--GM Chris Wallace said the team is interested in taking another look at Jason Williams, a 10-year NBA veteran who played with the Grizzlies from 2001-05. Williams, who retired last September, wants to make a comeback at age 33.
"He's been out a year, but he's a proven NBA player," Wallace said. "We just want to see if he's in shape, want to examine, let our doctors see if he can hold up for an entire year. Workouts aren't entirely conclusive, but it's at least a chance to take a look." The Grizzlies are supposedly going to sign free agent Marcus Williams as a backup point. Wallace said that deal hasn't been finalized, and he wouldn't be opposed to signing Jason and Marcus Williams.
Jason Williams had signed to play with the Clippers last season, only to change his mind and walk away, citing family reasons (his wife had difficulty with her pregnancy). As a result, he forfeited his contract and landed on the league's voluntary retirement list.
He averaged 11.4 points and 6.3 assists during his NBA career, which included time with the Sacramento Kings and the Miami Heat. He had some of his most productive seasons with the Grizzlies, twice helping the team to the playoffs. He averaged 14.8 points and 8.8 assists with the Grizzlies in 2001-02.
--The Grizzlies have downsized in the front office. They fired all their college scouts: David Booth, Ryan West, Ed Manning, Ray Jones and Marin Sedlacek.
"I prefer a smaller group," GM Chris Wallace said. "We had a restructuring," said Wallace, and I guess you could call it that."
--The Grizzlies have a brutal early season schedule. They open the season with two home games, but 12 of their next 17 games away from FedExForum. The first 36 days of the season include a pair of five-game road trips.
The Grizzlies' longest homestand (Jan. 12-18) is four games with the Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota, San Antonio and Phoenix visiting The Bluff City.
Memphis will appear on national television just twice -- Dec. 28 versus Washington on NBA TV and the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day game on Jan. 18 versus Phoenix on TNT.
The Grizzlies will play 20 back-to-back sets, down from a league-high 22 last year.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "This is bigger than the Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls. It's bigger than that. It's about your country, and I think everybody pretty much gave their all and tried as hard as they could." -- Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay, after scoring 27 points in the Team USA intrasquad game that culminated mini-camp in Las Vegas.
