by Micah Hart

ESPN’s Marc Stein is reporting that superstar musician/decent actor Justin Timberlake is being recruited by prospective Grizzlies’ owner Robert Pera to take on a minority ownership stake in the Memphis franchise:

Sources told ESPN.com that Timberlake and Pera have quickly struck up a friendship, with one source adding that the singer/actor is making “a meaningful investment into the team” and “plans to be active” with the Grizzlies. The league office, sources said, has been made aware of Timberlake’s proposed involvement and is already well acquainted with him after inviting the self-proclaimed basketball junkie to participate in various celebrity games at All-Star Weekend.

Given all the success the Nets have had with their association with Jay-Z, it makes a ton of sense for Pera to reach out to Timberlake, who is a Memphis native and would immediately improve the franchise’s Q-rating. It also might help ease Grizzlies fans’ worries about Pera, who has no real Memphis ties, and the potential that he might one day move the team (though he’s repeatedly said he has no intention of doing so).

As for Timberlake’s “active” role with the team, the man has conquered pretty much every industry he’s dipped his toe in so far (jury’s still out on his acquisition of MySpace). Could there be a general manager position in his future?*

*Nah.

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