Chris Wallace

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CHICAGO – Five times, Grizzlies’ general manager Chris Wallace leaned forward in anticipation from his spot on the front row between Phoenix and Dallas executives, and watched ping pong balls dance through the lottery machine just a few feet away.

And five times, he ultimately rocked back into that seat while masking anguish through a nervous smile as those darn balls spat out sequences that equally teased and tortured the Grizzlies.

Memphis entered the lottery with 199 four-number combinations, second-most among the 14 lottery teams behind only the 250 sequenced set of numbers possessed by the Phoenix Suns. One loss separated the Suns (19-61) and Grizzlies (22-60) in the standings for the best odds to land the No. 1 pick.

That one additional loss gave the Suns the extra 51 sets of sequential numbers that won them the lottery and gives them the preferred choice of DeAndre Ayton or Luka Doncic atop the June 21 draft. Phoenix’s lucky set of numbers didn’t just come up once – but in three straight drawings.

By the fourth drawing, NBA vice president of basketball operations Kiki Vandeweghe announced Sacramento jumped from seventh in the order to grab the No. 2 pick. The fifth and final drawing moved Atlanta from the fourth seed entering the lottery to departing with the No. 3 selection Tuesday night.

And that was it. After about 15 minutes of suspense, the room settled into quiet chatter among some and stone silence from others. Eventually, reality settled with the gradual certainty of a brick tossed into the Mississippi. The Grizzlies sank from second to fourth on the draft board.

On this night, the numbers didn’t add up.

Memphis’ 19.9-percent shot to get the No. 1 pick came up short.

Memphis' 55.8-percent chance to stay in the top three didn’t pan out.

The Grizzlies sit at fourth in a draft where three players have formed a consensus as essentially can’t-miss prospects: Ayton, Doncic and Duke’s Marvin Bagley.

The Suns, Kings and Hawks all felt like they won the lottery on some level.

Phoenix held serve and will likely pick between the star college center at the state’s flagship university or the European teen sensation their new coach recently molded into an international phenom.

Sacramento and Atlanta are picking in spots higher than they could have imagined.

But it was a different experience for Memphis. The Grizzlies, at best, survived the draft lottery. Wallace and his front-office staff now move on to conducting interviews and watching workouts of some viable prospects at the NBA Draft Combine that runs through Friday in Chicago.

Moments before the 14 NBA team representatives settled into their seats, sequestered in a ballroom on the sixth floor of the Palmer House Hilton for the start of the official lottery drawing, Wallace walked over to longtime Orlando Magic executive Pat Williams and extended his hand with a simple request.

“Pat, you’ve won this thing a few times before,” Wallace said to Williams, who ran the Magic when they landed the No. 1 pick in consecutive lotteries in 1992 and 1993 for Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway, then again in 2004 for Dwight Howard. “Rub a little bit of that good luck on us, would ya?”

The two men laughed, embraced and returned to opposite ends of the room’s front table.

After the lottery ended, Wallace returned to Williams for another cordial exchange.

“Maybe luck kept us in the top four,” Wallace quipped. “We’ll take that. We didn’t fall as far as we possibly could’ve at five.”

Perhaps Wallace’s best attribute is that he’s an eternal optimist.

He sees upside, no matter the scenario or slide.

That should serve the Grizzlies well as they sort through a potential draft board wide open with possibilities, whether they keep the No. 4 pick or deal it for an attractive package. Or maybe in a twist of fate, the Suns, Kings or Hawks allow someone to fall a spot or two Memphis’ way next month.

But the lottery portion of the drama is now over.

For the Grizzlies, there’s no looking back. All that took place this past season that led to the lottery night outcome will never add up. With important work still ahead this week in the Windy City, the remaining equation is clear as the Grizzlies consider all options for the No. 4 and No. 32 picks in June’s draft.

The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Memphis Grizzlies. All opinions expressed by Michael Wallace are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Memphis Grizzlies or its Basketball Operations staff, owners, parent companies, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Memphis Grizzlies and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.

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MikeCheck: Scenes And Sounds From Sequestered NBA Lottery Room as Grizzlies Land No. 4 Draft Pick

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MEMPHIS – The Grizzlies entered an opportunistic May – the first full month of their offseason – with significant traction toward addressing some of the biggest questions looming over the franchise.

They’ve already resolved the ownership issue, with Robert Pera maintaining controlling interest in the franchise and a commitment to keeping the Grizzlies in Memphis.

They’ve already conducted exit interviews, with key players, veterans and young prospects set to distance themselves from a 22-60 season and embark on a summer of healing, conditioning, development and improvement in hopes of a return to playoff contention.

And they’re also solidifying a front-office plan that included formalizing a multi-year contract this week to retain J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach. Now, the Grizzlies are just days away from learning their fate in the May 15 draft lottery, where they are assured of a top-five pick in the June 21 NBA Draft as well as the No. 32 overall pick in the second round.

Expect the Grizzlies to be active in league-wide trade discussions surrounding the draft and July free agency, with key decisions looming on several of their own players.

So after covering the coaching situation, returning roster veterans, young/developing assets and pending free agents the past few weeks in Grind City Media’s ‘Offseason Outlook,’ we wrap up with my personal analysis of the job facing the Grizzlies’ front office and general manager Chris Wallace.

Measurables: 11th NBA Season with Grizzlies

2017-18 Outcomes: The Grizzlies finished 22-60 and missed the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. The run of seven straight postseason berths was the longest in franchise history and was the third-longest streak in the NBA behind the San Antonio Spurs and Atlanta Hawks.

Status: Wallace, along with front-office executives John Hollinger and Ed Stefanski, will enter the 2018-19 season having reached the midway point of three-year contract extensions signed in December 2016.

The Grizzlies endured their first 60-loss record this season since also finishing 22-60 after the 2007-08 season, which was Wallace’s first with the team. Memphis is a combined 441-445 in that time, with three season of 50-plus victories and a 2013 appearance in the Western Conference Finals.

Wallace has never possessed more assets and upside than he now has entering this offseason. Yes, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley are in their early 30s and have had injury issues. But they’re still two of the top-40 players in the league, with another couple of seasons of prime production ahead. The Grizzlies also have a potential All-Rookie Team member in Dillon Brooks, snagged with the No. 45 overall pick in last year’s second round. Memphis has two of the top 32 picks in next month’s draft, guaranteed to finish no worse than fifth in the lottery. Wallace has the continuity of controlling owner Robert Pera remaining intact, and he has retained J.B. Bickerstaff as coach. With the full midlevel exception to spend in free agency, there should be significant momentum to dig the Grizzlies out of a demoralizing season.

The Grizzlies are basically in a boom-or-bust situation. The credibility Wallace established during the formation and development of the Core Four era that featured seven straight postseason runs has faded. Grit N Grind is essentially grounded. Even Gasol repeatedly points out the Grizzlies can no longer “live off the credit” they established in past years, and that “a new deposit” must be made on their account. There’s a recent trend of bad luck and/or clear misses in free agency (Ben McLemore, Chandler Parsons, Brandan Wright) and first round picks (Wade Baldwin, Jordan Adams). There also has been a revolving door in the coaching office, with three in a span of the past four seasons. Wallace is now tasked with swinging his way out of a jam largely created on his watch.

Wallace isn’t running from the responsibility for the Grizzlies’ predicament or the challenge to restore order. Memphis is positioned better than any top-five lottery team to make the playoffs next season. But there’s no guarantee even a healthy Grizzlies’ team jumps past playoff participants in the Timberwolves, Spurs, Pelicans or Jazz, let alone squads that just missed out in the Nuggets and Clippers. Wallace lacks the time and interest in a slow rebuild, with Memphis locked in to nearly $80 million in 2018-19 salary alone for Gasol, Conley and Parsons. It’s one reason the Grizzlies must consider trading down into the lottery if it returns a high quality veteran contributor and helps shed an unfavorable contract. Wallace once worked his magic to steer the Grizzlies to their most successful stretch in history. Guiding them out of the malaise and quickly back to prominence might even be a more impressive feat.

Read all of the 2017-18 Grizzlies Offseason Outlook series here.

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MikeCheck: Grizzlies Offseason Outlook – Chris Wallace

MEMPHIS – At 7-foot-1 and 265 pounds, Marc Gasol isn’t about the big picture – at least not yet.

By Gasol’s account, there will be plenty of time throughout the late spring and summer to take proper inventory of a Grizzlies’ season gone awry, one largely derailed by injuries, chemistry issues and struggles to overcome a different dose of adversity seemingly every week.

What’s left to salvage as the struggling Grizzlies (18-38) enter the All-Star Break and the season’s stretch run are the core values that sustained the franchise through seven consecutive playoff appearances. That active streak of postseason berths, third-longest in the NBA, is on the verge of ending.

An offseason of uncertainty – and questions – looms.

For now, there are two months and 26 games remaining for Memphis, which is on pace to miss the playoffs and land in the NBA Draft lottery for the first time since the end of Gasol’s second year in the league in 2010. And Gasol’s mission in the closing months is to hammer home some positive habits the current crop of developing prospects can carry into next season, when the Grizzlies hit the reset button.

In essence, that’s what the rest of this season is all about.

“I’m too focused right now on trying to build the culture for our guys and trying to make them understand how important it is to play well on both ends of the floor,” Gasol said. “But I’m also a day-to-day guy. The process is day to day. Obviously, it’s not a clear situation. But the whole season has been that way. It’s nothing new for us. It’s one thing after another, and we have to learn on the fly a lot of things and figure it out.”

The All-Star break provides a needed reprieve for the Grizzlies. It’s a chance to exhale. Behind them is a turbulent start that included the controversial dismissal of coach David Fizdale 19 games into the season; a stretch of 19 losses in 21 games; another extended absence for Chandler Parsons to knee issues; Mike Conley’s season-ending heel surgery; the awkward handling of Tyreke Evans at the trade deadline and the departures of veterans James Ennis III (trade) and Brandan Wright (buyout).

With that all behind them now, the Grizzlies press forward with specific goals in mind. First, is the continued development of rookie second-round picks Dillon Brooks and Ivan Rabb, second-year prospects Andrew Harrison, Wayne Selden and Deyonta Davis and third-year forward Jarell Martin. Secondly, the hope is that veterans in Gasol, Evans, Parsons and JaMychal Green continue to impart leadership while also seeing enough growth and potential to remain engaged the duration of the season and committed to the organization even beyond that.

And thirdly, Memphis needs some lottery luck. General manager Chris Wallace and interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff insist the priority is to remain competitive and put the team in position to win games. An example of that was driven home Wednesday, when the Grizzlies rallied from a 22-point deficit on a career night from Harrison and Martin’s breakthrough effort before falling short against Oklahoma City. But there’s no denying that the best path to landing a franchise cornerstone talent in June’s NBA draft is to finish among the teams with the best odds entering May’s random-but-weighted lottery.

As the NBA’s lone team yet to win a road game in 2018, the Grizzlies entered the break on a seven-game losing streak and one of six teams tied with a league-least 18 victories.

“We are not tanking,” Wallace flatly said. “We are committed to playing hard every night, developing a winning culture and getting our young guys developed. I like the spirit of our team and the way they are playing every night. When they tip the ball off, they want to win the game. The players, the coaches, the staff, the front office and every fan in the seat wants us to win the game. That’s what it’s all about.”

But Wallace, who has steered Memphis through the winningest seven-year stretch in franchise history, also acknowledged mitigating factors have contributed along the way to this season’s struggles. Last month, he sent an email directly to premium season-ticket holders to explain the process that led to Conley’s season-ending surgery. Last week, Wallace met with the media to address why Evans was retained instead of dealt after the guard was initially removed from the team as trade talks intensified.

And on the eve of the All-Star break, prior to Wednesday’s setback to OKC, Wallace met with season-ticket holders to discuss the direction of the team as the final months of the season unfold.

“We’re not as fortified as we were before,” Wallace continued. “Obviously, there is no Mike Conley (and) we are playing younger guys who don’t have a great deal of experience. We have a roster where we have six guys in their third season all the way down to rookies, so we’re going to play those guys.”

In addition, the plan is to manage the health and workload of both available and recovering veterans.

Conley, who underwent heel surgery Jan. 31, is already back around teammates daily as he pushes through the initial stages of recovery and rehab. He’s expected to resume basketball conditioning in June and be available as a full participant at the start of September training camp for next season.

Parsons had been sidelined with knee soreness since Dec. 27 before he returned to action Wednesday, when he played 12 minutes and finished with five points and two assists against the Thunder. Both Wallace and Bickerstaff said the plan is to continue to work Parsons into the rotation in spots the rest of the season. Gasol and Evans prefer to maintain regular minutes, but are open to reduced playing time or taking games off if it benefits their health and the team.

“We’ll come up with a plan, but, again, we’re not going to change who we are,” Bickerstaff said. “We all understand the job that we have and what the responsibility is. And that responsibility is to coach whatever group is put in front of you at that moment. We’ve gone through injuries this year. We’ve gone through illnesses. We’ve gone through this, that, you name it. No matter what’s happened, they’ve shown up and played and competed. I don’t expect now to be any different.”

Evans expects to finish his breakthrough season as strongly as he started. The ninth-year guard entered February averaging 19.5 points, five rebounds and five assists in the midst of his most productive season since he was named 2010 Rookie of the Year as a member of the Sacramento Kings.

Ultimately, the front office decided to keep Evans in tow as he plays out the remainder of his one-year, $3.3 million deal in Memphis. The goal is to retain Evans in free agency, partner him with Gasol and a healthier Conley and Parsons next season, and add a top-five lottery pick to reset the deck.

“I always wanted to stay here – it wasn’t like I asked for a trade or anything,” Evans said recently. “Obviously, I’m (still) here. At the end of the day, I’ve got to make the best decision for me and my family. That being said, I have to wait until the end of the season to see. But right now, I’m here focused on my team.”

And that focus is squarely on what’s immediately ahead once the schedule resumes with a Feb. 23 home game against LeBron James and the new-look Cavaliers.

“We have enough to figure out on the court and what we need to do as players,” Gasol said. “And once the offseason comes, we can sit down and ask all the tough questions we want, figure out all the things we need to figure out as a team. Everything, from top to bottom … because there are going to be questions everywhere.”

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MikeCheck on Grizzlies: All-Star break offers needed reprieve as Grizzlies sharpen focus on development for stretch run

Michael Wallace Grind Cit

MEMPHIS – More than anything, this collective move by the Grizzlies was about confidence, continuity and clarity. It reflects how the chemistry this feisty franchise displays on the court is mirrored by the current symmetry in play behind the scenes in the front office.

We’ve seen how the Core Four of Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Tony Allen have transformed this team and this town into one of the toughest and proudest products in the NBA. But what we don’t always see, or quite comprehend, is just how the Key Three calibrates it all.

The decision by controlling owner Robert Pera on Thursday to extend the contracts of general manager Chris Wallace and top basketball operations executives John Hollinger and Ed Stefanski, all of whom were in the final year of their current agreements, is the right move at a pivotal time for the franchise.

After some initial turbulence in the front-office transition a few years ago, Wallace has helped steer the basketball operations staff through a restructuring process in which the Grizzlies have upgraded staff, facilities and a supporting cast around the Core Four to keep the team in contention.

There’s a confidence in this front office that starts at the top with Pera and extends through the roster and beyond among NBA agents and rival league executives who were not the least bit surprised by Memphis doubling down on its front-office trio.

It’s also about continuity. In an era of NBA business when smaller market franchises have struggled to hold on to their stars, the Grizzlies have maintained their foundation and continue to be an illuminating exception to recent trends. In the past two years, Wallace, Hollinger and Stefanski have been at the forefront of the Grizzlies’ successful efforts to retain Gasol in 2015 free agency and Conley last summer, with both players quickly accepting max contract offers without either seriously entertaining the thought of signing elsewhere.

That level of continuity and commitment is what drives a team that boasts the league’s longest-tenured four-man core. It’s pushed the franchise to the NBA’s third-longest streak of consecutive playoff appearances at six entering this season. And that four-man core has guided the Grizzlies to three 50-win seasons since 2012. But these contract extensions aren’t necessarily a reward for past performance.

That’s where the moves send a strong message about clarity. The Grizzlies believe they’ve found the right mix for long-term success and are on a clear path for the future. Conley, Gasol and Chandler Parsons are all in the initial years of long-term contracts. Memphis is also coming off one of the strongest drafts in the franchise’s recent history after acquiring point guard Wade Baldwin IV midway through the first round and center Deyonta Davis early in the second as arguably the steal of the draft.

Player development efforts have also quickly turned undrafted power forward JaMychal Green into a starter in his third season in which he is rated as one of the NBA’s best defenders at his position. And point guard Andrew Harrison, a 2015 second-round pick who spent all of last season in the NBA D-League, is starting in place of an injured Conley and leads all league rookies in minutes at 27.4 per game. Along those same lines, it was the collective evaluation of the front-office trio that sparked the bold call to release former first-round pick Jordan Adams after training camp in favor of undrafted rookie Troy Williams, who led all NBA rookies in preseason scoring and has recently emerged as a key rotation player.

There have been some gambles along the way.

In hindsight, Adams is an example of a draft pick that didn’t work out and was taken at a spot when, for instance, versatile shooting guard Rodney Hood was still on the board and has blossomed with the Jazz. It’s also easy to point out how the trade for Jeff Green two years ago didn’t have the desired results, although the Grizzlies advanced to the second round of the playoffs and held a 2-1 series lead before succumbing to injuries in a loss to eventual champion Golden State.

Two other shrewd moves last season might have been the most underrated transactions in the league. Under Wallace, Hollinger and Stefanski, the Grizzlies last summer flipped foreign prospect Janis Timma, who may never play in the NBA, to ultimately acquire respected veteran defender Matt Barnes. Then, Memphis followed that up early last season with another plus-sum move by sending out Beno Udrih and Jarnell Stokes for upgrades in Mario Chalmers and James Ennis. And to help offset having traded away two future first-round picks, including a high  lottery-protected one that goes to Denver next summer, Wallace scrambled to stockpile as many as seven second-round picks that could be used to sweeten future potential trades or to add young prospects, like Harrison, Deyonta Davis and Rade Zagorac.

And yes, there’s a risk to paying Parsons $94 million as he’s coming off a second knee surgery and is now sidelined again by problems with his other, non-surgically repaired knee. On top of that, hiring a first-time head coach in David Fizdale can be as easily questioned as it is defended and supported with so many factors in play for the franchise.

But therein lies the clarity aspect again. It’s clear the Grizzlies are going for it. Memphis has a team in place it believes in on the court and leadership it values in the front office. There’s a new core that is peaking, a developing supporting cast that includes several stars with a lot left in the tank, talented youngsters, a dynamic young coach and future roster/salary-cap flexibility.

Grit’N’Grind has evolved well beyond a style of play in Memphis.

It’s a bridge to confidence, continuity and clarity.

By collectively locking up Wallace, Hollinger and Stefanski with extensions, the Grizzlies have again locked in on that concept.

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A bridge to confidence, continuity and clarity

Memphis Grizzlies Controlling Owner Robert Pera announced today that General Manager Chris Wallace, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Hollinger and Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Ed Stefanski have been signed to multi-year extensions with the organization.  Per team policy, terms of the extensions will not be disclosed.

“I am pleased to announce that our Basketball Operations executive team, led by General Manager, Chris Wallace, will continue to lead our franchise for years to come,” Pera said. “Chris, John and Ed bring a wealth of NBA experience and success, and have done a tremendous job establishing the strong culture that I believe is necessary to ensure sustained success in this ultra-competitive environment. More importantly, I am confident that the toughness, resilience, discipline and unselfishness that are embedded in the fabric of our culture will continue to serve as a point of pride for Memphis, the surrounding region and all Grizzlies fans.”

See Grind City Media’s Michael Wallace’s analysis.

Wallace joined the Grizzlies as general manager and vice president of basketball operations on June 18, 2007 and assembled much of the talent that has helped guide the franchise to a club-record six consecutive playoff appearances.  Through trades, free agency and the draft, Wallace established a core that includes: the franchise leader in assists, steals and games played Mike Conley; 2014-15 All-NBA First Team center and 2012-13 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol; two-time NBA All-Star (2009, 2012) Zach Randolph;  five-time NBA All-Defense mainstay Tony Allen and highly coveted free agent Chandler Parsons.

The culture established in Memphis during Wallace’s tenure has been a major factor in the signing and retention of the Grizzlies’ core players over several different off-seasons.  The result of such stability has been the organization’s sustained success over the course of Wallace’s long tenure. The Grizzlies have recorded six consecutive winning seasons (compared to just three in the franchise’s first 15 years of existence), and their 60.9 winning percentage during the regular season is the seventh-best in the NBA over that span. The team has made six straight trips to the NBA Playoffs, the third-longest active streak in the league, and advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2013 after setting a club record for regular season wins (56) that year. Wallace’s roster construction led to the Grizzlies’ first 27 postseason victories; the franchise had never won a playoff game in its 12 seasons before his hiring.

Wallace has served seven NBA franchises in his career and has worked with five former NBA Executive of the Year winners, including Red Auerbach, Danny Ainge, Bucky Buckwalter, Geoff Petrie and Jerry West.  In addition, he has worked alongside Basketball Hall of Fame members Billy Cunningham and Pat Riley.

Prior to joining the Grizzlies, Wallace spent 10 seasons as general manager of the Boston Celtics (1997-2007) and four seasons as a scout with the Miami Heat (1993-97), where he was promoted to director of player personnel in his final season.  Wallace worked in various scouting capacities for the New York Knicks (1991-92), Los Angeles Clippers (1990-91), Denver Nuggets (1989-90) and Portland Trail Blazers (1986-89).

Wallace, an avid basketball fan before breaking into the NBA, got his start in basketball in 1981 when he founded the award-winning Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. Sports Illustrated named Wallace as one of the most inﬂuential members of the college basketball media in 1991. He has also served as an expert witness in basketball-related litigation and is also a member of the Board of Directors at the Touchdown Club of Memphis and Catholic Charities of West Tennessee.

John Hollinger, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations:

Hollinger joined the organization as vice president of basketball operations on Dec. 13, 2012. Best known for his work at the forefront of basketball's analytics movement, Hollinger holds a prominent role in more traditional basketball functions such as scouting and medical support, while his analytics background is vital in analyzing personnel decisions such as trades, draft, free agency and salary cap management. In addition, Hollinger oversees the Grizzlies’ analytics infrastructure and international scouting.

Before coming to the Grizzlies, Hollinger was an NBA columnist for ESPN.com for eight years. His daily "PER Diem" column was a mainstay of their coverage, while analytic tools he developed became key elements of the site. In particular, Hollinger is the inventor of Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and developed several other statistics that are now in wide use today, including Rebound Rate, Usage Rate, Offensive Efficiency, Defensive Efficiency, Pace Factor, Pure Point Rating, Game Score, and Estimated Wins. He was among the first to use analytics to forecast player performance and analyze draft prospects.

Before joining ESPN, Hollinger covered the NBA for SI.com, Oregonlive.com and The New York Sun. He also authored four annual editions of the Pro Basketball Forecast. He first gained notoriety as the creator of Alleyoop.com, a website devoted to basketball analytics. Hollinger is a native of New Jersey, where he played on his high school basketball team, and graduated from the University of Virginia with degrees in Economics and Environmental Science.

Ed Stefanski, Executive Vice President of Player Personnel:

Stefanski joined the Grizzlies as executive vice president of player personnel on July 30, 2014, bringing to Memphis his well-earned reputation league-wide as an excellent evaluator of talent following management positions at the highest levels with the New Jersey Nets (1999-2007), Philadelphia 76ers (2007-11) and Toronto Raptors (2011-13).

Before coming to Memphis, Stefanski served two seasons (2011-13) as executive vice president of basketball operations with the Raptors and four seasons (2007-11) as president and general manager of the 76ers, reshaping both franchises through trade acquisitions and key draft picks that would eventually guide both clubs back to the NBA Playoffs.

Prior to joining Philadelphia, Stefanski served nine seasons (1998-2007) with the New Jersey Nets where he oversaw the team’s basketball operations and was heavily involved in the team’s roster development and player personnel matters.  He was promoted to general manager in 2004 following a one-year term as senior vice president of basketball operations and four seasons as director of scouting. Stefanski was instrumental in the New Jersey’s back-to-back Eastern Conference Championship teams in 2002 and 2003 after the team drafted Kenyon Martin with the top overall selection in the 2000 NBA Draft and acquired Richard Jefferson and Jason Collins from Houston in a 2001 draft night deal.  Stefanski acquired multiple All-Star and current Grizzlies wing Vince Carter from Toronto in 2004.

A 1976 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School of Business), Stefanski played three seasons for Penn, where he was coached by Hall of Famer Chuck Daly.  He was a member of two Ivy League Champions (1974 and 1975) and helped the Quakers reach the NCAA Tournament in both of those seasons.  Stefanski was drafted by Philadelphia in the 10th round of the 1976 NBA Draft.

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Grizzlies announce multi-year contract extensions for Chris Wallace, John Hollinger and Ed Stefanski

The Memphis Grizzlies issued the following statement on behalf of General Manager Chris Wallace on the passing of Mae Randolph, mother of Zach Randolph:

"The Memphis Grizzlies family is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Zach Randolph's beloved mother, Mae Randolph. Zach and his mother had an inseparable bond.  Mae was so fiercely proud of her son, his accomplishments and his truly special place in the hearts of Memphians and the Grizzlies family.  I will never forget the unbridled joy she took in attending our games, cheering as all mothers do, and proudly wearing Zach's jersey in support of her son.  Mae raised Zach to be a man with an enormous heart, who is deeply committed to enriching the lives of those in need, and for that legacy we are forever indebted to her.  Our prayers and deepest sympathies are with Zach and his family during this difficult time."

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Memphis Grizzlies statement on the passing of Mae Randolph

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace sat down with Grizzlies.com to discuss coaching changes announced on May 7, 2016. Here's what he had to say:

Why  did you make this decision to let Dave go?

The  decision was made because I believe you need a deeply committed leadership team  in order to establish the strong culture needed for sustainable long-term  success. 

I  don’t want to get into specifics, but our goal now is to identify the best  candidate for our organization.  

Who  made this decision?  Was Robert Pera involved?

This was my decision. I  explained my decision to Robert, just as any GM would to their owner, and he  was supportive.

This was not an easy decision  for me and as we all know often the right decision isn’t the easy one.  But with that said, I am confident that  change was necessary to grow the type of culture that is needed for sustained  success.

Does  this decision have anything to do with Dave’s coaching?

The decision was not about  Dave’s in-game coaching.  Dave did an  admirable job managing games.  However, being  an NBA head coach is about more than just coaching a 48 minute game.

Fans  may be concerned that this decision may jeopardize the success the team has had  in recent years. Can you address that?

I feel we would be jeopardizing  our success if we didn’t put ourselves in the best possible position to operate  for the long-haul as a top-tier organization.   I am fully confident that this decision will keep us on course. 

After  this move, perception may be that the team lacks stability. How would you respond  to that?  Will that perception hurt you  in free agency?

This  decision is about ensuring stability  for years to come. 
  We are  a stable and unified organization and one of only three teams to have made the  playoffs for six straight years. We’re planning for sustained success and will  find a coach that shares our long-term outlook.

Regarding  your second question, our core players have re-signed with this organization  time-after-time. We have had success attracting other talent like Brandan  (Wright) and Vince (Carter) and we will continue to build on this success. 

It’s  been reported that there has been tension between the front office and coaching  staff, in particular, Dave. To what extent is this decision motivated by that  or any personal issue between you and Dave?   Why couldn’t the front office and Dave get along? 

Nothing about this decision  was personal.  Neither I, nor anyone in  our front office has anything against Dave as a person.  This decision is solely about what I believe is  best for the organization. We wish him and his family the very best in the future. 

What  about the fact that it felt and looked like the team didn’t give up on Dave  down the stretch this season?  Were you  not swayed by how hard the team played?

We have an established locker  room of veterans who play hard and leave it all out on the floor, no matter what.  It’s the heart and soul of Grit ‘N Grind  culture.

Was  this decision about player development?   To what extent was this decision motivated by Dave’s player rotations  and playing time? 

No.  This had nothing to do with player development, playing time or X’s and O’s. 

When  did the relationship with Dave become fractured?

As I said before, this  decision was not personal.  It’s about  what I believe best positions us to compete for an NBA Championship, based on  my 30 years of NBA experience.

Was  Dave ever promised personnel input that he didn’t get? Was his voice and  opinion heard in personnel decisions?

We actively sought Dave’s  input and thoughts on player personnel decisions, including all drafts, trades  and free agency.  And frankly, decisions  in recent years were made with Dave’s close involvement.

Questions  regarding roster makeup and how that affected on-court performance arose early  this season. If the roster makeup was different, i.e. more shooters, would Dave  have achieved greater success and still be the head coach?

This decision has nothing to  do with our roster. 

Listen, it’s no secret that we  need shooters.  We have been and will  keep working tirelessly to build a championship caliber roster. This decision  is simply about long-term commitment and building for the future.

How  does this decision impact the assistant coaches?

I am going to meet with each  of our assistants as we progress in the very near future.

When  does the search begin for a new head coach?   Anyone particular you’re targeting?

Our search will begin  immediately.  I won’t go into any  specifics, other than to say we will work tirelessly to find a head coach who  brings energy and commitment to this organization. 

How  quickly do you want to have a new coach in place?

I don’t have a set timeframe,  but our process will be thoughtful and comprehensive. 

How  does this decision affect free agency and the draft?

It doesn’t. This decision has  nothing to do with either. 

How do you define Dave’s legacy with the organization?

Dave played an important role  with us for nine years.  He helped  establish us as a perennial playoff team and that will never be forgotten. 

We sincerely thank him for  everything that he has done for the organization and wish him and his family all  the best. 

qa-with-chris-wallace-about-coaching-changes

Q&A with Chris Wallace about coaching changes

Memphis  Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace announced today that Dave Joerger will  not return as head coach next season.

“After careful consideration, I concluded  that a change was needed to foster the strong culture required to achieve  sustainable, long-term success for this organization, the city and our fans,”  said General Manager, Chris Wallace.

“On behalf of the Grizzlies organization I  would like to thank Dave for his work and time in Memphis,” Wallace continued.  “We wish Dave and his family all the best and success as he moves forward in  his career.”

Joerger started with the Grizzlies as an assistant coach with  the Grizzlies prior to the 2007-08 season, eventually replacing Lionel Hollins as head coach on June  27, 2013. Joerger owns an overall career head coaching record of 147-99 (.598),  including three NBA Playoff appearances with the Grizzlies. In 22  career playoff games, he holds an overall record of 9-13 (.409).

The search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

Read Grizzlies.com's exclusive Q &amp; A with General Manager, Chris  Wallace.

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Grizzlies announce changes to coaching staff

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