Grizzlies notebook Greivis Vasquez to miss preseason

Greivis Vasquez sat with his back pressed against a wall near the entrance to the trainer's room.

He didn't practice Wednesday. The Grizzlies' rookie guard will end training camp on the sidelines.

Vasquez, the 28th overall pick in this year's NBA draft, was expected to return before Friday when the Grizzlies' play their preseason finale at Detroit. But his ankle hasn't completely healed from offseason surgery so Vasquez will start the regular-season out of the rotation.

"It has to be disappointing for him," Griz coach Lionel Hollins said. "Training camp was a chance to establish himself. (The injury) delayed his opportunity. It definitely puts him behind the eight ball in terms of getting in the rotation. The train is down the track. He's on a push cart behind it."
Vasquez seems to wear the anguish on his face every day.

He's remained in close contact with the team. While his teammates practice Vasquez can be seen riding a stationary bike or launching jump shots on a court adjacent to the main practice floor. Vasquez said he's also studied a lot of film, so when he'll know the plays when he is physically capable to run them.

"I appreciate that he does that," Hollins said. "He's trying to be as ready as he can be mentally. There's a whole different element involved. The game is fast, and he won't be up to speed physically. You eventually catch up."

Vasquez had surgery to clean up bone spurs in his ankle. He was projected to miss the first two weeks of training camp. Vasquez, though, said recently that he wasn't 100 percent healthy and preferred to completely heal rather than risk lingering discomfort.