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Gasol: Teammates' Remarks Will Motivate
Losing every NBA playoff game he's ever attended is what stings the Grizzlies' franchise player. That said -- plus those recent, brutally honest comments made by the team's newcomers -- Gasol seems convinced that the additions of Damon Stoudamire, Bobby Jackson and Eddie Jones will make him a better player, and help the Griz do more than punch tickets in the postseason. Gasol traveled from his native Spain to Memphis this week to handle personal business. And, yes, Gasol knows all about how Jackson and Stoudamire referred to him during their introductory press conference. Said Stoudamire: "His initials are PG, but I want him to be rated R." Jackson chimed in with "what I've heard is that he doesn't have a lot of heart. If I don't like what I see, I'll say, 'Hey, you can't let guys run over you.'" Gasol already has placed those words into the category labeled leadership -- the constructive, not combustible kind. "Good," Gasol said Thursday when asked his reaction. "They're positive comments. I'm going to have to step up to a higher level and be a little more dominant. I want my teammates to challenge me because I want to be the guy. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Lorenzen Wright Trade Offers Come Pouring In
The most persistent suitors have been Toronto and San Antonio but both teams are offering less serviceable players and bloated contracts. The Grizzlies have rejected those as wells as offers from Utah, Sacramento, Minnesota. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets West Pleased With Griz Revamp
Their recent departure represents just how much the team plans to renovate before the start of the 2005-06 season. With Earl Watson expected to leave in free agency and a possible Lorenzen Wright trade on the horizon, the Grizzlies hardly have completed their much-needed and much-anticipated refurbishment. Holding firm through all of the changes is Griz president Jerry West. "If this does not work out, it's my fault," West said in a telephone conversation while traveling to Memphis. "This is what you have to do in my job. We all have our favorites. But you can't sit there and not try to improve our team." That was West offering his general thoughts on shipping Wells to Sacramento for point guard Bobby Jackson, and later sending Williams, Posey and Andre Emmett to Miami for veteran guard Eddie Jones. The Griz eventually came to terms Friday with free-agent point guard Damon Stoudamire to continue the overhaul of their roster. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Grizzlies Aug 2005 Archive
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The truth doesn't hurt Pau Gasol. 
Lorenzen Wright deals have poured in from at least a half dozen teams. 
Jason Williams, James Posey, Stromile Swift and Bonzi Wells were large nails in the Grizzlies' reconstruction over the past several seasons.