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Heisley included coach Lionel Hollins among the team's returning assets. Heisley sounded baffled by the criticism Hollins has received regarding his rotations in the playoffs. "There's a helluva lot more to coaching than just lineups," Heisley said. "Please tell the people in Memphis to stop looking for a scapegoat because there is none. I have no less opinion of Lionel Hollins. The reality is Lionel has more knowledge about professional basketball in one finger than I have in my body. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Coaching, Michael Heisley, Lionel Hollins 

"How can people blame Lionel? The way he brought those young kids along. ... What do people want me to do, get rid of the coach? It's ridiculous. You can't go with more than what got you there. He's the best coach we've ever had because we had the best record we've ever had." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Coaching, Michael Heisley, Lionel Hollins 

Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley reiterated today his doubt that the franchise will be sold anytime soon. How can Heisley be so sure? He’s instructed his attorney, Stan Meadows, to stop negotiating with Oracle founder Larry Ellison because of Ellison’s repeated overtures about relocating the team. “We’re not even considering Ellison,” Heisley said. “This team cannot be moved.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, Larry Ellison 

Heisley, who is asking for $350 million, acknowledged that there is one other suitor. “But I don’t know how if he’s serious,” Heisley said. “I think I’ll own the team for a while.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, Larry Ellison 

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 

Heisley fielded questions and emphasized that he would like to see the team remain in Memphis indefinitely. But he said he is 75 years old and is going to sell the team eventually. He said the team loses money. His asking price is $350 million. "There was no threat," said Kane, who is acting as chairman of the new board. "Everybody knows Memphis is a vulnerable market." Memphis Flyer

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley 

The Grizzlies hope to duplicate the success of San Antonio and Oklahoma City as winning teams in cities with a single major-league team. The most vulnerable teams, along with Memphis, are considered to be New Orleans, Charlotte, and Sacramento. The richest teams are the Lakers, Knicks, and Heat, which can buy the best players. "Memphis probably needs the Grizzlies more than the Grizzlies need Memphis," said Kane. "The Grizzlies are a strategic asset for the region, like FedEx, AutoZone, MLGW, or the airport." Memphis Flyer

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley 

Californian Larry Ellison, ranked as the third-richest person in the U.S., has inquired about buying the Memphis Grizzlies with apparent hopes of moving the team to San Jose. But majority team owner Michael Heisley today downplayed the possibility of a sale — and of a relocation, citing a lease that ties the franchise to Memphis and FedExForum until 2021. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, Larry Ellison 

“I can’t downplay it enough. If it happens I’ll be surprised,” said Heisley, a Chicago-based billionaire who added that talks had not become serious. “It’s in the initial stages. We’ve handled this just like we’ve handled several other dozen requests. My situation in Memphis has not changed a lick. My preference will always be for somebody in Memphis to buy the team. There’s not any interest in Memphis. But we’ve always made it known that if somebody wants to buy the team, we’ll listen. If they’re real buyers we’ll probably be sellers. So far there hasn’t been anyone willing to buy the team under my terms and for my price.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, Larry Ellison 

Ellison, the Oracle Corp. CEO and one of the richest men in the world, is in advanced talks with Memphis owner Michael Heisley to buy the Grizzlies, according to multiple sources. Two of those sources said it is possible that Ellison and Heisley have a “handshake agreement” on the transaction. CSNBayArea.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, Larry Ellison 

If Ellison buys the Grizzlies and seeks to relocate the franchise, it would likely be challenging. The team has a restrictive lease with the city and there would no doubt be legal challenges. The FedEx Forum lease runs through 2021, but according to one source, there are attendance clauses that kick in during 2017 that would allow the team to move if certain thresholds are not met. CSNBayArea.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, Larry Ellison 

According to three sources, Lacob and the Warriors’ ownership team know that Ellison is trying to buy Memphis. When Ellison was trying to buy the Warriors from previous owner Chris Cohan, he was partnered with four of franchise’s minority owners at the time. Sources confirmed that the former Warriors minority group – comprised of Jim Davidson, Michael Marks and John Thompson – are not a part of Ellison’s bid in Memphis. CSNBayArea.com

Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, Larry Ellison 

Over in the stands, Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley got up and left. He’s recovering from a heart procedure. He didn’t trust himself not to explode. By the end of the game, he had reined himself in. “That was a well-officiated game,” he said, and I’ll let you interpret the tone. “Ken Mauer is one of the best in the league. And they always send him down here to help us.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Kobe Bryant, Michael Heisley, Referees 

Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley and Los Angeles investor Tony Ressler have joined forces and reentered the bidding for the Dodgers, a person familiar with the sale process said Monday. Ressler, a minority investor in the Milwaukee Brewers, is believed to be the only remaining bidder currently involved in MLB. The Heisley-Ressler bid would be the eighth submitted to Major League Baseball for consideration. MLB has agreed to approve up to 10 bidders, after which outgoing owner Frank McCourt will select the winner. Los Angeles Times

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, MLB, Los Angeles Dodgers 

Michael Heisley and Tony Ressler were eliminated from the Dodgers bidding on Monday, leaving seven parties in contention to buy the team, according to multiple people familiar with the sale process but not authorized to discuss it. St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke, Beverly Hills-based real estate developer Alan Casden and a group led by Stanley Gold and the family of the late Roy Disney remain in the bidding. The other four: Magic Johnson and veteran baseball executive Stan Kasten; Connecticut investor Steven Cohen and longtime Los Angeles agent Arn Tellem; New York media executive Leo Hindery in partnership with Tom Barrack, chairman of Santa Monica-based Colony Capital; and Jared Kushner, owner and publisher of the New York Observer and son-in-law of Donald Trump. Los Angeles Times

Michael Heisley, Magic Johnson, Stan Kroenke, Arn Tellem, MLB 

Chicago businessman and Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley remains in the running to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers. A source familiar with Heisley's group and Major League Baseball said Monday night that his group hasn't been eliminated from consideration, contrary to an earlier report. Although some groups, such as one headed by Chicago White Sox senior advisor Dennis Gilbert, have been eliminated, the source said talks with Heisley's group and MLB are still on-going. Chicago Tribune

Michael Heisley, Magic Johnson, Stan Kroenke, MLB 

Michael Heisley, the billionaire owner of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, has emerged as one of the remaining bidders for the Dodgers. If Heisley were to buy the Dodgers, Lakers legend and former Grizzlies executive Jerry West probably would join the team in some capacity, according to a person familiar with the sale process. Los Angeles Times

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, MLB, Los Angeles Dodgers 

Heisley leads one of 11 bids that survived the initial cut in the Dodgers' ownership derby. His bid, which had not previously surfaced publicly, was confirmed Wednesday by three people familiar with the sale process but not authorized to discuss it. The remaining bidders can merge, and late entrants can emerge, but for now the field appears set, according to one of those people. Los Angeles Times

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, MLB, Los Angeles Dodgers 

Ronald Tillery: A source confirms LA Times report that Heisley is bidding to buy LA Dodgers. It's a long shot. story coming at http://www.commercialappeal.com Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, MLB, Los Angeles Dodgers 

The Rockets will offer the maximum contract they can to Gasol, worth $55 million over four years, but the pursuit of Gasol is a longshot because he is a restricted free agent. If he signs a Rockets offer sheet, the Grizzlies would have three days to match the offer to keep him and Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley told NBA.com on Sunday that his team would match the offer. "I don't know what the offer is, but you got to try," said Rockets guard Kyle Lowry, who was in Memphis in Marc Gasol's rookie season. "We need a center. I love Marc. He's my guy." Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Free Agency, Kyle Lowry, Michael Heisley, Marc Gasol