MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Vancouver Grizzlies had no reason to hesitate
before picking Shane Battier as their first choice in the NBA Draft.
"We didn't need to take the five minutes," said Grizzlies general manager
Billy Knight. "We knew as soon as Golden State said they were taking Jason
Richardson. We didn't need any time to think about it."
Golden State picked fifth. The Grizzlies, officially expected to move to
Memphis later this summer, picked sixth.
The Duke forward and college player of the year said he was looking forward
to joining the Grizzlies and settling in Memphis, though the NBA has yet to
approve the team's move to Tennessee.
"I'm really thrilled to go to the Grizzlies," Battier said in a telephone
conference call from New York, where the draft was held.
"I just felt a sense of relief, to tell you the truth -- that the madness
was finally over and I finally had a home," he said.
Battier, a 6-foot-8 forward, said he hopes to help the Grizzlies right away
and even to become a team leader.
"The most important thing initially is to earn my team's respect," he
said. "Once I do that then I can offer some verbal advice. But initially, I'm
going to do a lot of listening, a lot of observing."
Although the Grizzlies did not officially make the selection, they also got
Pau Gasol of Barcelona, Spain, in the first round.
Earlier in the day, the Grizzlies traded their top scorer, Shareef
Abdur-Rahim, to Atlanta for the Hawks' No. 3 pick. Atlanta picked Gasol.
The trade cannot be completed until July 18. It also will bring the Hawks'
Brevin Knight and Lorenzen Wright to the Grizzlies.
Knight said he hated to lose Abdur-Rahim, the Grizzlies' top scorer, but
felt he would be happy in Atlanta.
"Sometimes these decisions are made in sports. We got three players back,
three good players who we think can contribute to this team for a long time,"
he said.
Battier said one contribution he hopes to make right away is helping Gasol
with the transition to American basketball.
"I know it's going to be a big culture shock for him, but I know I can be a
mentor for him right off the bat," he said.
AP NEWS
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