"It just shows how much this owner wants to win," said Lorenzen Wright. "He's doing everything he can to win. He's stirring things up, trying to get a championship team.

"When you go get a guy like Jerry West, it says to the players (that ownership) is willing to do what's necessary, willing to get what's arguably the best in the position,? added Grant Long.  "It almost puts (Grizzlies majority owner Michael Heisley) in that same realm as Mark Cuban (owner of the Dallas Mavericks), where you shoot for the top."

If the words of these two Grizzlies are anything to go by then we can conclude that the Grizzlies decision to pursue legend Jerry West to take over the team?s basketball operations has been applauded by the current playing personnel.  And why not, with West winning as both a player and an executive with the Los Angeles Lakers.

He built the Lakers of the 80?s then re-tooled the 2K Lakers with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O?Neal, now West will face his biggest test as he tries to build a team which won 23 games this season, a franchise high, into a championship contender.