; Arthur's is valued at $1,013,560 and Maynor's is $758,348. The exceptions can be used to sign one player or claim a player on waivers without exceeding the respective assignment amounts of $1,113,560 in Arthur's case and $858,340 in Maynor's. Disabled Player Exceptions cannot be applied to trades except when the player is in the final year of his contract. ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Eric Maynor, Darrell Arthur 

The Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation today announced an integrated partnership with Duncan-Williams, Inc., which will make them the title sponsor of Grizzlies TEAM UP, the Foundation’s internationally-recognized youth mentoring initiative. Additionally, through their corporate mentoring effort, Duncan-Williams, Inc. has actively encouraged employees and their families to serve as mentors as part of the partnership. “This is a significant milestone for the Grizzlies TEAM UP Mentoring initiative, and we’re grateful to have a passionate, committed partner in youth mentoring like Duncan-Williams,” said Jenny Koltnow, Executive Director of the Grizzlies Foundation. “This support will enable us to strengthen and expand outreach and more importantly, place volunteer mentors in the lives of many more kids. With their employee volunteerism and financial investment in mentoring, Duncan-Williams has become a model for the Memphis business community.” NBA.com

Memphis Grizzlies 

OK, you've been heading over to nba.com to vote for your favorite Grizzlies -- and others -- for the All-Star game. But before you put your laptop away, you've got one more vote to cast. Head over to hoopshype.com and vote for the "tweeter of the year" in the NBA. Sixteen players adorn the ballot. Resting (well, "resting" is never a good description for him) in second place is the Grizzlies' Tony Allen. As I type this, he is just behind Steve Nash and has been named first choice on 503 of 1,357 ballots so far. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Twitter, Tony Allen 

It wasn’t the prettiest thing you’ll ever see. No, I’m not talking about the ABA throwback uniforms…. well, those too. But I meant the game. Doesn’t matter, the Clippers will take it. In a battle of teams trying to ascend to contender status, the Clippers executed better down the stretch and won 98-91. Nobody with the Thunder watched this game and felt nervous about a potential playoff matchup — nobody was taking a step up the contender ladder Thursday — but after losing to the Lakers because they got out-executed late the night before the Clippers turned the tables on the Grizzlies. That’s something for a growing team. But really, we know why you were watching this game. NBCSports.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies 

They're all about long arms, quick reactions to the ball and savvy defensive rotations. They know they can't score inside easily while Zach Randolph is out with a torn knee ligament. They're not the greatest shooting squad. But if they can get steals and get transition baskets, they can stay in games. "We need to hang our hats on the defensive end for 48 minutes," Tony Allen said. ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Tony Allen