LOS ANGELES – Up close, Jonnie West saw what made his father such an accomplished executive and feared negotiator.
Each summer between his years at Lausanne Collegiate School (2002-06), Jonnie shadowed his father, Jerry, during his quest to bring prosperity to the Memphis Grizzlies the same way he once did with the Showtime Lakers. So before and after workouts at the team’s facility, Jonnie observed his dad at pre-draft workouts, the team’s war room and countless other meetings. Jonnie also once saw his father talking on the phone with an opposing team’s general manager, who made what West called “a pretty ridiculous trade offer.