>> Female announcer: This is a

production of WKNO, Memphis.

Production funding for "Sports

Files" is made possible in part

by...

>> Gaston: My guest today on

"Sports Files" is Memphis

Grizzlies General Manager Chris

Wallace.

>> (instrumental music)

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

>> Hi everyone.

The Memphis Grizzlies opened up

training camp earlier this week

as they prepare for the new

season.

At this time last year there was

no training camp.

In fact, there was no NBA

period.

At least not until Christmas

day.

The delay, the result of a 161

day lockout.

Once the labor strife was

settled and the season began,

the Grizzlies troubles didn't go

away.

Zach Randolph began the new

calendar year by going down with

a partial MCL tear.

He would go on to miss 37 games.

A void that long, minus arguably

your best player, would normally

cripple a franchise.

But not when you have Chris

Wallace.

The Grizzlies General Manager

went out and traded for Marisse

Speights to help fill the gap

and an earlier signing of Dante

Cunnngham also aided the cause.

The Griz would go on to produce

their best winning percentage in

franchise history and earn a

number 4 seed in the west.

And while the team would fall in

seven games to the Clippers in

the opening round of the

postseason, Wallace had help put

the team in a position to win,

despite the obstacles.

Now with several new additions,

and the core players all signed

to long term deals, the

Grizzlies are ready to make

another run.

And Wallace says it's the best

collection of talent the team

has ever had.

It's time to roll out the ball,

and get ready to Grit and Grind,

next on "Sports Files."

>> (instrumental music)

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

>> Chris, thank you so much for

joining us here on "Sports

Files."

We appreciate it.

>> Wallace: My pleasure, Greg.

>> Gaston: Alright -- We're

getting in to the time of the

basketball season.

But for the last few months of

the summer -- How did it go for

ya?

What did you do?

>> Wallace: Well, it was very

hectic because the NBA regular

season runs in to the play-offs,

which runs in to the draft,

which runs in to Las Vegas

Summer League.

>> Gaston: No time off, huh?

>> Wallace: Before you know it,

its Labor Day and summer's over

with.

So the season really is 12

months -- not from a competitive

standpoint but it goes around

the calendar, as far as the

things that we have to do and

our duties with an NBA team.

>> Gaston: And it was busy for

you because you made some

transactions in the off season.

We'll talk about that a little

bit later on as far as going out

and getting some shooters,

getting some help for Mike

Conley as a back-up point guard.

But right now the big story

surrounding the Grizzlies as we

get set for this 2012 - '13

season is what's going on with

ownership.

If and when Robert Pera becomes

the new owner of the Grizzlies

and that could be as soon as the

next couple of weeks.

It could be sometime before or

right before the season starts.

But what light can you shed on

the situation for us?

>> Wallace: Well, I'm not to all

that's going on in this

ownership transaction but I've

been through three of them

before in my NBA career and this

one is in a normal time table.

I mean, these things are three

to four to five months.

We remember the announcement was

back in early June.

So I think its on track.

By all estimations, probably

something will happen in October

before the season starts or

right around that point.

So I fully expect Mr. Pera and

his group of local owners to be

in charge of this team this

season.

>> Gaston: And you're very

familiar with some of those

local owners who would be a

carry over.

>> Wallace: Yeah -- many of

those guys.

I mean, he's got a star-studded

group obviously, Greg, of some

of the real influential people

in this community -- not just on

the business front but also on

the philanthropic fronts, as

well.

And I'm real excited with the

group that he has.

>> Gaston: Have you stocked up

on your Timberlake CDs?

(laughter)

>> Wallace: That's what

everybody has asked me.

Can I get them a Justin

Timberlake autograph.

>> Gaston: You're going to get

them a discount, too, on all his

CDs.

Sixth year for you here in

Memphis.

You've had a great relationship

with Michael Heisley.

Tell us a little bit about that

relationship.

>> Wallace: Well, Michael

Heisley was in town yesterday.

Spent a day.

I think he'd done a terrific job

as owner of this team.

I mean first of all, there would

be no Grizzlies, no FedEx Forum

if he hadn't brought the team

from Vancouver.

And since I've been here in

2007, he's really put his money

where his mouth is.

He said, "When I feel that we

are ready to win with this team,

I'll be happy to have a big

payroll."

And he has.

I mean, we scaled the team back

in terms of the team's salary.

And you know, we gradually moved

to the head.

Two years ago we had the ninth

highest payroll in the league.

Last season -- the sixth.

Right now we have the fifth

highest payroll in the league.

And he's anteed up to sign our

core players -- big contracts to

Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Rudy

Gay.

A very healthy contract for Mike

Conley -- commence with his

status as a top 12 point guard

in the league.

Last year when Zach Randolph and

Darrell Arthur went down early

and our chances to repeat in the

play-offs seemed to be slipping

out the window, he said, "Hey,

go get some guys to fill in here

and hopefully keep this thing

going and don't worry about the

luxury tax.

Just go out and get us some

reinforcements."

So we went out and got Marreese

Speights and Dante Cunningham

and went over budget.

But those two players really

saved the season.

You know, we were in the play-

offs for a second straight year.

So I think he's been a terrific

owner.

He's very approachable -- not

just for the media, but the

fans.

And I know it will be a

bittersweet day for him when

finally the transfer of the team

is to the new ownership group

because he has very, very fond

feelings for this organization

and the city of Memphis as a

whole.

>> Gaston: Hopefully he will

still be a part of it and come

to games.

>> Wallace: He has tickets.

He bought floor tickets.

So you will see him at Grizzlies

games often with his family.

>> Gaston: Chris, the great

thing about Michael Heisley in

my opinion, besides his

openness, is the fact that he

said, "Look, I make no bones

about it.

I want to sell this team but I

want the owner to keep this team

in Memphis.

We've established ourselves here

in Memphis and that's what my

plan is."

And then he goes out and he

deals with a potential owner

that wants to keep the team in

Memphis.

So it's a win-win.

>> Wallace: Yes.

I mean again, you're right,

Greg.

He was very upfront and adamant

about his desire for this team

to stay in Memphis.

And again, he had tremendous

fondness for this community.

Yesterday he was telling us that

this was a surprise to me.

He said he had recently talked

to his daughter Emily who is the

CEO of his corporation.

And that's a vast empire -- 45

companies, 13,000 employees.

And she says, "Dad, look back on

your business career.

Where do you gain the most

satisfaction from?"

He said, "My ownership to the

Grizzlies.

What we have done for this city

with the FedEx Forum and the

redevelopment of the downtown

and the fact that I'm so proud

when I go to a game."

He said he's had numerous people

with a very influential in pro

sports said this is the most

diverse crowd that you'll see

anywhere in pro sports.

And we were with Kevin Kane

yesterday.

And Kevin said, "Any gathering

in Memphis, whether its church,

or another sports team, or

entertainment venue, there's no

gathering that reflects the city

in terms of diversity more so

than what you see at the Grizzly

Game at the FedEx Forum."

We've got 500 part time

employees with the FedEx Forum,

104 events.

So this is a major boost for the

city -- not just to Grizzlies

but the whole package that comes

with the FedEx Forum, from the

Tiger games and a great economic

generator for Downtown.

And Mr. Heisley again -- which

was surprising to me with all

that he's accomplished in his

career -- said, "This is where I

get the most satisfaction from,

my ownership of the Memphis

Grizzlies."

>> Gaston: Chris, I know you

pretty well.

I know you're a modest guy but I

want to read you a quote on a

story I read doing some research

for this interview.

You have been called quote the

genius behind the Grizzlies

rebirth.

Thoughts on that?

>> Wallace: Well first of all,

that's way overstated.

Second, because it's a team

effort.

I mean, Mr. Heisley has been

very involved in these

transactions and if doesn't get

his checkbook out -- that's most

important part of all this is

the guy that writes the checks.

Then you don't have these

players.

And Lionel Hollins --

>> Gaston: You need the green

light.

>> Wallace: Yes -- Well, and

also create an atmosphere to be

aggressive and not afraid to

take risks.

That's how he's built his

business empire.

He has tried to transfer that

philosophy to our team.

And we've been very successful

with it.

And then Lionel Hollins and the

coaching staff have done a great

job.

Since he came here in mid-

season, I believe it was in

2009, and this is something that

I don't think

gotten anywhere near enough

credit for.

Is he plucks Lionel who had been

passed over a couple of times by

this organization and other

teams in head coaching searches.

He plucks him from another

team's bench as an assistant in

the middle of the season.

I had never heard of that

before.

I've been in the NBA over 25

years.

I can't recall another team

reaching to an assistant coach

in the middle of the season.

And it's succeeded just

marvelously.

But no one has really stopped

and given him credit.

That is a very daring cutting-

edge decision.

You always hear we want guys

that are cutting-edge, thinking

outside the box.

Well, that certainly is that

type of a move.

And its worked out tremendously.

He's done just a fantastic job.

And I've been so impressed with

the resiliency that Lionel and

his staff has shown.

We've had the injuries.

Two years ago, Rudy Gay.

You're missing almost 18 points

a game down the stretch and in

to the play-offs and yet we go

further than any Grizzlies team

ever in the play-offs.

Last year, you come back.

You've got first, Darrell Arthur

and then Zach Randolph go out

for prolonged periods of time.

Yet, they are able to

compensate.

After training camp we get

Marreese Speights and Dante

Cunningham and Quincy Pondexter

in after camp.

Bring them -- assimilate them on

the fly.

Yet, we end up with the best

winning percentage for a regular

season in the history of the

franchise and home court edge in

the first round of the play-

offs.

So Lionel's just done an

unbelievable job here.

>> Gaston: Well you led me in to

my next question about last year

-- absolutely crazy.

First of all -- the lock out,

the injuries, Z-Bo going down.

You were able to go out there

and get the players that you

just mentioned to plug the

holes.

Not only plug the holes but as

you said, this team went on to

have their best winning

percentage in history.

A disappointment in the first

round.

Would you agree with that?

Losing as a four seed?

>> Wallace: The Clippers were

certainly a very worthy

opponent.

They are a terrific team.

Chris Paul is a true superstar.

But I was disappointed.

We got the series back to

Memphis for game seven and we

couldn't take care of home court

advantage.

I mean, that's something that

hopefully has stuck in our guys

crawls throughout the season and

is a point of motivation for

them.

And we'd love to get home court

again this year and then get

back beyond the first round.

>> Gaston: Chris, was it more

gratifying to you personally to

see what the team did two years

ago when they were a win away

from the Western Conference

Finals or as we just mentioned,

what you guys were able to piece

together last year?

>> Wallce: Well, the most

gratifying moment of my entire

NBA career, not just here in

Memphis, Greg, was after we

defeated the Spurs in game six.

Captured that series.

First ever series win in the

history of the franchise for the

Grizzlies.

And I'm a fan at heart.

I was a fan before I got in to

the NBA.

I'll be a fan long after they

pull me from the NBA stage.

And I went out on the FedEx

Plaza and saw the jubilation and

celebration that was going on on

Beale Street throughout downtown

Memphis.

I got a yellow rally towel, ran

up and down Beale Street waving

the towel.

That absolutely was the

highlight of my career.

And just to see what this

victory meant to the community,

the joy it brought in all

sections of Memphis was just

overwhelming to me.

>> Gaston: Certainly a shot in

the arm for the community and

they're so excited about this

upcoming year.

So let's talk about personnel.

You go a whole year without

Darrell Arthur.

He comes back form injury.

Last week he gets hurt again

with a leg fracture.

They say four to six weeks but

possibly sooner.

>> Wallace: We prefer Darrell to

be in at the beginning of

training camp with no

restrictions but all in all, at

this point in time the injury

doesn't require surgery.

There could be a return shorter

than the four to six weeks.

So I just think this is a minor

bump in the road.

It's not an insurmountable wall

that he's got to get over the

top of.

I know he's disappointed but

he's done a great job with the

rehabilitation.

And I think we'll see him this

year.

>> Gaston: But it goes back to

the genius question because you

signed also Marreese Speights.

There were many that thought it

would either be Arthur or

Speights and not both.

And you signed both of them.

>> Wallace: Well, we decided

that these players have so much

upside and they're so needed

here that why split the baby and

try to pick a winner?

Let's just bring them both back.

Now with bringing both Marreese

and Darrell back, that meant we

couldn't resign O.J. Mayo.

I mean, there's always a price

to pay.

So we bring in Jerryd Bayless

but we're very excited to have

Darrell and Marreese back.

We learned a very valuable

lesson last year.

You can never have too much

depth in this business.

Injuries do happen in the NBA

and all of sports.

In the NBA in particular, its

very difficult to compensate for

injuries during the season.

Yes, we do have a minor league

to draw from but you know, it's

only 13 to 15 players on the NBA

team -- not 50 some like in the

NFL.

And guys that are real key

contributors are extremely

difficult to compensate for when

they go down.

So we're happy to have Marreese

and Darrel.

And this is again a reason why

you have them and Zach.

So you can deal with an injury

at a particular position.

>> Gaston: Again with Zach, 37

games he missed last year

because of the partial MCL tear.

He came back -- wasn't quite

Zach.

Do you expect him to be the old

Zach this season?

>> Wallace: Well, Zach's done a

great job in the off-season

getting in shape.

He's very eager to come back and

play at the level he did two

years ago.

You know, Zach is one of the

foremost interior scorers and

rebounders in the NBA -- great

offensive rebounder and terrific

hands.

We're just eager to have him

back.

He means so much to our team --

not just on the floor.

I've just really been heartened

in the period of time he's been

here, Greg.

How the city has reacted to

Zach.

I mean, he is a Memphis player.

He loves it here.

He set up his residence full

time.

He wants to live here after his

NBA is career is over with.

He's done great work out in the

community.

When he turned the heat back on

for those families who had their

utilities turned off a few years

ago during a cold snap.

And what he did with a pit-bull

that was abandoned this year on

the animal channel with that

program.

I mean, he is a Memphis guy and

a terrific player.

We're just so happy to have him

and hopefully, he's back strong

this year.

>> Gaston: As we talked about

the core is back.

You've signed all the big guys

on this team.

Gasol's back and Z-Bo's back.

And of course, Rudy and Conley

-- They're all signed.

And then you go out and you

bring in a couple of shooters.

And you bring in some back up

point guard help from Mike

Conley.

And those were the key areas

that we discussed after the

season.

You go out and you get Jerryd

Bayless.

You go out and get Wayne

Ellington.

Talk about these additions and

how much this could elevate you

guys in the west.

>> Wallace: Well, Jerryd Bayless

was -- we talked about O.J. Mayo

a few minutes ago -- was a

contemporary of O.J. in that

class of 2008.

They both were freshmen in the

Pac-10.

Jerryd left after one year at

Arizona.

He was drafted in the lottery by

Portland.

He also played with New Orleans.

Last year -- with Toronto.

He had a career high three point

mark last year around 44%.

We got a dose of his talent last

year in March when Toronto came

in here and upset us in a double

overtime game.

He went for 26 -- I think seven

rebounds.

Made an indelible impression.

And this just shows you how free

agency often moves, Greg, in

ways that you don't anticipate.

Two years ago, I would have

never told you we were going to

sign Tony Allen.

But one thing led to another and

now Tony Allen's there for us.

Going in to free agency last

July, Jerryd Bayless really

wasn't on our so called radar

screen.

He was a restricted free agent

with Toronto.

But Toronto removed the

restricted tag for him early in

the free agent process.

And now we go, "Woah -- This guy

can not only shoot to three.

He's got more upside to reach

and we love to have guys that

continue to get better and

better and have them peak.

And gives us obviously some

coverage if, God forbid, Mike

Conley were to go down."

That's where we were the most

vulnerable on this roster.

So we said it makes so much

sense to go after him.

He liked the idea of playing

here.

And it all came together.

Then Wayne Ellington was part of

a transaction where we

reluctantly traded Dante

Cunningham.

Dante was unbelievable for us

last year.

As a worker and a tangible

player, I can't remember one

game where he didn't show up

revved up and ready to go and

playing with great enthusiasm

and passion.

But you saw in the play-offs

when Zach Randolph came back,

there was just no time for him.

With Zach Randolph and Marreese

Speights, now you've got Darrell

Arthur.

So their contracts matched up

almost to the dime, same number

of years.

So we said we'll take a shot on

a guy who, even though his

production dipped last year, is

known for his three point

shooting capacity and Ellington.

On a last year deal, just like

Dante, and try to add more

outside shooting to the team.

Also on the outside shooting

vein, Josh Selby was terrific in

summer league.

I mean, he had huge games out in

Las Vegas -- seven, eight, nine

three pointers.

And I've had some people tell me

since we returned from the

summer league, "Yeah, but that's

summer league."

Yes, that's true.

There's a difference between

summer league and NBA basketball

but the three point line is the

same distance.

>> Gaston: And the confidence

that he really exudes.

>> Wallace: And he made three

pointers out there, Greg,

getting knocked down.

So I'm very impressed how he has

added a three point component to

his game in this off season,

which really didn't exist when

he came in to the league last

year.

>> Gaston: Chris, people were

clamoring as they always do

during the draft.

"Get this guy.

Get that guy."

You got Tony Wroten.

Tell us about the upside of Tony

Wroten.

>> Wallace: Well, Tony Wroten is

a big point guard, close to

6'5", comes from a tremendous

athletic lineage with his

family.

His father played at the

University of Washington in an

Orange Bowl -- played for Tampa

Bay.

His mother was a championship

hurdler in track.

He's got an aunt that played for

the Harlem Globetrotters.

How many people have an aunt

that played for the Harlem

Globetrotters?

He was one of the top ten high

school players in the country --

one of the most five productive

players in college basketball as

a freshman last year, that

freshman class.

Very good at getting the basket.

Excellent court vision.

Athletic -- can be disruptive

with his hands defensively.

He's not a real shooter right

now.

That's going to come.

But that's what happens in the

NBA.

You get a guy that can do the

other things and you can

concentrate now on the shooting

to a greater degree than you can

in college.

And player's shooting ability

gets better and better.

Mike Conley's a case in point.

Mike Conley did not come in the

NBA known for his shooting.

It was his speed, ball handling

ability, ability to press up

defensively.

But the shooting has gotten

better and better every year.

At times, he's a real three

point threat for us.

So we think Tony Wroten is a

player who's shot is not broken.

It can be improved.

And the other parts of his game

can make him a very productive

NBA player in time.

>> Gaston: Chris, the west has

certainly improved.

You just look at the Lakers

picking up Steve Nash and Dwight

Howard.

Other teams have added pieces.

Your core, as we talked about,

is there -- youth added pieces.

How good can the Grizzlies be

this season?

What type of a run can they

make?

>> Wallace: Well, I'm very

bullish on our team, Greg.

I mean, you look at the last

couple of years.

We've won I believe ten play-off

games.

We had the first play-off win in

the history of the franchise,

the first play-off series win.

We extended Oklahoma City to

seven games.

We went to seven games again

with the Clippers.

When we lose in a series, its in

the fourth quarter of the

seventh game.

During a regular season, we've

won in LA.

We've won two of our last three

games in Boston.

We've won two of our last three

games against Miami, including a

very decisive win late in the

season down there.

We've won three games in

Oklahoma City.

We've been very competitive with

the best teams in the NBA.

And now we've got a little more

continuity.

We've been together just another

season.

Our coaching staff has not been

together for about three and a

half years.

And we've hopefully added some

outside shooting, in depth a

point guard that was lacking

last year.

So I think we can be even better

this season than we were last

year.

Now obviously, it takes a while

for any team to come together.

There's just not -- It's just a

complete segue from one season

to next.

You got to build chemistry and

get those scabs on you to

toughen up.

And then obviously with us and

every other team, the keys going

to be can we avoid injury.

You know, if we've got a huge

number of games played with our

top players, we're going to be

pretty good.

If not, then we'll have to find

a way to get around those

injuries like we did last year.

But again, I have very high

expectations for this team.

I'm not going to shy away from

them.

I think we can be a very

formable team this year, despite

all you're hearing about the

upgrades in the western

conference.

>> Gaston: You got to worry

about yourself.

You can't worry about the other

teams.

Chris, we always end our

interviews with our guests with

five for the road.

So fie rapid fire questions.

Give me the first thing you can

think of here for the answer.

Favorite professional sports

franchise other than the Memphis

Grizzlies?

>> Wallace: Other than the

Memphis Grizzlies -- Wow.

That would probably be the team

I grew up, the Pittsburg

Steelers.

>> Gaston: The Steelers.

I know if I went to college with

that one, it would be West

Virginia but that's not one of

the questions.

Question two -- favorite athlete

of all time?

>> Wallace: My favorite athlete

of all time, you've never heard

of.

He's a guy named Archie Talley.

He was my hero when I was a kid

growing up at Salem College in

West Virginia.

Scored 3,700 point in college

without the benefit of three

point shot.

He's from your neck of the

woods.

He's from Seat Pleasant,

Maryland.

One of the top ten basketball

showmen I've ever seen and to

this day, even though he never

made it to the NBA, he played in

Europe.

He's my basketball hero.

>> Gaston: Alright -- real quick

for these final three.

Favorite musician or singer?

>> Wallace: Frankie Beverly and

Maze.

>> Gaston: Great group.

Favorite TV show of all time?

>> Wallace: Favorite TV show of

all time -- wow.

Well, you are really stretching

me right now.

(laughter)

Right now, you know, I love a

show on HBO called Treme.

>> Gaston: I watch that all the

time.

>> Wallace: New Orleans is a

city that's fascinated me for

years and I just think that this

is such a rare look at the city

of New Orleans for many

different angles.

And I love Treme.

>> Gaston: Great show.

Finally -- favorite movie?

>> Wallace: My favorite movie is

a French movie called "Diva."

(laughter)

>> Gaston: I did not expect

that.

Chris, a pleasure.

Thank you so much.

Best of luck.

>> Wallace: Thanks so much,

Greg.

>> Gaston: Chris Wallace of the

Grizzlies.

Thank you very much.

We'll take a quick break and

come back with Overtime right

after this.

>> (instrumental music)

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

>> The Grizzlies hosted their

annual media day on Monday, and

as expected, optimism reigned

supreme.

The one thing about this bunch

is that they truly have

confidence in each other and in

the mission at hand.

Now, none of these players are

going to predict an NBA title,

but to a man, they believe they

can once again be a factor.

>> Gasol: We get better

everyday.

Other than that, we do all of

the little things that we're

supposed to do and at the end of

the day, we're going to be okay.

Randolph: We've got big

expectations, you know -- bigger

than last year.

So we just go to come out.

You know, I just want to put

nothing right there but we want

to go out and take one game at a

time.

You know, and play together and

understand what we're playing

for, understand where we got to

go and what were trying to get

to.

>> Gay: I think its obvious what

we expect -- what we want.

You know, we made some moves and

we adjust some of the things

that we thought we need to

adjust.

Obviously, we want to the best.

You know, last year kind of left

a sour taste in our mouth.

And you know, obviously, we want

to do better than that.

You know, I do think we can be a

contender.

>> Gaston: In my humble opinion

this Grizzlies squad has a

chance to be special if a few

things occur.

One, Z-Bo returns to true form.

Two, Rudy Gay plays with a chip

on his shoulder.

Perhaps being left off the U.S.

Olympic team can fuel the fire.

And finally, off season

additions Jarryd Bayless and

Wayne Ellington can contribute

by opening up the perimeter.

Of course the obvious needs to

also take place and that's to

stay Doctor free.

46 wins two seasons ago.

41 last season in just 66 games.

The West has only gotten better

but I see the Grizz going 48 and

34.

One final note, the Grizzlies

lost a cherished member of their

family with the passing of Dana

Davis, the team's Vice President

of Basketball operations and

team programs.

Double D, as he was

affectionately known, was a

vital part of Michael Heisley's

management team, a valued member

of the Memphis community and a

friend to many.

He will be sorely missed.

And that'll do it for this

week's show.

To see a replay of this program

you can log on to WKNO-dot-org

and click on 'KNO Tonite.

Memphis Madness takes place next

Friday at FedEx Forum, and next

week on "Sports Files," we'll

talk with two Tigers basketball

stars.

See ya next time!

>> (instrumental music)

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