The Grizzlies have decided to retain first-year head coach Marc Iavaroni for the 2008-09 season, according to an NBA source.
Iavaroni, who will enter the second of a three-year deal, was rumored to be on the hot seat. But team owner Michael Heisley met with Iavaroni Thursday and decided against firing the rookie head coach after one season, according to the source.
Heisley, though, reportedly stressed improvement on the defensive end and with personnel decisions.
The Griz finished with a 22-60 record – identical to their 2006-07 mark – and now look forward to the NBA draft lottery on May 20.

The Grizzlies, sitting in neutral since the regular season ended, will shift into gear with team owner Michael Heisley in town to meet with the coaching and management staffs. Player exit interviews were conducted immediately following the season and now Heisley will evaluate head coach Marc Iavaroni, general manager Chris Wallace, etc.

People close to Heisley tell me that the Chicago billionaire wanted to take some time to step back and remove the emotion from his dissatisfaction with another 22-60 season in Memphis.

And, no, Heisley was not courting Larry Brown and that had nothing to do with Brown’s coaching or potential salary demands. Heisley, who interviewed Brown last year before hiring Iavaroni, was simply convinced that Brown would ultimately seek to change the roster with high-priced, veteran players. The Grizzlies remain committed more than ever (especially without Pau Gasol) to building through the draft.

So why exactly did Heisley take so long to address Iavaroni? Why, when other teams with coaching situations made quick, decisive moves? Does this mean that Iavaroni is safe?

Let the offseason begin.

Insiders paint a picture of a 50/50 situation. Wallace unexpectedly dialed up my morning sports talk show (The Morning Rush on Sports56) today and didn’t counter that equation. There will be little surprise if Heisley fires Iavaroni or if Heisley keeps the first-time head coach.

If Iavaroni is fired then he probably didn’t convince Heisley that he could accept change.

What changes?

There will be a strong emphasis placed on defense. The Griz were among the worst in the league at guarding people, and Iavaroni’s defensive philosophy is an issue. His schemes mostly steered opponents to the middle of the paint – something that was mindboggling to players and others connected to the club.

There will be some discussion about offensive philosophy. Iavaroni tried using the Phoenix Suns’ principles but the free-flowing, run-and-gun style was too much for such a young team to handle. The point guards weren’t NBA mature enough to handle the responsibility and so the challenge will be for Iavaroni to play a more structured offense.

There will be some discussion about decision-making. It will be a short talk. Iavaroni wielded heavy influence over personnel matters last season, and that will change. What Iavaroni wanted, he got. Until now. His curious talent evaluation regarding players such Casey Jacobsen, Tarence Kinsey, Stromile Swift, Hakim Warrick, and to some degree, Pau Gasol, means that his power will be greatly reduced. Expect the Griz to function with more of a collaborative effort, starting with the draft.

At the moment, the fact that high-profiled coaches (Avery Johnson, Rick Carlisle, Jeff Van Gundy and possibly Mike D’Antoni) are or could be available doesn’t seem to be coloring Heisley’s view of this situation. Today will be about exploring whether the Grizzlies can make it work with Iavaroni. It’s the first step into a long offseason.

Stay tuned.

Veteran swingman Mike Miller was back on the court Monday afternoon, and participated in the team’s full-contact practice without restrictions. He didn’t seem bothered by the bad back that’s kept him out of the lineup for nearly two weeks.

That’s a good sign for Miller and the organization because the Grizzlies’ shooting has been flat-out putrid without the 6-8 sharpshooter. Miller is still listed as day-to-day so his availability for their game Tuesday against Chicago is unknown. Coach Marc Iavaroni said Saturday that they targeted Wednesday (vs. New Jersey) for Miller’s return.

Memphis’ offense, though, has struggled mightily without Miller. The Griz (0-7 without Miller this season) have scored more than 100 points just once (113 on Feb. 26 vs. Phoenix) and is averaging just 41 percent from the field overall and 30 percent from behind the arc in seven games without their second-leading scorer (16.8), leading rebounder (6.5) and three-point shooter (.433).

Miller has missed each game due to a sore back, including the past six.

After asking fans to offer submissions for what dunk he should perform during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on YouTube, Rudy Gay has made a selection.

Gay’s first dunk of the contest will be from a dunk submitted by Brandon Lacue form Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The 22-year-old is a member of a group called Team Flightbrothers.

Here is Lacue’s dunk on YouTube that Gay will attempt first tonight. It’s the first dunk on the video:

Watch here!!!

The NBA and Gay are also flying Lacue into New Orleans to sit courtside during the Sprite Slam Dunk to watch Gay perform. He will also attend Gay’s special “dunk practice” earlier in the day.

The Sprite Slam Dunk is apart of NBA All-Star Saturday Night airing at 7 pm on TNT.

Grizzlies rookie guard Juan Carlos Navarro will have to settle on playing for the rookie team in the Rookie Challenge, which is held during the NBA All-Star weekend.

The Grizzlies long distance bomber was hoping to participate in the Three-Point Shootout. But his name was not among the six participants chosen. The NBA announced the five players who will challenge defending champion Jason Kapono of Toronto. Among them are four of the top 3-point shooters in the league this year - Daniel Gibson of Cleveland, Steve Nash of Phoenix, Richard Hamilton of Detroit and 2002 and 2003 3-point champ Peja Stojakovic.

The surprise participant is Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant. While Navarro has seen his 3-point percentage dip to .391 recenttly, tying him for 38th in the league, that’s still a far cry from Bryant.

Bryant is the fifth-best 3-point shooter on his own team. He currently ranks 74th in the league, hitting on just 35.3 percent of his long range shots. He may repeat as the All-Star Game’s MVP, but I wouldn’t put my money on him winning the 3-point contest.

Looks like the Grizzlies trade of Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers has already had an effect on the Western Conference. The Phoenix Suns, owners of the best record in the West, are close to becoming the first team to react to Lakers acquiring Gasol. The Suns are currently deciding whether to pull the trigger on a trade with the Miami Heat that would sent aging center Shaquille O’Neal to Phoenix in exchange for forward Shawn Marion and point guard Marcus Banks.

The Suns believe the addition of Shaq will allow them to move Amare Stoudemire to his natural power forward position. They also believe that O’Neal will give them more of a defensive presence in the middle, which would keep the undersized Stoudemire out of foul trouble from having to guard centers much bigger than he is.

Two issues the Suns are contemplating, though, are Shaq’s health and his hefty contract of $20 million per season for the next two years. O’Neal, who turns 36 in March, has been plagued with a hip injury. That makes his acquisition a gamble for the Suns, who are looking to get over the hump that has prevented them from reaching the NBA Finals.

Apparently, both O’Neal and Marion are happy to be leaving their respective clubs. O’Neal has seen his relationship with Miami coach/president Pat Riley strained this season. And prior to the season, Marion requested a trade.

It will be interesting to see whether Shaq has anything left in the tank. If healthy, this could be the type of motivation he needs to lead his third team to a NBA title. But chances are Shaq is simply unable to keep up anymore with centers like Andrew Bynum, Tyson Chandler or even Tim Duncan.

Either way, the move makes the Western Conference that much more intriguing. Now let’s see if Dallas owner Mark Cuban has the guts to follow suit by pulling off a trade with New Jersey for Jason Kidd.

Stay tuned.

Just how much did the Grizzlies appreciate Pau Gasol’s more than six seasons in town? Well, if you’re heading over to FedExForum Tuesday night to watch the team take on Milwaukee, see what reminders of Gasol you find.

Apparently, out of sight, out of mind is the approach the Grizzlies have taken toward the franchise’s leader in 12 different categories and it’s only NBA All-Star. Since being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers last Friday, all things Pau have been removed. On the walls outside of the media room hang pictures of past and present Grizzlies.

Gasol had roughly 10 pictures hanging up, until Friday when they were all removed. But you can still find pictures of former players Dahntay Jones and Lawrence Roberts. Stromile Swift, who’s trade to New Jersey was completed today, even has his photo still hanging.

Word is his No. 16 jersey is no longer being sold in the team store, his picture has been removed from city buses, and his billboard has already been taken down.

Guess that means there’s no chance of a Gasol poster night when the Lakers come to town next year.