MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Boredom and a chance to build another winning team brought Jerry West to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Was West pushed out?

Phil Jackson did not push Jerry West out of the Lakers' organization. But he may have planted the seed that resulted in Tuesday's announcement that West will take over basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies. West's sensitivity is legendary and while he did not oppose Jackson's hiring three years ago, it hurt him that after years of loyal, underpaid service, Lakers owner Jerry Buss opened the vault for Jackson with a five-year, $30 million contract. Buss had had a reputation for paying his players but skimping on front-office salaries, which West accepted because he believes in the code that the players are the most important part of a franchise. Jackson's contract violated that code. There were other developments as well. Sources say it was Dr. Buss, not West, who installed Jim Buss as an assistant general manager a year before Jackson arrived. Jackson then became romantically involved with Buss' daughter Jeannie, who runs the team's business side. West couldn't help but wonder exactly where he stood in the team's chain of command. After having assembled all the major pieces that now have the Lakers pursuing a third championship -- Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Robert Horry, Derek Fisher and Rick Fox -- it looked as if he was being pushed aside. He doesn't have to wonder about any of that now. A league source said Memphis owner Michael Heisley has granted him absolute authority over the Grizzlies and made him the highest-paid executive in the league. One league source says the value of West's four-year deal will eclipse Jackson's annual salary. West had his doubts about how good Jackson would be without No. 23 when he first came to L.A. Those doubts have been erased with two championships. But they also closed the door on West ever resuming the kind of authority he once had with the Lakers -- an authority he undoubtedly has once again in Memphis. — Ric Bucher

After four decades with the Los Angeles Lakers as a player, coach and executive, West joined the Grizzlies on Tuesday as their president of basketball operations under a multiyear contract reportedly worth $5 million a season.

"I need to work. I'm not good when I sit around all the time," said West, who retired as Lakers general manager in August 2000 and became a consultant for the team.

West, 63, is entrusted with putting new life into the franchise with the worst winning percentage (.229) in NBA history.

During his time with the Lakers they won seven NBA championships, one when he was a player.

West declined to discuss his contract with the Grizzlies, who moved to Memphis from Vancouver last year.

"It's multiyear. I'm not going to go away in a day or two, I'll tell you that," West said.

Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley also refused to talk about the contract.

"Let's just put it this way -- it's long enough to build a team," Heisley said.

West said it was hard for him to leave Los Angeles but the opportunity to turn around the Grizzlies was too good to reject.

He said his first job will be attracting new players through the NBA draft and by signing free agents.

"This team needs talent," he said, declining to say if he has any particular players in mind.

Heisley pursued West after firing general manager Billy Knight on April 19, two days after the Grizzlies ended their second straight 23-59 season.

The Grizzlies do have two young players to build around: Pau Gasol, the NBA rookie of the year, and Shane Battier, a member of the NBA All-Rookie team.

"After being a part of the Lakers' success for so many years, I have always wondered how it would be to build a winning team that has not experienced much success," West said. "I want to help make a difference."

Lakers owner Jerry Buss wished West well.

"I not only valued his phenomenal contributions to the Lakers' franchise, but I also appreciate him as a great friend," Buss said. "It is good to see him excited again about basketball. Not only Memphis but the NBA as a whole will benefit from his return to full-time participation, and this probably makes Michael Heisley the most intelligent owner in the NBA."

Dick Versace, who was head of basketball operations, will replace Knight as general manager.

Coach Sidney Lowe said he looks "forward both to working with and learning from Jerry West."

West said Lowe managed to keep his team aggressive even though the Grizzlies were hit hard by injuries throughout the season.

"The thing I was most impressed by with them, Sidney, was they played hard all year long," West said at a news conference, speaking to Lowe in the audience.

West, who was the model for the silhouette on the NBA logo, joined the Lakers in 1960 as a first-round draft choice from West Virginia. He retired as a player in 1974 with a 25-point scoring average, was honored as one of the league's 50 greatest players in 1997, and entered the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979.

After retiring as a player, he spent two years away from the game before replacing Bill Sharman as coach of the Lakers for the 1976-77 season.

West spent three years as the Lakers' coach and three more as a special consultant before being promoted to general manager in 1982.