Bibby isn't really available

["Josh Farber" <nbaj2k@home.com>]

That's what Bskball says.

12/20-SEE WHAT YOU STARTED- Somebody in Vancouver prints an off-the-wall
idea of the Grizz trading Mike Bibby and now Rick Pitino is offering draft
picks for him. See what you started, as if the Grizz don't have enough
issues without Trader Rick poking around. Yesterday's piece in the Vancouver
papers was a columnists offering an idea conceived totally within his own
head, as a way for Vancouver to get out of this losing trend they are in. It
has been no secret that Grizzlies head coach Sydney Lowe is looking for a
leader for his team, and has in his own not so subtle way indicated he
wanted that to be Mike Bibby. Bibby responded to that idea by telling
reporters he didn't think it was his place to get in anyone's face, that he
needed to lead by example, with pressure play and an efficient offense. The
back story to Mike Bibby and the fuel of these trade talks does not focus on
Bibby's play. It focuses, that like many of the guys in the Great White
North, Bibby doesn't want to be there. Like Steve Francis, Bibby was drafted
by the Grizzlies, and rather than cry about it and demand a trade, he has
been very professional, and is playing his best and doing his job. Bibby's
agent is David Falk, who told the Grizzlies of old (Stu Jackson and Company)
that Mike Bibby was not going to re-sign in Vancouver. The new regime hopes
that they can get things turned around quick enough so that Bibby is
weighing leaving a playoff team, not a team that has ever seen the post
season and has no future in front of it. Now, enter Sydney Lowe. Many feel
Lowe's old school approach simply does not fit the Young Guns in Vancouver,
and rather than try and mold these guys, Lowe is pushing for a trade.
Yesterday, I dismissed the idea of Bibby for Steve Nash. Not because of
Vancouver..... because of Dallas..... While I will tell you I have heard
nothing real from Vancouver regarding Bibby (everything I've heard is about
Mike Dickerson), I wouldn't dismiss the idea that Bibby is tradable.... Now
on to Mad Mike Dickerson, he has told media time and again, he is happy in
Vancouver, he likes playing there and he could see that being a situation he
could retire in. Its hard to see the Grizz who struggle to keep anyone,
trading away the one guy that really wants to stay. So...what's really on
deck in Vancouver? Nothing much. None of the core are on the block, in fact
most of the core will be retained, many of the role guys or guys unhappy in
Vancouver may see the door. I am hearing that Tony Massenburg and Othella
Harrington are a package. If you want one, you must take the other, this way
they return enough of a player to make a deal smart for Vancouver. Also
don't rule out the Grizz making a serious package with guys like Doug West
and Brent Price to get a significant player. I have heard several times the
Grizz and Wizards are talking about Mitch Richmond, and its possible that a
4 for 1 deal could work under the cap, and could land Michael Jordan a lot
of talent for "Rock" Richmond.