The Memphis Grizzlies today announced that President of Basketball Operations Jerry West has signed a two-year contract extension to remain with the organization through 2008.  

West first joined the Grizzlies as president of basketball operations on April 30, 2002, returning to basketball after a retirement from the Los Angeles Lakers, where he served as a player, coach and an executive for 19 years.  

?I am very proud of what we have done here in such a short time,? said West.  ?I am thrilled to be able to stay on, and continue to build a winning franchise for Memphis.   The support this city and our fans have shown the Grizzlies made my decision to stay in Memphis an easy one.  Memphis deserves a championship team, and I am committed to that goal.?  

Under West?s guidance, the Grizzlies have retooled their roster leading to two playoff appearances, while re-writing the franchise?s record books.  During the 2003-04 season, the Grizzlies went from being a 28-win team to winning a franchise record 50 games, and earning the first playoff berth in franchise history. The story-book season earned West the NBA?s Executive of the Year award, garnering the award for the second time in his career.

?What Jerry has done is more than build a winning team, he has built a franchise for Memphis,? said team majority owner Michael Heisley.  ?This franchise embodies winning, character and determination. With Jerry at the helm, the city and the organization can together expect a winning future, both on and off the court.?

Jerry West has agreed to a 2-year contract extension as President of Basketball Operations with the Memphis Grizzlies, ESPN's Jim Gray reports.

West, 67, was entering his final year with the Grizzlies.

West, a Hall of Famer who has won NBA titles with the Lakers as a coach and an executive, has been with the Grizzlies since 2002. He was general manager of the Lakers from 1982 through 1994 and executive vice president from 1994 through 2000, winning eight titles with the team as a consultant or executive.

The Grizzlies have played exhibition games outside the continental U.S. on two occasions over the past three years.

Although a decision is far from final, they could spend most of the 2006 training camp far away from Memphis.

Earlier this year, NBA commissioner David Stern revealed plans to have four or five NBA teams hold training camp in Europe. The league has since surveyed its teams and received great interest from those willing -- including the Grizzlies -- to conduct a camp overseas.

Stern already suggested Paris and Barcelona as prime locations because of their professional basketball-quality operations and facilities. The Grizzlies could then become attractive because of Spaniard Pau Gasol. San Antonio, with French guard Tony Parker, reportedly is another interested team.

Memphis and San Antonio met in Paris during the 2003 exhibition schedule.

European training camps could last 5-to-10 days next year.

Jerry West answered the question about his future the way he always answers questions about his future.

"I'm not the one to ask," he said.

The one to ask is Mike Heisley.

"We've had discussions," Heisley said. "It's between me and Jerry. Now, just because we've had discussions, that doesn't mean we'll reach a resolution. But do I want him to stay on? Absolutely."

The team signed forward Ryan Humphrey, guard John Lucas and guard Marlon Parmer to fill out their roster for training camp.

The team also reached an agreement with Rex Chapman to serve as a scout this season. Chapman was a consultant to the Wolves for the draft this summer after working as director of basketball operations for Phoenix last year.

Humphrey, drafted by Utah out of Notre Dame in 2002, has played in 85 NBA games for Orlando and Memphis. Lucas played for Minnesota's summer league team after a college career split between Baylor and Oklahoma State. Parmer, who also played on the Wolves' summer league squad, spent the 2004-05 season in the CBA and with a team in Israel. His college career was spent at New Mexico and Kentucky Wesleyan.

Brian Cardinal won't be ready for training camp because of setbacks during rehabilitation of a surgically repaired knee.

It appears Cardinal won't be cleared to run for a week or two.

Eddy Curry may not wear an NBA uniform this season.

If the restricted free agent center does, he certainly won't don Grizzly blue.

The Grizzlies are not one of the several teams reportedly interested in a sign-and-trade deal for Curry, according to team president Jerry West.

Chicago newspapers routinely mention Memphis as a possible destination for Curry, the Bulls' center who wants a large contract and freedom to play despite a heart condition that could be hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or potentially fatal.

West confirmed Saturday that the Griz have not spoken to the Bulls about acquiring Curry in almost a year. The Griz last attempted to secure Curry's services when former coach Hubie Brown wanted to use Jason Williams, Bonzi Wells and James Posey as trade bait.

The only major acquisition the Griz will make soon involves Elliot Perry and even that won't affect wins and losses.