Southwest Notes: Morant, Mavs, Rockets, Thompson Twins, Zion

Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show on Thursday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver once again addressed the Ja Morant situation in Memphis, indicating that the league doesn’t simply want to hit the Grizzlies guard with a long suspension and hope that he gets the message about his off-court behavior.

“I think it’s important to point out that this is not just about disciplining him and crossing your fingers hoping it’s not a third time,” Silver said, per Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. “I recognize that he needs some assistance from the league office, his union, his team. … My hope is that wherever we come out in terms of discipline, there is a an acceptance that we need to find ways to engage with each other going forward so that he can change the trajectory that he’s now on, which is not a positive one.

“I want to find a way where, frankly, he’s not being kicked to the curb, but basketball will take a back seat and first and foremost, we’re going to focus on him as a young man developing as a better person as someone who is more responsible.”

There have been rumors that the weapon Morant appeared to brandish in his recent Instagram Live viral video was actually a toy gun and not a real one. The commissioner didn’t confirm or deny the validity of that speculation, suggesting that the perception created by the video would be problematic either way.

“The very issue for Ja certainly in the first incident was treating a gun as a toy,” Silver said. “That’s what we’re talking about, and I think that’s what the danger is to society; Taking a gun, live-streaming it. … I think everyone agrees that gun safety is important. Guns aren’t toys.”

Here’s more from around the Southwest:

• The question of whether or not Kyrie Irving will re-sign is the big one looming over the Mavericks‘ offseason, but there are several other issues the team will need to figure out in the coming weeks, writes Tim Cato of The Athletic. Those other questions include how the Mavs will use the No. 10 overall pick and whether or not the team will have the flexibility – and the desire – to use its full mid-level exception on a free agent.
• Within a discussion with John Hollinger about the Rockets‘ upcoming offseason, Kelly Iko of The Athletic says draft prospects Amen Thompson and Ausar Thompson are scheduled to visit the team next week. Both Thompson twins figure to receive serious consideration at No. 4, whether Houston keeps or trades the pick.
• It’s time for Zion Williamson to start making headlines on the court instead of off it, writes columnist Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com. Williamson’s personal life has become very public in recent days, and while he acknowledges that how Zion spends his free time is his own business, Duncan is concerned that the Pelicans forward is having his professional life negatively affected by his off-court decisions. As Duncan observes, Pelicans guard CJ McCollum spoke after the season about prioritizing what he and his teammates “need to do off the court in terms of preparation.”