Jason Levien is out in Memphis. (USATSI)
More Offseason Analysis: Coaching changes, news | Free Agency | Draft
The Memphis Grizzlies announced Monday that CEO Jason Levien and assistant executive Stu Lash have both departed the organization.
“Our franchise has made tremendous strides over the last few seasons and we thank Jason for his hard work and dedication and wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors,” said Grizzlies Controlling Owner Robert Pera. “Rest assured that we remain as committed as ever to bringing a championship to this great city and we are confident that when the new season begins our fans will be excited about both our roster and the direction of our organization.”
The team announced former GM Chris Wallace will reassume control over the team's basketball operations.
It's a stunning move for an organization that saw major changes when Pera took over the team last year. The Grizzlies went on to set a franchise record for wins and reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in team history. Then that summer, the decision was reached to not re-sign coach Lionel Hollins after his deal expired. Assistant coach Dave Joerger was hired in his place. The team struggled through early season malaise and a knee injury to Marc Gasol to win 50 games and reach the seventh seed in the Western Conference, losing to Oklahoma City in seven games.
Wallace had been the architect of the team's contending core with Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol under former owner Michael Heisley who passed away this spring.
The fate of assistant GM John Hollinger and Joerger are unclear at this point, as both were choices made by Levien. The Commercial Appeal reports that Wallace intends to keep Joerger on:
Just got off the phone with Chris Wallace. Quick report coming soon, but Dave Joerger is and will remain the coach.
— Geoff Calkins (@geoff_calkins) May 19, 2014
Levien, a former agent, owns a minority share of the team and is a former minority owner of the Philadelphia 76ers. He and his front office had constructed a lot of flexibility for the Grizzlies' roster this summer, with Zach Randolph, Mike Miller, and Ed Davis free agents in advance of Marc Gasol's free agency in 2015.
ESPN reports Pera may look to lure Tom Thibodeau from the Bulls:
Hearing that, if the Grizz totally clean house, the Memphis owner will look to trade for Tom Thibodeau + give him an SVG/Pistons-type deal.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) May 19, 2014
And Yahoo Sports reports on how long the conflict has been going on:
Grizzlies owner Robert Pera and Jason Levien have been at odds for over a year, a source said.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) May 19, 2014
Basketball Hot News
Report: Joakim Noah underwent surgery to remove cartilage in knee
With Derrick Rose, the Bulls have seen enough knee surgeries to MVP candidates to last a lifetime.
Maybe it’s bad luck. Maybe it’s overuse. Maybe it’s style.
Whatever the issue(s), Chicago is dealing with more of it – this time with Joakim Noah.
Aggrey Sam of CSN Chicago:
Noah, whose recent “minor” arthroscopic surgery on his right knee involved some cartilage being removed, according to multiple sources
Having cartilage removed doesn’t sound minor, but I’m no doctor. So, I asked one for his opinion based on the excerpt above.
The always-fantastic Benjamin Wedro of MD Direct:
The cartilage in the knee is either C or O shaped. The cartilage can be damaged when it is pinched by the femur when the knee joint flexes and trusts. The edge of the C or O can shred, and the operation to remove the cartilage really means trimming the edge so it becomes smoother.
The injury can be acute or chronic. In the chronic injury, there is degeneration and wafting away of the cartilage tissue. It is a bigger deal when parts of the remaining cartilage is removed.
It may be relatively minor, but there is no such thing as minor surgery. The risk of developing arthritis later in life increases.
This doesn’t sound like a big deal unless it becomes a big deal. For now, it’s probably just something to keep in the back of your mind in case Noah looks off next season.
Unless you’re Tom Thibodeau. Then, maybe it should be at the forefront of your mind as you consider how minutes per game Noah should play.
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