Grizzlies Owner Robert Pera said there are "really hands-on owners that like to do everything themselves," but he chooses to "delegate to those who are in a position to do it full-time and do it better." Making a rare media appearance yesterday on ESPN Radio Memphis' "The Chris Vernon Show," Pera said the "most important thing is you have the right strategic people in place. So on the business side, [President of Business Operations] Jason Wexler is excellent. On the basketball side, [GM] Chris Wallace is great and from a high level, we are focusing on things like player development and upgrading everything we can to improve the franchise and keeping the ticket prices low. ... I try to empower Jason Wexler on the business side and Chris on the basketball side, but I do require them to give me detailed reporting supporting their decisions." Pera said he "definitely" enjoys being an NBA owner and is "in it for the long haul." Pera said once the new infrastructure he has put in place at his company, Ubiquiti Networks, "becomes stable, I'll have more free time, I will be in the U.S. more and I intend to be more involved in attending games." Pera: "I'm a believer of winning cures all, so I think if we went all the way and we won a championship, guys would be saying, 'Hey Robert, just do what you're doing. It's working.' If I was there all the time and we were a losing team, people might say, 'Hey, you are interfering way too much. Get out of here.' So I think maybe there is a middle ground but don't worry, for those who really care about me being in the stadium for the games, I will start showing up more." Pera said of spending to upgrade team facilities, "If you could put upgraded types of facilities or locker rooms or spend money on player development or strength coaches, even if you spend more than any other team, it's only going to amount to a few percent of your payroll, so I am all for spending money that could maximize your main investment which is your players" ("The Chris Vernon Show," ESPN Radio 92.9 Memphis, 5/31).
SODA FIZZ: New Grizzlies coach David Fizdale was formally introduced yesterday, and he said he had a "fantastic meeting" with Pera in the interview process. Fizdale: "We speak the same language. He's about culture. He's about leadership. He's about allowing people to do their work, hiring talent and empowering them to do their work. Growth mindset, big-time, like he's so open-minded to stuff and innovative. And he's a basketball junkie. And I just love that" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 6/1).
