Davis, Pondexter focus on present, not future
NASHVILLE — Ed Davis participated in drills Tuesday with noticeable pep — running, jumping and dunking as if he were using a pogo stick.
Quincy Pondexter did what Grizzlies fans have become accustomed to when he spotted up and buried 3-pointer after 3-pointer.
Davis and Pondexter epitomized how crisp and energetic the Grizzlies were as a group in their first training camp practice here. Both forwards will be key rotation players for new coach Dave Joerger.
Their long-term future with the franchise, however, hasn’t been crystallized.
Davis and Pondexter are in the 2010 draft class of players who are eligible to sign a contract extension by Nov. 1. If that doesn’t happen, the Griz have the option of making them restricted free agents next summer.
Management has had only cursory conversations with the players’ agents so far.
Pondexter said he won’t allow his contract situation to become a distraction.
“We’re trying to figure some things out in terms of what’s best for both sides,” Pondexter said. “Hopefully, we get something done. I would love to stay a Grizzly for an extended time. But I’m not going to think about it too much. I love basketball.
Whatever happens is in God’s hands.”
Davis echoed that sentiment, saying it’s more important that he focuses on having a productive training camp.
“We’ve got a whole season to play. Either way it works, I’m cool with it,” Davis said. “I’m here to work.”
Griz brass values Davis and his upside as the centerpiece of the Rudy Gay trade, and is impressed with Pondexter’s steady improvement as a versatile wing player.
Negotiations can take strange twists. A lack of significant talks now doesn’t mean a deal just before the deadline is impossible.
Veteran point guard Mike Conley and the Griz all but agreed to table discussions until the offseason before he signed a five-year contract at the 11th hour before the 2010-11 season.
Either way, the Griz remain in control with Davis and Pondexter. Memphis will be able to match any offer sheets those players command as restricted free agents.
Several teams already decided against going down that path. DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento), John Wall (Washington), Paul George (Indiana) and Larry Sanders (Milwaukee) each received contract extensions.
Phoenix guard Eric Bledsoe, Detroit big man Greg Monroe, and Utah’s Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward are other young players who could conceivably finalize new deals.
GETTING UP TO SPEED
There was a familiarity with Joerger’s first practice. Not only was the Grizzlies’ core group of players used to Joerger’s voice but the terminology has hardly changed.
Joerger was allowed to spend considerable time instructing under former coach Lionel Hollins. Perhaps the most noticeable change was the energy and tempo.
The speed in which the Griz went from drill to drill and the amount of hand- clapping isn’t designed to be an openingday thing and then go away.
“I was telling everybody that this can’t be a one-day thing,” Conley said. “We have to commit to it. But I think everybody realized from the jump that it was not going to be walking into anything. We’re going to run in every drill we’re doing. We’re getting to things quicker. That’s good in practice to get that mindset going into when we start playing games.”
The Grizzlies began what will be a series of two-a-day workouts. The morning session focused mostly on noncontact drills and conditioning.
HEALTH UPDATE
Veteran guard Tony Allen went through the team’s first workout without issue, as expected. Allen was rumored to have a sore knee as the reason his charity one-on-one game with controlling owner Robert Pera was postponed last weekend.
Forward Jon Leuer is glad to be healthy again.
Leuer couldn’t play for the Grizzlies in the Las Vegas summer league in July because of an ankle injury. Then, he had to have surgery to remove his appendix.
The string of events cost Leuer two months during the offseason.
“I’m feeling really good now,” Leuer said.
Leuer went to bed one night with a stomach ache. He awoke just two hours into his sleep and went to the hospital. Doctors removed his appendix the next morning.
He finally returned to playing with his teammates in pickup games about three weeks before the start of training camp.
“I definitely have a lot of confidence and a lot of belief that I can help this team and contribute,” Leuer said.
COURTSIDE
Joerger spent the past few seasons implementing the Grizzlies defense. Offensive responsibilities were handed to assistants Henry Bibby and Bob Thornton at different times under Hollins.
There won’t be coordinators on Joerger’s staff.
“At the end of the day, it’s my offense and my defense,” Joerger said.
However, e x pect Thornton to again be primarily responsible for the offense while lead assistant Elston Turner concentrates on helping the Griz maintain their defensive prowess.
FROM THE BASELINE
Training camp isn’t just for the players, especially when you have such turnover on the coaching staff. Yes, Joerger and Thornton are returnees. But Joerger & Co. have never coached together as a group.
“There are a lot of dynamics going on,” Joerger said. “Guys are trying to find their place, trying to figure out when to step in. So we’re all trying to learn each other. Everybody is being very patient.”
Turner, who has a coaching career that spans decades mostly with highlevel success under Rick Adelman, said Joerger has impressive qualities.
“He’s got a lot of energy and he’s very meticulous,” Turner said. “I’ve been with some good coaches who were the same way but that jumps out. I can tell that there are specific things that he wants.”
To achieve the chemistry he desires, Joerger has made it mandatory for all players and coaches to eat meals together.
Management is invited too.
“I want everybody to be together. I think that’s positive — not just for the coaches but also for the players,” Joerger said. “The players get to know us. It’s really a new management and ownership. They didn’t really get to be around the training camp last year because of the transition. It’s an opportunity for the whole organization to feel its way through with good people. Everybody is on the same page already.”
WORTH REPEATING
Veteran swingman Tayshaun Prince says experience has taught him that change for the sake of change doesn’t necessarily make for a successful offseason.
“Whether you win a championship or you don’t, everybody wants to see you quote-unquote get better. Usually when they’re better it means adding different players and mixing things up. According to what we’ve done, we haven’t done that as much as a lot of other teams,” Prince said. “But at the end of the day, I was in a situation in Detroit where we didn’t do a lot of mixing up with the team to get better. We can do the same thing here with the core group we have, and continue to do something special.”