West Seeks Treatment

The Vancouver Grizzlies are committed to guard Doug West, who said after his trade from Minnesota he will seek treatment for depression and alcohol abuse.

“We support him totally in his pursuit of correcting the problem and admire his courage,” Grizzlies coach Stu Jackson said. “We look forward to having him in a Vancouver Grizzlies uniform.”

West said he would enter treatment this week outside Minnesota with the help of the NBA Players Association. Jackson said he expected West’s treatment to take about three weeks.

West, 30, acknowledged a substance abuse problem and depression for the past nine years in an open letter to friends and fans that was released Sunday. He said he tried to cope with it himself but lapsed because of injuries and reduced playing time.

He said he hit “rock bottom” after the trade.

The Timberwolves sent West to Vancouver on Wednesday for guard Anthony Peeler. West initially balked at the trade, saying he had endured too many losing seasons in the Wolves’ early years to do it again. He finally reported to the Grizzlies on Friday night and passed a physical Saturday, completing the trade.

Both teams said they were unaware West had a problem before the trade.

Van Exel may need surgery

The Los Angeles Lakers team physician has recommended Nick Van Exel undergo diagnostic arthroscopic surgery, a procedure that would probably cause him to be out at least two weeks.

Van Exel has sat out his team’s last three games - two due to the soreness and a clicking sensation in his right knee, and the other because of illness.