Grizzlies’ Executive Visits Anaheim

A top executive of the Vancouver Grizzlies visited Anaheim Wednesday for the first meeting with local officials hoping to bring the NBA team to the Arrowhead Pond.

Andy Dolich, the Grizzlies’ vice president of business operations, met with Pond General Manager Tim Ryan and Anaheim City Manager James Ruth, sources said. Dolich will report to Vancouver owner Michael Heisley, who has yet to accept an invitation to visit Anaheim.

Heisley visited Louisville last week, St. Louis on Tuesday and New Orleans on Wednesday. At a news conference in New Orleans, Heisley said he had one city left to visit. It is unclear whether Heisley intends to follow Dolich to Anaheim or visit another city, perhaps Memphis.

Heisley said he planned to move, not sell, the Grizzlies and said he had narrowed his list of potential new homes to “three, maybe four” cities. He declined to name them but called New Orleans “a real possibility” after meeting with the mayor of the city, local business leaders and executives of an 18,500-seat arena that opened in 1999 but has yet to attract an NBA or NHL team.

If Heisley wishes to move next season, he must apply to the NBA by next Thursday.