West leaving Grizzlies as St. Charles millionaire tries to refocus franchise

A day after St. Charles multi-millionaire Michael Heisley said he will pull his Memphis Grizzlies team off the NBA open market if he can’t find a buyer this month, Jerry West announced he will leave as the Grizzlies’ director of basketball operations July 1.

West said he’s “not a youngster” and weary of the turmoil surrounding the team.

West, one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players, will end a five-year stint with the Memphis franchise. The NBA legend, who turns 69 in May, had been under contract only through this season and said Tuesday many factors played into his decision.

“I think the wear and tear of the season, particularly like this (has been tough). There’s been a lot of turmoil here. The ownership thing have made it very difficult to concentrate on what we need to do here to improve our basketball team.”

He did not indicate any immediate jobs he was considering in the NBA.

Michael Heisley

The Grizzlies (21-60) have the worst record in the league and their troubles on the court have been compounded by the possible sale of the club. West fired Mike Fratello in December and hired Tony Barone as an interim coach.

The announcement of West’s departure came a day after Heisley, the team’s majority owner, said he would abandon his yearlong pursuit of selling the franchise if he does not have a viable offer by May 1.

“I think (Heisley) pretty much said it (Monday) night when he said he wanted me to put in place a future management team,” West said.

West added he had told the owner: “I thought it was very important that we have a new voice here.”

West will advise the team through the draft and the hiring of a new coach. Barone was given the job on an interim basis after the firing of Fratello. He said he believes two people should be hired to take over his duties - a general manager and a vice president of basketball operations.

West, whose silhouette from his playing days is featured on the NBA logo, won eight NBA titles as either a player, executive or consultant with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Monday, Heisley explained his situation with the franchise, saying “I’m just basically tired, and I’m a little worn out. “I’m going to get re-involved, and we are basically going to run the team.”

Former Duke players Brian Davis and Christian Laettner tried to buy the team, but they couldn’t come up with the $252 million needed to purchase Heisley’s controlling share or the $360 million necessary to purchase the team.

Heisley said he has talked to two or three groups about the sale, but nothing has been accomplished.

Heisley said the team will now concentrate on the draft, hoping to land one of the top picks.

“We have a chance in this draft to get a tremendous player,” he said. “This is probably the strongest draft since I’ve been in the NBA. Hopefully, God will shine on us and give us the pingpong ball.

“Obviously, we’re very anxious and hopeful that we will get either one or two.”

Heisley said he still thinks the franchise would be better with a new owner.

“I truly believe Memphis deserves to have an owner who lives here, who’s active, who’s really involved,” Heisley said. “Someone like (Dallas Mavericks owner) Mark Cuban, who would basically energize the situation. I think that would be better than having a guy like me, who’s 70 years old.”