Gasol repairing his image with Grizzlies’ fans

? Pau Gasol went to new Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace this summer for some suggestions on how he could connect with fans.

Wallace told him about a charity event for season-ticket holders. The catch? The event started in two hours. So Gasol canceled his plans, jumping at the chance.

After all, the All-Star forward faces a big reclamation project to repair his relationship with Grizzlies fans unhappy that he demanded a trade last season, trying to escape the NBA’s worst team.

Problem is, he’s still with the Grizzlies.

That’s why Gasol has been dishing out his time and cash, even hiring a community-relations specialist, to help him make an impact in Memphis and repair his image.

“I want to be more involved with different things out there,” Gasol said. “I want the community to know I’m putting effort out there. I don’t want to be seen as a greedy player, or as a guy who doesn’t want to be here.”

Before his midseason trade request, Gasol was sidelined nearly two months because of a broken left foot. That led to a slow start that resulted in the firing of coach Mike Fratello. The Grizzlies were accused of a lack of effort, then even team president Jerry West announced he was leaving after finishing his contract.

It was all part of the most frustrated stretch Gasol has endured as a player.

“Last year was really, really hard in many ways,” Gasol said. “From my injury to the (trade) situation, the losses, the criticism, a lot of negative things. A lot of things happened that did not help me or the team.”

The 7-footer with a thick beard and floppy, brown hair is not as revered in Memphis as he is in his native Spain where he enjoys fanfare befitting royalty. In Memphis, Elvis Presley always will be The King, but fans love their basketball and are very forgiving.

Better play from Gasol could help him reclaim his elite status and the Grizzlies’ place in the playoffs. Even though the only All-Star Memphis has ever known has yet to win a playoff game, his teammates say he’s irreplaceable.

“We go how Pau goes,” forward Mike Miller said. “A lot of times, his play dictates how well we play. That’s just the way it is.”

While Gasol spent the offseason working to reconnect with fans, the Grizzlies did their best to make Gasol feel more at home.

Memphis acquired fellow 7-footer Darko Milicic from the Orlando Magic to help Gasol battle a Western Conference loaded with talented big men.

Perhaps the biggest move came when the Grizzlies sent a draft pick to the Washington Wizards for Juan Carlos Navarro, Gasol’s best friend and teammate on Spain’s national team. The two have known each other since they were 14, back when Navarro, in Gasol’s words, was a “tall and skinny kid with no coordination.”

Navarro should help keep the Grizzlies’ forward content.

“It’s important for Pau that I’m here,” Navarro said through an interpreter.