Michael Heisley and Mark Cuban both received their ownership papers on the same day in April of 2000 and they reportedly feel a kinship with one another.

"I told him it would be a sad day for the NBA if he sells, because he just doesn't take the nonsense," Cuban said. "He's as much in tune with a lot of the business practices as I am, and he doesn't agree with them.

"He's just not as vocal about them. His way of speaking out is by selling the team. I mean, I don't want to speak for him, but that's the sense I get."

The Tony Barone era got off to a running start Saturday night, as Memphis built an early 24-point lead with a less-disciplined, fast-paced offense, then held off a late rally to beat the Raptors 110-104.

"It's a great win for these guys," Barone said of the Grizzlies, who snapped a five-game losing streak. "It's a weight off their shoulders. I'm dead tired. I'm done. I've told (Jerry West, president of basketball operations) I'm done. That was enough."

Memphis Grizzlies President of Basketball Operations Jerry West announced on Thursday that Tony Barone Sr. will take over as interim head coach for the Memphis Grizzlies.  

This will be Barone?s first head coaching stint, serving the past seven seasons as director of player personnel with the Grizzlies. He also spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Grizzlies under former head coach Hubie Brown (2002-2004).  Barone takes over a Grizzlies team with a 6-24 record.  

?We are excited to have a person of this caliber serve as our interim head coach,? said West.  ?Tony is not only familiar with our veteran players, but also with our young players having been an integral part of their scouting and drafting process.  We give Tony our full support and know the remainder of the season will be productive under his guidance."

The Memphis Grizzlies have asked director of player personnel Tony Barone Sr. to become interim head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Mike Fratello was fired on Thursday afternoon.

Memphis Grizzlies President of Basketball Operations Jerry West announced today that Mike Fratello has been relieved of his head coaching duties.

Fratello led Memphis to a 95-83 record after he was hired on December 2, 2004 as the Grizzlies? seventh head coach in team history. He led the Grizzlies to two postseason appearances, and became the franchise?s all-time winningest head coach in April. This season, Fratello led the Grizzlies to a 6-24 record.  

?I?d like to thank Mike for the contributions he made to the Grizzlies organization,? said West. ?He is a great coach and friend, and he did an outstanding job guiding this team to two playoff appearances in Memphis. We just felt it was time to make a change and move in a different direction based on our record and future goals. We wish Mike the best in his future endeavors.?

?I would like to thank Michael Heisley and Jerry West for the opportunity to come to Memphis and be a part of the Grizzlies organization,? said Fratello. ?I came here a little more than two years ago, and in my first season inherited a 5-11 team that we turned around to win 45 games and advance to the playoffs. We built on that record the following year to win 49 games and return to the playoffs for a second consecutive season.  Unfortunately, this season has been one of disarray starting this past summer. I am sorry I have not been able to find a way up to this point to turn things around, and I understand why a change needs to be made. Things will get better with both an abundance of home games coming up and the eventual return of Lawrence Roberts and Kyle Lowry from their injuries.?

?I would like to thank the many wonderful people I have met while in Memphis, both in basketball and around the community,? continued Fratello. ?I?d like to thank my staff and players for their hard work over the last two seasons. I wish them nothing but the best.?

Michael Heisley, the current majority owner of the Memphis Grizzlies, believes the franchise would be better served in someone else's hands.

"I'm saying somebody can do a better job than I can with the franchise," Heisley said. "I'm being very honest with myself. Unlike a lot of NBA owners, I'm not putting in 100 percent of my time. I'm almost 70 years of age so I'm not likely to get more of it."

" ... Obviously, we'll have a lottery pick and a high-level lottery pick," Heisley told Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal.

The New Jersey Nets have made inquiries for Pau Gasol, Rashard Lewis and P.J. Brown recently.

The Nets have been in contact with the Bulls on Brown, who wants to be traded out of Chicago.  The conversation was reportedly brief, when New Jersey offered Jason Collins and Jeff McInnis.

Gasol is untouchable until the Memphis ownership situation is settled.

Lewis would be a gamble for any team that might acquire him because he can opt out of his contract following the 2006-2007 season.

Majority owner Michael Heisley has withdrawn his agreement to sell the Memphis Grizzlies to former Duke basketball player Brian Davis, a Memphis newspaper reported Tuesday.

Heisley and Davis, a real estate developer, announced the sales agreement in October. Heisley said Davis had until Jan. 15 to come up with the $252 million need to take over the team.

But the NBA issued a statement Dec. 5 saying it had insufficient information from Davis on his proposed financing to consider approving the sale.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Pau Gasol, who has been sidelined the entire season with a broken foot, has been cleared to play.

The team has listed him as a game-time decision for Friday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks.

There is more bad news for the Grizzlies. Spanish star Pau Gasol would rather play for a championship contender.

Gasol told the "El Tirachanas" program on Spanish television's COPE that he wanted "to be with a team competing for a ring," something that he added would be "very difficult" to do with the Grizzlies.