Forbes contributor Evan Sidery reported this afternoon (via Twitter) that the Grizzlies had reemerged as a suitor for Suns star Kevin Durant after the team made a run at the 36-year-old forward prior to February’s deadline.
However, Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal — a Grizzlies beat reporter — has heard differently (Twitter link). Citing league sources, Cole writes that while the Grizzlies contemplated making an offer for Durant during the season, they are not currently interested in the 15-time All-Star and do not intend to pursue him this offseason.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) reported something similar to Cole a couple days ago, saying he didn’t expect the Grizzlies to get involved in the Durant chase, even though they have a fresh collection of draft assets from Sunday’s Desmond Bane trade. Memphis was reluctant to pursue Jimmy Butler before the deadline because of fears that he wouldn’t sign an extension, Fischer noted, and Durant is probably viewed the same way.
While the team may not pursue Durant, rival teams are curious about which players GM Zach Kleiman will target with the first-round picks Memphis acquired in the Bane deal, according to Fischer, who says creating the cap room necessary to renegotiate and extend Jaren Jackson Jr. is still a “priority” for the Grizzlies.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype confirms signing Jackson to a new deal remains important to the Grizzlies. Wing John Konchar, who will make $12.33MM over the next two seasons, is viewed as a candidate to be traded in a salary-dump move, league sources tell Scotto.
One of the selections Memphis acquired for Bane was No. 16 overall in next week’s draft. If the Grizzlies keep that pick, Cole lists five “defensive-minded wings” they might target, including Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm), Cedric Coward (Washington State) and Nique Clifford (Colorado State).
Right, they are going after Giannis.
Strange road to travel
Trade assets to unload Marcus Smart money
Trade core player to accumulate assets
Trade assets to unload Konchar
To overpay JJJ sans Bane
IDK, Id be tempted to see what SAS and Hou would yield in a return for JJJ at this point before doing backflips to max him
Some of us Knicks fans are salivating over JJJ, what are we missing?
On a max, just a migraine Imho
As a wolves fan, I always thought he would be the perfect compliment to KAT. Only issue is he doesn’t rebound enough for his position. But also don’t think he’s worthy of a max in the new CBA. Think there will be a lot of disappointed players as contracts start to change.
Why would either of those teams do that?
Crunch- Memphis runs on as tight a budget as any team in the league, and they are disciplined and smart.
Agreed, those moves look strange, but I bet if we had all the info they’d make sense.
The only way wizards can get kd is when no teams would want him…
Durant is not putting up with Ja’s BS at his age.
Ja Morant & Jay Huff to Chicago for Coby White, Nikola Vucevic, Dalen Terry, #11 pick & a future 1st
Memphis continues the tear down & does the basketball world a huge favor by bringing Coby & Cole together to the same backcourt. They add a lottery pick as well as a future 1st. They get better shooting & move on from Ja’s controversial behavior & add a big in Vooch that can start for them & allow Edey to take his time coming back from injury.
Bulls lack a star type guy that can be their franchise player. Ja was born to be that type of guy. He would pair extremely well with Lonzo & Ayo in the backcourt & he’s the perfect guy to push the pace the way Donovan wants. They’d obv suck next season but that’s gonna happen no matter what. This way they’d have a set identity & they’d be exciting. Hitting in free agency 2026 would be key tho.