The "For Sale" sign has "gone back up" on the Grizzlies with a "pretty clear 'buyer beware' tag" after Bill Laurie terminated his purchase of the team on Friday, according to Gary Kingston of the VANCOUVER SUN. But Orca Bay President Stan McCammon said that "discussions are proceeding with unnamed potential buyers" for the team. McCammon: "There's some suitors out there." McCammon said that "none of the currently interested suitors are local or Canadian," but he "refused" to comment on whether one suitor was MT-based exec Dennis Washington, who "reportedly was close to a deal last summer" to purchase a percentage of Orca Bay (VAN. SUN, 1/22). McCammon: "The NBA is committed to the city of Vancouver. ... They want to ensure this franchise has the opportunity to succeed" (GLOBE & MAIL, 1/22). REAX: In Vancouver, Howard Tsumura wrote that Laurie "blindsided the NBA and Orca Bay" with his decision (Vancouver PROVINCE, 1/21). Also in Vancouver, Gary Mason: "No Canucks. No Grizzlies. GM just a Place. Can you imagine it? Better start" (VANCOUVER SUN, 1/22). NOW WHAT? In St. Louis, Christopher Carey wrote that Laurie's first order of business as he turns his "immediate focus" to the Blues, "could be wrapping up a naming rights deal for Kiel Center." The Lauries have "hired" L.A.-based Envision to "find a company willing to pay millions" for a deal (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 1/23).
