ESPN The Magazine produced its seventh annual Ultimate Standings, in which they measure how much MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL franchises give back to the fans in exchange for all the time, money and emotion the fans invest in them.

The Griz came in at 71 out of 122 teams. They ranked 113th last year.

Here's how they analyzed the Grizzlies:

The King's quip "Thank ya, thank ya very much" is emblazoned on the exit of FedEXForum. Why the permanent gratitude? Well, when Jeff Van Gundy calls the Grizz "the worst team in professional sports" and center Marc Gasol likens his own team to "chickens with our heads cut off," management wants fans to know their loyalty is appreciated. Fortunately for Memphis fans, the front office doesn't express gratitude just in Elvis-speak (although we will). It sent coach Marc Iavaroni (holder of the fifth-worst winning percentage in NBA history) packing to Heartbreak Hotel by midseason and loved fans tender with free programs, $10 parking and tickets that cost less than half (yes, half) the league average. Pepsi Family Value Games also shook out a tasty deal of four tix, four dogs and four Pepsis for $48. The FedEx itself delivers plush chairs throughout, even in the nosebleeds; legendary tunes emanate from the adjacent Rock 'n' Soul Museum; and plenty of spotless bathrooms satisfy fans who fill less than two-thirds of the arena. Sure, sporting the league's cheapest payroll (with Darko and Antoine eating almost a third of it) doesn't show a hunka burning love, but when tickets have been slashed by more than 50% since 2007, at least it ain't cruel.

Grizzlies assistant coaches David Joerger and Damon Stoudamire and advance scout Gary Schmidt will coach the summer league squad in Las Vegas.

 

The team will depart for Las Vegas on July 8 and will practice daily until its summer league opener July 12 against Oklahoma City.

 

The roster:

 

Jeff Adrien       F         6-7  

Darrell Arthur    F         6-9

DeMarre Carroll   F         6-8

Erik Daniels      F         6-8

Daniel Ewing      G         6-3

Trey Gilder       F         6-9

Hamed Haddadi     C         7-2

Longar Longar     C         6-11

Brion Rush        G         6-1  

Donta Smith       G/F       6-7   

Greg Stiemsma     C         6-11 

Hasheem Thabeet   C         7-3  

Marcus Williams   G         6-3

Sam Young         G/F       6-6

Several NBA sources have confirmed to me that controversial and wildly popular guard Allen Iverson - through representatives - has made the Grizzlies aware that he would like to play in Memphis.

The veteran, prolific scorer is a free agent for the first time in his professional career. While no deal is imminent and conversations have been only cursory, Griz brass are said to be internally weighing the pros and cons of possibly adding Iverson to the team's youth movement.

Iverson would certainly have to take a major pay cut from the $21 million he earned last season with Detroit. The Griz would only entertain Iverson with what they'd deem a reasonable price, and if the 34-year-old agreed to play off the bench.

But Iverson had a problem being a reserve with the playoff-bound Pistons and even said he'd prefer to retire before becoming a bench player. A somewhat mysterious back injury ended Iverson's season April 3.

The obvious risk is that Iverson would be far too disruptive WHEN he doesn't practice or receive the playing time or role he desires. Iverson, a 13-year veteran, has no apparent home or suitors so perhaps his tune has changed.

Who knows?

The Griz still need more scoring punch and a reliable ball-handler in the backcourt in the wake of their agreed upon trade for power forward Zach Randolph. Memphis will send swingman Quentin Richardson to the Los Angeles Clippers in that deal.

Iverson's scoring ability and mass appeal (he's always been a sellout draw in Memphis) are indisputable. He played in 57 games for the Pistons and averaged 17.4 points and 4.9 assists.

Nothing will play out on this any time soon. Still, the idea of adding Iverson comes with more questions than answers (pun intended).

Is 'The Answer' really what the Grizzlies need?

MORE FREE AGENT TIDBITS: Reports that the Grizzlies offered David Lee a multi-year deal ranging from $50-$60 million is news to Lee's agent, Mark Bartelstein. Did the Griz contact Bartelstein this week? Yes. But Bartelstein said he never talked contract specifics with the Griz.

"All of the reports about money and years are not true," Bartelstein said. "We never got to that point. We talked only conceptually."

...Another conceptual conversation the Griz had recently involved Andy Miller, the agent for free-agent point guard Andre Miller.

...The Griz also won't wait until the end of the summer to try and negotiate a contract extension with forward Rudy Gay. Griz GM Chris Wallace contacted Gay's agent, Jeff Austin, just after midnight July 1.

The Griz and Clippers have agreed on a trade that would send Quentin Richardson (acquired draft night for Darko Milicic) to Los Angeles for power forward Zach Randolph, sources confirmed.

The deal can't be completed until next week because of salary-cap rules.

Also at play is the unpredictable nature of Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who nixed a draft-night trade the Grizzlies proposed in an attempt to acquire Randolph. Griz owner Michael Heisley wouldn't comment on the story, which the Los Angeles Times first reported Wednesday evening on its website.

Randolph played 39 games for the Clippers last season after being acquired from New York, averaging 20.9 points and 9.4 rebounds, both team highs. With Richardson under contract for only this season, the deal means the Griz will spend more money over the next two seasons. Randolph's contract has two years and $33.3 million left on it.

A site called RushTheCourt.net, which bills itself as "The Ubiquitous College Basketblog", has compiled stats to try to make a determination of which players, who were considered one-year-only college players, were worth the effort for the colleges they attended the past three seasons.

They consider the Tigers' Tyreke Evans worth it, and Derrick Rose well worth it (their highest praise).

Of the 19 players they consider over the three years since the NBA changed its early entry rule, 10 were considered well worth it or worth it.

Makes for some interesting reading.

According to the Kansas City Star, Xavier Henry made it clear that he intends to keep his commitment to Kansas University. The first two paragraphs say it all:

For much of the day Tuesday, it was unclear whether Kansas basketball recruits Xavier and C.J. Henry would end up in KU uniforms. But a late-night report said that Xavier would honor his commitment to the Jayhawks.

"I'm goin to kansas and that's final," Xavier Henry wrote via text message to Cory Anderson of radio station KCSP (610 AM).

So now we can get back to the Matt Pilgrim watch.

University of Memphis coach Josh Pastner filled a major administrative position on his staff Tuesday with the hiring of Eric Sebastian as director of basketball operations.

Sebastian, who begins work at Memphis on Wednesday, has been the Denver Nuggets' director of media relations since 2003. He becomes the second member of the Nuggets organization to come aboard Pastner's staff, joining assistant Jack Murphy.

"I wanted to hire Eric as the director of basketball because, for what we're looking of in that position, he meets all qualifications," Pastner said. "I want someone who is extremely organized, who's been at the highest level, and he's been in the NBA for 15 years so he understands the game in terms of all the external stuff that goes along with it."

According to the Kansas City Star, the brothers Henry (Xavier and C.J.) aren't happy campers at Kansas.

The story indicates there will be a family meeting tonight to discuss the basketball future of the pair.

This isn't exactly Tiger related, I suppose, but I thought readers of The Edge might find it interesting, nonetheless.

And speaking of the Henrys, J. Brady McCullough of the Star wrote a lengthy piece about the family in Sunday's paper. Father Carl says a month after Xavier signed with Kansas, they explored the possibility of him playing professionally in Europe. It's a most interesting read.

In his latest blog, Andy Katz of ESPN.com wonders whether the Tigers now belong in the preseason top 25.

One gets the impression he'll wait until the NCAA rules whether transfer Elliot Williams will be eligible immediately before he decides, but he's starting to like the look of Josh Pastner's team.

Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com is quoting sources as saying that the Lance Stephenson saga is finally at an end, with the 6-5 scoring star from Brooklyn committing to Cincinnati. 

"They've decided. He's off to Cincinnati," said a source close to the family with direct knowledge of the decision. "It's a done deal. I am certain of this."

That means the Tigers roster is probably pretty well set, with the exception of a decision from Matt Pilgrim.