Jerry West spends his days overseeing construction projects.

But the Griz president of basketball operations will tell you that the remodeling of his Los Angeles-area home is nothing compared to his attempts at refurbishing the team's roster this offseason.

"I've been working extremely hard," West said from California. "If they knew the volumes of phone calls I've made . . ."

His voice trailed off. West sounded as determined as he did exasperated by the nature of free agency. Some discussions had merit while others proved fruitless.

West said - without offering specifics - he nearly drove the final nail in at least two coveted deals but neither held firm.

What's set in cement is a two-year deal that secured summer league standout Theron Smith, and an offer sheet for the services of swingman James Posey.

The Houston Rockets' unrestricted free agent signed a contract for the full $4.9 million midlevel exception over four years. Houston has 15 days to match but likely won't.

So happy with the prospect of Posey joining the club is West that he contends Posey could start at shooting guard if Michael Dickerson doesn't recover.

The Grizzlies entered this offseason in dire need of front court bulk and backcourt defense. They attempted to bolster the latter Wednesday by signing Houston Rockets free-agent swingman James Posey to an offer sheet worth $23 million over four years.

Posey, 26, received a contract that pays the full $4.9 million midlevel exception in the first year.

Because Posey is a restricted free agent, the Rockets have 15 days, or before Aug. 7, to match the deal. However, Posey's Chicago-based agent Mark Bartelstein said he believes his client will wear a Grizzlies uniform this season.

"Houston wanted him back. But they couldn't make a financial commitment until next year," Bartelstein said. "They're contemplating (a match). But they have a major luxury-tax burden."

The Rockets made Posey a qualifying offer of $2.445 million but likely won't pay nearly $5 million to retain him.

Should Houston pass on Posey as expected, the Griz would add immediate help at shooting guard in the event Michael Dickerson (sports hernia) can't play for a third season. Posey also would see action at small forward.

The Rockets had long since made keeping James Posey their top free-agent priority. Wednesday, they found out what he will cost, a price tag they likely will consider beyond their means.

Posey, a 6-8 forward, signed an offer sheet with the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday worth $24 million over four years, according to Posey's agent, Mark Bartelstein. To offer that contract, the Grizzlies would have to put together a deal worth all of their $4.9 million midlevel salary-cap exception and the largest annual raises allowed.

Because Posey, 26, is a restricted free agent, the Rockets have 15 days to match the offer to keep Posey.

General manager Carroll Dawson said the Rockets would not decide whether to match the offer until he officially receives it today and considers the team's other free-agent options.

But because the Rockets' payroll is in excess of $55 million before signing Posey and other players needed to complete the roster, keeping him likely would cost the Rockets his salary and as much money in luxury taxes, a price they are unlikely to pay. This season's luxury tax is assessed when teams' annual salaries exceed $52.9 million.

"We have to look at all the options," Dawson said. "We have two weeks. We'll have to see. We have time."

After missing deals with Scottie Pippen and Ira Newble, the Grizzlies turned to Houston Rockets free agent James Posey Tuesday and agreed to sign the swingman to an offer sheet.

Houston television and radio reports indicate that Posey will accept a four-year contract from the Grizzlies.

"We have an understanding and that's all I can say about that," Posey's agent, Mark Bartelstein told the Houston Chronicle.

Although the offer sheet hadn't been signed Tuesday, the Griz could announce today their intent to employ Posey. Bartelstein and Griz president Jerry West did not return phone messages left by The Commercial Appeal.

"I think I made the best decision for myself and for my future," Posey told Houston media Tuesday. "It was more than what the Rockets put on the table."

It is believed that the Griz offered Posey more than half ($3-$3.2 million for the first year) of their $4.9 million midlevel exception.

The Rockets made Posey a qualifying offer starting at $2.445 million. Because Posey is a restricted free agent, the Rockets have 15 days to match the Grizzlies' offer. However, the Rockets may be hesitant to keep Posey at a higher rate so they can stay below the NBA's luxury tax threshold.

Houston Rockets forward James Posey has agreed to a four-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, according to broadcast reports Tuesday.

Houston stations KRIV-TV and KILT radio reported Posey has not signed the offer but has approved it verbally and is pleased with it.

"I think I made the best decision for myself and for my future," Posey said while not disclosing financial details. "It was more than what the Rockets put on the table."

Scottie Pippen is returning to familiar stomping grounds.

The former Chicago Bull, shipped off in a sign-and-trade in 1999 after winning six NBA titles as Michael Jordan's right-hand man, has agreed to a two-year, $10 million contract with his old team, according to ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher.

General manager John Paxson wanted Pippen, an unrestricted free agent who spent the past four seasons in Portland, to finish his NBA career where it started.

"I think he deserves to end his career here,'' Paxson, a teammate to Pippen during their run in the 1990s, said earlier this month. "I do think there is a place for him here if he does want to come.''

The 37-year-old Pippen will be used as a defensive-minded small forward, and mentor to their crop of talented young players such as Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler .

The Bulls could afford Pippen with a midlevel exception of about $4.9 million.

"More than anything, I want to make him feel welcome," Paxson said. "To me, he would be the perfect veteran leader."

The Mavericks might as well scratch Scottie Pippen's name off their shopping list.

The free-agent swingman who played for Portland the past four years met earlier this week with Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley, who wants Pippen to join his team and help develop its young players. Would Pippen, who has six NBA championship rings from his days with the Chicago Bulls, truly consider playing for a franchise that has never made the playoffs?

"It'll give me an opportunity to be close to my family," Pippen told The (Memphis, Tenn.) Commercial Appeal. "Having an opportunity to come back and play that close to home is great."

Pippen, from Hamburg, Ark., must take a huge pay cut from the $19.7 million he made last season to play for the Grizzlies, who are dangling their $4.9 million mid-level exception. Pippen also wants a guarantee that once his career is over he'll be able to move into an ownership or management role with the Grizzlies.

But because of salary-cap rules, teams can't put into writing promises of future management or ownership positions to players. However, Heisley has said he's looking to sell at least 17 percent of his 70 percent share of the Grizzlies.

Pippen is also being courted by the Bulls.

A decision on where free-agent forward Scottie Pippen will play next season could come early next week.

Pippen met with Chicago Bulls officials Thursday and agreed to inform them about his intentions after the weekend, according to NBA sources with knowledge of the meeting.
A decision on where free-agent forward Scottie Pippen will play next season could come early next week.

The 37-year-old also is weighing offers from Memphis, San Antonio and Dallas.

Memphis emerged as a serious option once Pippen met with Griz majority owner Michael Heisley earlier this week.

Heisley, who was in town Thursday to help open the FedExForum Preview Center, said the Grizzlies had not given Pippen a deadline.

"This has to be worked out between Jerry West, Scottie and Brian (Parker, who is Pippen's Memphis-based representative). I can't tell you what the chances are because I'm not Jerry West," Heisley said. ". . . Chicago is a real possibility (for Pippen)."

Free-agent swingman Ira Newble said Thursday the Hawks "are out of the picture," and he will choose between signing with the Memphis Grizzlies or Cleveland Cavaliers as soon as today.

Newble had been courted by the Chicago Bulls, but they are waiting to hear from Scottie Pippen, who is receiving interest from the Grizzlies, San Antonio and Dallas. Newble has offers on the table from Memphis and Cleveland and said he isn't inclined to wait.

"It's a tough decision," he said. "If I wait too long, somebody else might jump in. I've got to do some brainstorming, and we'll see what happens."

After bouncing around the minor leagues and a brief stint with the San Antonio Spurs, Newble, 28, played the past two seasons with the Hawks and gave them a much-needed defensive presence. He usually guarded the opponent's best offensive player. He had hoped to re-sign with the Hawks and said he was hurt that the team wasn't serious about bringing him back.

"[Hawks president Stan Kasten] said he couldn't pay me," Newble said. "There was nothing to negotiate."

Scottie Pippen told Bulls general manager John Paxson Thursday he would like to spend the weekend pondering his free-agent options.

Paxson's response: "We'll wait."

The decision proved how badly Paxson wants Pippen to return to the Bulls. By waiting through the weekend, Paxson will allow the Bulls' second choice at small forward, Atlanta's Ira Newble, to get away.

"Scottie's assured me that by the end of the weekend, he'll have an answer for us and the teams interested in him," Paxson said. "I think he's the right fit for our team, so I'm willing to wait him out."

Newble's agent, Steve Kaufman, said his client will choose between Cleveland and Memphis today. According to Kaufman, Newble wanted to join the Bulls and might have been willing to accept a shorter contract to play in Chicago, but believes it is too big a risk to delay his decision.

Newble doesn't want to make Cleveland wait because the Cavs are also thought to be courting Clippers shooting guard Eric Piatkowski. Kaufman said Paxson did not pressure him to put off his decision until Pippen made up his mind.