Damon

Stoudamire

New York, Miami, Cleveland and Los Angeles are other options for Fisher, while Chicago would also make sense. The Grizzlies already have three point guards under contract (Mike Conley, Damon Stoudamire, Kyle Lowry), but the team would love to have Fisher for his experience and leadership skills. He can also play the off-guard position if necessary.

Stoudamire has been at the helm at Pacific for five years and compiled a 71-77 record, competing in the West Coast Conference against the likes of Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s and BYU. Stoudamire also played 13 years in the NBA for the Raptors, Blazers, Grizzlies, and Spurs before retiring in 2008 to pursue a career in coaching. Stoudamire and new Celtics coach Ime Udoka grew up together in the Portland area. This will be Stoudamire’s first coaching position in the NBA.

GM John Nash will spend an hour on a train today with friend and Nets’ GM Ed Stefanski, where the conversation could turn to Jason Kidd’s availability. The Raptors also remain an option. In any case, look for the Blazers to actively seek a way to bring in a big-name guard who can score while freeing up some space at forward.

Damon went for 22 points, seven rebounds, and six assists last night. His outburst has been the catalyst for coach Maurice Cheeks keeping some of his frontline scorers on the bench even as the team gets healthy.

Stoudamire had 16 points and six assists before leaving. Consider him day-to-day.

The starters will be Damon Stoudamire at point guard, Bonzi Wells at shooting guard, Rasheed Wallace at small forward, Zach Randolph at power forward and Dale Davis at center. Derek Anderson and Jeff McInnis will come off the bench. Starting Randolph is a sign that the Blazers feel he is a rising talent.

No surprise here, except waiting to see if he can beat out Bobby Jackson for the starting role. We’re thinking Stoudamire will be the opening-night point guard in Memphis.

Brilliant. It’s the third time Stoudamire has been arrested on drug charges. The Blazers immediately suspended the guard and fined him $250,000. ''We are committed to changing this behavior and changing the image of this franchise,’' Blazers president Steve Patterson said. Patterson added that he would void Stoudamire’s contract if he could, but that it didn’t appear to be a possibility.

It’s been a wasted season for the most part, but Stoudamire has been rather productive of late.

The benching isn’t good news for owners, but we’d advise hanging in there and benching him until this all shakes out. It may have been a motivational move by Mo Cheeks, or Nick Van Exel could be taking over. We’ll have to see.