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Chris Vernon: Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins blasted me for Heisley interview. I will be on FOX 13 on 10 pm news to talk about that, Heisley, etc. Twitter

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I would hope you would stop talking to whoever told you to take Thabeet. Heisley: Oh, so now we're going to talk about how bad Thabeet was? I would love for you to go back and do a little research, partner. In the front page of the Commercial Appeal, do you remember what they advised me about Rubio? They told me if I didn't everybody in Memphis would run me out of Memphis. Read [Geoff] Calkins' article. Some of the people who told me to go with Thabeet are supposedly some of the best basketball minds in the NBA. Use your imagination. Memphis Flyer

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Heisley: I'll tell you something. In 10 years I've been in Memphis, we've made the playoffs three times, okay? Go back and look at all of the small market teams in the NBA and see how many over the last 10 years have been in the playoffs three times. I think you'll find out we're in the middle of the list. … The hardest thing I ever did in my life was try to make a winner out of a small-market team in the NBA. Not many places have done it. Memphis Flyer

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Heisley: [You say] everybody I've got is a yes man. I'm sure Lionel Hollins would love to hear that you called him a yes man. Because I'll tell you one thing, you don't know Lionel Hollins. He's definitely anything but a yes man. I just don't believe that to cast these people who are working for the Grizzlies as a bunch of yes men, I don't think it's the case. They do not have the authority that Jerry West had. That's very true Memphis Flyer

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All of your basketball guys wanted you to resign Hakim Warrick. Heisley: That's not true at all. … We tried to sign Hakim Warrick and he wouldn't sign the contract. If we hadn't have withdrawn the offer, he could have held us to it until December, the trade deadline. I hated to get rid of Hakim Warrick. We didn't try to get rid of Hakim Warrick. We tried to keep Hakim Warrick. Memphis Flyer

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On the Xavier Henry contract situation, which takes up a large portion of the interview: Heisley: The facts are that in the collective bargaining agreement for draft contracts, there is 40% available [for negotiation]. So we put in some performance criteria and the agent for Xavier, Arn Tellem, he thinks that's not right and not fair and he's advised his client not to sign. Vernon: And you admit this is not the way business is usually conducted with rookies and their contracts and this is why Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez are the only two rookies still unsigned? You understand that you're the ones doing this and you're fine with that? Heisley: What do you mean? We're the ones doing what? Vernon: You are adding the performance bonus. It is typically customary to give the player the 120% of their rookie scale, and, in fact, that is what you've done in the past. Heisley: I'll be very honest with you, I have not handled this in the past. And, quite honestly, I wasn't even aware that was in the collective bargaining agreement until this year. Memphis Flyer

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Vernon: Did this way of conducting business regarding the rookie contracts just come to you after reading the collective bargaining agreement? It appears as if you had this epiphany after reading the collective bargaining agreement — 'Oh my god, why are we conducting our business this way. Here I am reading the collective bargaining agreement and we don't have to do it this way.' Heisley: I've never seen the collective bargaining agreement. Vernon: What? Heisley: I've never seen it. Vernon: How is that possible? Heisley: It's very possible. Are there things you haven't seen in your life? Vernon: Well, I don't own an NBA franchise. Heisley: What would you do, study the collective bargaining agreement? Vernon: Absolutely. Memphis Flyer

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But it's distressing that, despite personally demanding the inclusion of the performance bonuses and despite giving several interviews on the subject, Heisley seems less aware of the status of the team's negotiations relative to the rest of the league than most fans. Yes, Mr. Heisley, it is true the Henry and Vasquez are the only domestic first-round picks still unsigned. "I will tell you point blank son, the press doesn't influence me one iota." One of my favorite one-liners of the interview. If you listen to the whole thing, you'll find that, on this issue, Heisley seems to protest too much, given how often he brings up the media. Memphis Flyer

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The Memphis Grizzlies and guard Xavier Henry, the 12th pick in the June draft, still have not reached an agreement. The sides are at odds over a performance clause that would allow Henry to earn $336,700 more this season. Rookies are paid according to a scale, and the figure for a No. 12 pick is $1.685 million this season. However, teams can pay first-round picks 20% more or 20% less than the scale. Memphis wants Henry to earn the extra 20% through incentives such as being selected to play in the rookie/sophomore game, making the all-rookie team or averaging 15 minutes a game in 70 games. Owner Michael Heisley took an active role in negotiations. "I decided we should put in not difficult performance criteria but criteria which we consider reasonable that the person would be able to make," he said. "We're very happy we drafted him. We think he'll be a big part of our plans for this year." USA Today

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Chris Herrington: Michael Heisley: "Lionel Hollins is not a yes man." Agreed. Funny he doesn't bring up other names. Twitter

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Now, does any of this matter to Heisley? Is he questioning himself in any way? Doubtful. "I will tell you point blank, son," he said to Vernon, "the press doesn't influence me one iota." ESPN.com

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The Grizzlies have fielded several trade offers from teams looking to acquire the rights to unsigned rookie Xavier Henry — interest mostly derived from a contract stalemate between the team and the NBA's 12th overall draft pick. But Griz owner Michael Heisley insisted Wednesday that the team is only interested in signing Henry to a deal that will have him play in FedExForum this season. "I'm not looking to trade him just to trade him," Heisley said. "I'm not angry with him. I expect him to play. He's going to have an opportunity to play a lot, and we need him. So my reaction to this is I'm expecting we'll get something done and he'll play for us this season." Memphis Commercial Appeal

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The counter-argument Heisley makes is that he's working within the rules of the collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the league and its players' union that stipulates rookie bonuses are negotiable. "Isn't it reasonable to think that the 12th pick in the NBA draft can make the rookie team?" Heisley asked. "I think what we're asking for is reasonable." Memphis Commercial Appeal

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An NBA executive said Wednesday that Memphis has exclusive rights to negotiate with Henry until 2013 if he doesn't play basketball this season. If Henry signs overseas or with any other league, the Grizzlies' rights continue in perpetuity provided that they tender Henry qualifying offers in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. "I'm not trying to make an example of (Henry)," Heisley said. "I'm not trying to make an issue of this, either. We drafted him because we think he can help us. I'm expecting him to play." Memphis Commercial Appeal

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They then heard three hours of spiritual hymns and speeches of inspiration from clergy and dignitaries who spoke of Wright’s courage, tenacity and spirit. There were former teammates, team owners and the casual fan who watched Wright play in the city from Booker T. Washington High, to the University of Memphis to the Memphis Grizzlies. Michael Heisley, the Grizzlies’ majority owner, recalled that Wright was the spiritual and physical leader for the team during the most successful five years in franchise history. "He was an inspiration to the young team we had," Heisley said. Memphis Commercial Appeal

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“Lorenzen never backed down from any challenge given him, whether it was guarding Shaq (Shaquille O’Neal) or anyone else,” Grizzlies’ owner Michael Heisley said by phone from London this afternoon shortly after learning of Wright’s death. “He was a team player, a great locker room guy. There was never an instance that I talked to him when he wasn’t a positive, outstanding guy. “I am heartbroken today. I’m sure there’s a lot of people in Memphis who are very, very sad. He was a good man who had his share of tough times, and I’ve got to believe he’s in a better place.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

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Asked if there could be a trade involving Randolph, Heisley said in an interview with FanHouse on Thursday that "we are not interested and we have not been looking'' in that direction. In fact, Heisley said there are no plans to break up the starting lineup of Randolph, center Marc Gasol, guards O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley and forward Rudy Gay, who certainly won't be going anywhere now that he has agreed to re-sign for $82 million over five years. "We feel very confident going into next year because we'll have our five guys back,'' Heisley said. FanHouse.com

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"I'd like to say he wasn't in the newspapers. But he is and, let's face it, that is a negative. But it isn't a negative as much for us as it is for some people. We feel that Zach is a good guy. He's well liked in Memphis. And, quite frankly, since he's been with us (since a June 2009 trade from the Clippers), he's been nothing but cooperative and nothing but a model citizen.'' FanHouse.com

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