Basketball fans in Tennessee might be familiar with the song, "Walking in Memphis," popularized by Marc Cohn in 1990. Well, NBA fans in Western Tennessee, get ready for a lot of walking and other infractions that referees will be blowing their whistles at. The worst franchise in terms of record is now in town. The NBA likes to use the phrase, "It's All Good." Well, Memphis fans are about to find out that's not always true.

	Reeves is the underachieving center, but maybe a new city will help.

So as we continue our 2001 Summer Spotlight Series, here's the deal with the Memphis Grizzlies.

The good: The Grizzlies aren't going to win a lot of games, but since they are new to the area and the place will be packed regardless (the place, by the way, ain't exactly a palace; it's the Memphis Tigers' Pyramid. A new arena is expected to be ready by 2003-04.), they get a break. But like in most cities, at some point losing 60 games a year won't be enough. In Vancouver, the team that made Bryant Reeves its first player ever was horrible every year. Last year's 23-59 mark was a franchise record. The Conference USA Tigers, who were 21-15 last year, could win more.

There are some good players here, which we shouldn't forget. Shooting guard Michael Dickerson, for example, might be able to score 20 points a night. Top draft pick Pau Gasol, whose stock skyrocketed in the draft, is said to be a lot like Dirk Nowitzki. He was basically acquired for the franchise's top player since Year Two, unhappy Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Gasol is good, but is he ready to play major minutes right away? Shane Battier, the best player in college last year, will be good in the pros right away, most agree. But he slipped in the draft because he's not a big guy. Still, he's polished and might have to play 40 minutes a night. Hey, you'd rather see Grant Long? Nick Anderson?

Battier and Gasol, among everyone else, are the keys, though. Chances are few in Tennessee or anywhere else in the South had heard of Gasol before he was drafted. Battier, though, was a college stud and Memphis is a college town. After a few 20-win Grizzlies seasons it probably will still be.

	THE FACTS
	2000-01 record: 23-59, last in Midwest, 13th in West Playoffs: none Team leaders: Abdur-Rahim, 20.5 ppg; 9.1 rpg; Bibby 8.4 apg Team stats (NBA rank): Points, 91.7 (25th); Rebs, 40.5 (24th); FG %, .439 (17th) Current rotation: Reeves C; Swift PF; Battier SF; Dickerson SG; Williams PG; Gasol 6th man Spot in Summer Power Rankings: No. 29 (last)

The bad: When the franchise dealt solid citizen and heady point guard Mike Bibby to the Kings for controversial troublemaker and erratic-as-they-come showman Jason Williams, it raised eyebrows. The deal might have convinced Chris Webber to remain a King, and while it might have cost the Grizzlies a few wins, it probably sold more tickets. And let's be honest, that's what this move out of Canada was all about. The team isn't going to win. But Williams, who might prefer a behind-the-back lob for a dunk over a victory, does have skills, assuming he wants to use them. He'll pull up on the break and shoot a three, generally ignore defense and a good number of his passes might end up knocking out Big Country and fans in the front row, but he isn't boring.

Even if Williams is horrible, the goal here is probably to lose more games than anyone else and get the good Jason Williams, the one who stayed at Duke. It could happen.

There's more bad. Reeves is a legit 7-footer with a wide (very wide) body, but he has averaged less than 10 points and 6 boards the last three years. When in shape, like he was his first three seasons, he was effective and scoring 16 a night. Playing alongside Reeves is last year's No. 2 overall pick, Stromile Swift. So far, he looks overmatched, but he does have ability at both ends of the floor. He started six games as a rookie, and coach Sidney Lowe has no choice but to be patient, though he doesn't want to start Tony Massenburg at power forward either.

The ugly: The Grizzlies do get some winnable games their first month, as the Pistons, Clips, Warriors and Cavs are on the schedule. But don't expect more than a handful of wins. Even if Battier and Gasol are studs right away, it would be a shock if the Grizzlies won 25 games. The question is whether they can look good doing it, keep the fan base happy and at least give the perception that the future is bright.

The future: To be honest, it can't be any worse than it was in Vancouver. It's a beautiful city, but the team was awful every single season. And we're not sure why, really. Abdur-Rahim would have been an all-star if his team had a better record. Bibby is top 10 among league point guards. Dickerson does his job, though not nearly as well as Steve Francis, who could have been here. The Grizz were 4-1 to open last season! They won five straight in February and swept a home-and-home with Portland in March. Um, that's 11 wins already. The rest of the year they were 12-58.

After next season, when JDub can walk and there will be money to spend, we can finally see if free agents want to play with the franchise, because they sure didn't in the past.

Blame the management and general fan malaise for the team's woes if you must, but there are a few pieces here and at some point, with an influx of talent to join Battier, Gasol and Dickerson, we think it will mesh. But we warn you, fans in Memphis, put on your blue suede shoes and be patient. Pyramids aren't built in a day.

So we asked you this question about the Grizzlies: With this lineup and the potential it has, is the franchise mark of 23 wins possible this year?

Check on the file to the right to view selected responses.

Eric Karabell is ESPN.com's NBA editor.