The Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday waived Ike Austin, the veteran center.  The Grizzlies traded four season-ending contracts for Austin in Dick Versace's first major move after taking over the team in the summer of 2000.  He called it a "gamble" at the time, and it was a gamble that never paid off.
     
Grizzlies officials maintain the move is a favor to the popular Austin, who has played only 21 games this season and was placed on the injured list with knee tendinitis on Feb. 14.
     
"Our decision is a goodwill gesture to Ike, because Ike's goal is to continue his dream of being on a championship contender now and participating in the playoffs this season," Grizzlies general manager Billy Knight said in a club-issued statement.
     
Austin played 77 regular-season games for the Jazz from 1991-93, then had stints with Philadelphia, Lyon of the French League and Tuborg Izmir of the Turkish League, Miami, the Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando, Washington and Vancouver, which relocated this season to Memphis.