Memphis Grizzlies President of Basketball Operations Jerry West announced today the team has exercised the third year option on the contract of forward Hakim Warrick.

Selected 19th overall in the 2005 NBA Draft after a four-year college career at Syracuse University, Warrick averaged 4.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in 68 games (two starts) during his rookie season. He averaged 6.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in three games of the Grizzlies four-game playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks, including one start. He also participated in the 2006 Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk Competition at NBA All-Star Weekend in Houston.

The extension keeps Warrick under contract with the Grizzlies through the 2007-08 season.

All-Star Pau Gasol is recovering nicely, according to a report in the Memphis Commercial-Appeal.

The 7-foot Spaniard continues to make steady progress about a month following surgery that repaired a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his left foot.

Gasol hasn't begun a full rehabilitation program. He's slowly added to a light routine that began with nothing more than riding a stationary bike.

Now, Gasol uses weightlifting -- leg extensions, curls and presses -- to keep his left leg strong. He recently began swimming.

X-rays taken Tuesday allowed Gasol to remain upbeat because the results revealed that his foot is healing as well as could be expected.

"I'm always hopeful that the X-rays will tell me some more good stuff," Gasol said. "Hopefully, they'll allow me to do more things. Right now, it looks good and we're moving forward."

Athletic Memphis swingman Rudy Gay sat out Monday night's game against the Chicago Bulls because of a bruised chest muscle. Gay was injured in last Saturday's preseason win against Detroit, according to Grizzlies personnel.

He experienced soreness during practice Sunday afternoon, so the team decided not to play Gay as a precautionary measure. His status is day-to-day but Gay will likely be ready to return by Friday for the Grizzlies' preseason home finale against Miami.

According to Peter Vecsey, Jerry West will retire following this season with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Vecsey added that no formal announcement is imminent.

Atlanta Hawks forward Lorenzen Wright and Memphis Grizzlies forward Kimani Ffriend have each been suspended one game without pay, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

Wright?s and Ffriend?s suspensions are a result of fighting and each throwing a punch with 2:15 remaining  in the third period of the Hawks 108-91 win over the Grizzlies at FedEx Forum in Memphis on Oct. 11.

The suspensions will be served for the first regular season game that each player is available to play.

Memphis owner Michael Heisley, who resides in St. Charles, is rumored to have asked Jerry West if he would join him if Heisley makes a bid for the Milwaukee Bucks, who could be for sale again in the next few years.

Heisley is in the process of selling the Grizzlies.

So far the Memphis Grizzlies players have been watching Rudy Gay strut his stuff in awe, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

"He's got a lot of talent," point guard Chucky Atkins said.

Gay's initial week left Damon Stoudamire sensing that "he has a chance to be very good."

"What I like," Eddie Jones said, "is that he's working his butt off every day."

Jones began reciting a story substantiated by several teammates.

With a broad smile, Jones recalled a moment Thursday when Gay emphatically stopped practice.

The 6-9 forward exploded off the dribble. He charged into the crowded lane, leaped with his right arm bent back beyond his head and slammed the basketball off the back of the rim.

"Remember back in the day when Michael Jordan went in the lane and tried to dunk but missed it?" Jones said. "It was so amazing that you still remember it. Listen, (Gay) was crazy that day."

Christian Laettner will not play for the Grizzlies after all, the team announced Tuesday afternoon.

Before the bizarre twist, all signs pointed toward Laettner beginning a comeback following a one-year layoff from the league.

Potential majority owner Brian Davis dropped the breaking news of Laettner's return Monday during his introductory press conference.

By Tuesday morning, Laettner sounded confident and brazen while describing his plans on a local sports talk radio show. Laettner later repeated his desire to join camp by Friday to media at the Grizzlies' first practice in FedExForum.

The final word came from a statement written as Davis and Laettner left town.

"After speaking with Grizzlies management, we have determined that while the sale of the Memphis Grizzlies is pending, Christian Laettner will not play for the team," Davis said. "Both Christian and I are excited about the future of this franchise, but feel adding him to the roster could be disruptive at this time."

Christian Laettner isn't planning a comeback with the Memphis Grizzlies yet.

Laettner's business partner Brian Davis, who has an agreement to buy the team, said in a statement on Tuesday that the former Duke star will hold off on resuming his career.

Davis said that Laettner, a business associate and investor in the Grizzlies project, wants to play for Memphis but will wait.

Christian Laettner and his former Duke teammate Brian Davis headline an investment group that has reached an agreement to buy 70 percent of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Michael Heisley announced Monday that he agreed to sell his majority share to the group.

Davis said at a news conference that the sale was worth about $360 million, and he and Laettner are putting a total of $40 million of their own money into the project.