Grizzlies Notes: Morant, Jackson, Koloko, Coward
The Grizzlies are dealing with a limited market as they consider their options in a potential Ja Morant trade, writes Zach Harper of The Athletic. Harper speculates that the offers Memphis receives might be similar to the meager return Atlanta got for Trae Young, even though Morant is only 26 and is a two-time All-Star.
Harper starts by pointing out that 15 teams are already set at point guard, which eliminates half the league. Among the rest, Boston, Minnesota, Milwaukee and Orlando don’t have enough trade assets or financial flexibility to be realistic contenders for Morant, and Harper doesn’t believe Atlanta will be in the market for another point guard after parting with Young. Toronto is probably out because the Grizzlies wouldn’t want Immanuel Quickley‘s long-term contract, and Sacramento likely wouldn’t part with the draft assets necessary to get Memphis’ interest.
Harper whittles his list down to the Nets, Bulls, Heat and Mavericks as the most likely contenders for Morant, but none of them appear to be a perfect fit. Chicago needs to find a star, but Josh Giddey is already entrenched as the team’s lead ball-handler. Dallas could use a younger point guard than Kyrie Irving if the plan is to rebuild around Cooper Flagg, but Morant’s injury history might make the Mavs reluctant to pull the trigger on a deal. Brooklyn is in the early stages of rebuilding, and Morant might not be happy to wind up there.
Harper suggests that Morant’s best option is to finish the season strong and rebuild his trade value for a potential deal this summer. However, he speculates that the Grizzlies may already have a deal in hand that they can live with and they’re just seeing if they can do better before the deadline arrives.
There’s more from Memphis:
- The Morant trade rumors are starting to raise questions about whether Jaren Jackson Jr. is on board with a complete rebuilding project, Tim MacMahon states on the latest edition of The Hoop Collective podcast (hat tip to Real GM). Memphis is hanging on to the final play-in spot at 17-22 after sending Desmond Bane to Orlando last summer. “Their actions are telling you that they’re determined to rebuild the Grizzlies, I would say, around Jaren Jackson Jr.,” Bontemps said. “There’s a lot of discussion around the league wondering if that is mutual, I would say.”
- Christian Koloko‘s second 10-day contract has expired, per Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link) so the Grizzlies would need to sign him to a standard deal to keep him for the rest of the season. Koloko appeared in 11 games over that span, making two starts and averaging 2.6 points and 4.0 rebounds in 17.7 minutes per night.
- Rookie Cedric Coward is already emerging as a reliable clutch-time option, observes Chris Dodson of ClutchPoints. “(Coward) is a first-year player coming out of college, but is picking his spots,” coach Tuomas Iisalo said. “Overall, I would talk about our very good offense for stretches. He was a part of those, making quick decisions off the catch. Ball movement was great; he was finding open players. Those are the things we’ve got to build on and also look to use in crunch time.”
Knicks Notes: Hart, Towns, Kolek, NBA Finals Chances
Josh Hart‘s return made the Knicks feel like a more complete team, writes James L. Edwards of The Athletic. Hart was back in the starting lineup in Sunday’s win at Portland, logging 31 minutes and finishing with 18 points, three rebounds and six assists. He told reporters that he considered trying to come back earlier from a right ankle sprain he suffered on Christmas Day, but the lingering pain prevented it.
“My plan, originally, I wanted to come back the Clippers game (on Wednesday),” Hart said. “I learned a day or two before that was not going to happen because of how it was feeling. If we were on a good little run, I probably would have taken a couple more days, couple more games, but I felt like I could come in and help with where I am right now. If I’m banged up a little bit, I go out and play, get the movement, and it helps me heal faster.”
New York had lost five of its previous six games without Hart and slow starts were a recurring problem, with Edwards noting that coach Mike Brown frequently had to call the first time out of the game. The energy level was noticeably better from the opening tip on Sunday, Edwards adds, as the Knicks improved to 12-3 with Hart as a starter.
“A lot of our guys are irreplaceable, but especially a guy like Josh who does so many little things for you,” Brown said. “Sometimes they don’t even show up in the stat sheet. To have him back is good. To have him back helps with our pace because he gets out and runs, throws it ahead or pushes the ball at an extremely fast pace. We get easy baskets when we play like that.”
There’s more on the Knicks:
- Karl-Anthony Towns sat out the final 9:24 of the fourth quarter, with Brown explaining that he made the decision to stick with a combination that was working, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. New York outscored Portland 31-20 during that stretch, using either Mitchell Robinson at center or a small-ball lineup. Towns has talked about the challenges of adapting to his new head coach, but Brown said it’s a mutual project. “I’ve said this before: It’s not all on KAT to adjust to and adapt to what we have to do,” Brown said. “He’s had the hardest adjustment period because he’s had to learn the most. In the same breath, I have to make sure that I help him by simplifying what we do and making sure I’m putting him in the right spots and then he’s got to do the things necessary to help out, as well.”
- Hart’s return forced Tyler Kolek out of the rotation, Bondy adds. The second-year guard picked up his first DNP since November 19.
- ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill examines the Knicks’ chances of reaching the NBA Finals, offering three reasons why it could happen and three things that might prevent it.
Sixers Notes: Lowry, Oubre, Barlow, Embiid
Kyle Lowry didn’t see any playing time Sunday night as he made possibly his final Toronto appearance in his long NBA career, writes Eric Koreen of The Athletic. Lowry is still a beloved figure in the city, where he spent seven years and helped the Raptors win their only NBA title. But the Sixers guard has moved into a player-coach role in his 20th NBA season, logging 43 total minutes in five appearances. Head coach Nick Nurse refers to him a “middle man” who serves as a liaison between the coaching staff and the other players.
“Sometimes, I try to talk to those guys as a coach,” Lowry said of his younger teammates, especially Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. “As a player, I wish I could say certain things or say, ‘Do this or do that.’ It’s that balance of I know I’m not on the court, so I can’t yell at them or curse at them. But I can say, ‘Hey, here are the things I see. Let’s try to do that.’”
It’s an unexpected role for Lowry, who was known for his hyper-competitive approach to the game during his prime, Koreen adds. But the wisdom he gathered during his two decades in the league and the influence of other players have prepared him to be a mentor.
“Throughout my career I had the opportunity to be around a guy like Fred VanVleet,” Lowry added. “That kind of (told me), ‘Why not try to continue to do that and help a guy like Tyrese Maxey.’ And then, you get fortunate enough and they draft a guy like VJ. You got two young guys. And Jared McCain. Sometimes, the game gives you something you have to do.”
There’s more on the Sixers:
- Kelly Oubre Jr. shot a combined 1-of-9 from the field in his first two games after returning from a long injury absence, but he rediscovered his scoring touch on Sunday, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer notes in a subscriber-only story. He contributed 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting while setting season highs with four steals and three blocks. “It definitely felt good,” Oubre said. “It’s just, I think I could be better. I got blocked because I’m not trusting myself and the work that I put in. So you know, just watching film, continue to just show up every day and get better. That’s all I can do. But it definitely felt good to get some run.”
- Oubre and Dominick Barlow were both in the starting lineup on Sunday because Paul George was a late scratch with left knee soreness, but Nurse will eventually face a difficult lineup decision, Pompey states in a mailbag column. Although it’s a close call, Pompey suggests the team is better with Barlow starting because that means George doesn’t have to play power forward and it’s easier for him to defend on the perimeter.
- Joel Embiid has an interesting case for an All-Star spot, Pompey adds in the same piece. Embiid has only appeared in 19 of the team’s 37 games — and was held out Sunday for left knee injury management and left groin soreness — but he’s been outstanding when he does play and his scoring average of 23.5 PPG tops all Eastern Conference centers. Embiid offered his opinion after Friday’s game, telling reporters, “Am I going to make it? I think I should. I don’t think we’re pushing it enough. I think I got pretty good stats. So, maybe you guys should put the word out that Joel Embiid is back.”
Deni Avdija Leaves Game With Lower Back Injury
Trail Blazers star Deni Avdija was forced out of Sunday’s game after hurting his back late in the fourth quarter, writes Joe Freeman of The Oregonian.
Avdija told reporters it’s “nothing major,” adding, “I’m not really concerned,” but he was visibly in pain in the locker room, Freeman observes. He went through an extensive session of postgame treatment, and all but two of his teammates were gone by the time he left the trainers’ area with a wrap around his midsection. He couldn’t bend over to take off his socks or sit down to do his interviews.
The injury occurred with 1:56 remaining in the fourth quarter as Avdija jumped to pull down a rebound. He grabbed the left side of his lower back after landing and rolled the ball to teammate Caleb Love. He pointed to the sideline to request a substitute and then hobbled to the locker room.
“I’m going to recover as fast as I can and try to come back,” Avdija said. “I just felt my back give up on me and I couldn’t straighten up. … “I’m a tough guy. I’m going to be all right. … I’m telling you, as soon as I’m walking on two feet, I’ll be able to play.”
Avdija added that he has played with lower-back pain before, but characterized his potential return as “TBD.”
An extended absence for Avdija would be a serious blow for the surging Blazers, who had won five straight games before Sunday’s loss to New York and have a solid hold on a play-in spot at 19-21. Avdija has been a huge part of their success, making a strong bid for an All-Star spot by averaging 26.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists while playing all 40 games.
While Avdija downplayed the seriousness of his injury, interim coach Tiago Splitter took a different tone, per Freeman.
“It’s a tough one, a tough hit, after what he’s doing for us,” Splitter said. “I don’t want to sound (the alarm) too early. But I’m definitely worried.”
Avdija’s injury put a damper on a night that began with the return of Jrue Holiday, who was back on the court after missing 27 games with a right calf strain. The veteran guard played 16 minutes off the bench and contributed eight points, two rebounds and four assists.
“I don’t have too many years left, so I’d love to play as many games and minutes as I can,” Holiday told reporters, including Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report (subscription required). “This team, they’re fun to watch, but I’d rather have fun playing with them.”
Holiday was originally expected to miss a week or two with the injury, but he said the calf often flared up after he participated in practices and scrimmages. The team’s medical staff wasn’t comfortable clearing him to play considering his age and the prevalence of calf and Achilles injuries around the league.
Rudy Gobert To Be Suspended For One Game
Rudy Gobert will be suspended for one game due to his accumulation of flagrant fouls, reports The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski (Twitter link).
Gobert was assessed a flagrant foul for a reckless closeout on a Victor Wembanyama three-point attempt in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game between the Timberwolves and the Spurs. Wembanyama came down on Gobert’s foot but, after flexing his ankle on the ground, appeared to be uninjured.
The call marked Gobert’s fifth flagrant foul this season, four of which are categorized as Flagrant Foul 1, and one Flagrant Foul 2, which occurred in a game against the Suns. That puts Gobert at six total flagrant foul points, which automatically earns him a one-game suspension.
Following the suspension, which Gobert figures to serve on Tuesday against the Bucks, any flagrant assessed to the 33-year-old for the rest of the season will result in a two-game suspension, notes Chris Hine of the Star Tribune (via Twitter). That counter resets once the postseason begins.
Injury Notes: F. Wagner, Green, Curry, Williams
The Magic are gearing up for a game against the Grizzlies in Berlin. Their German star, Franz Wagner, is hoping that he can make his return from injury by then, according to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link).
“I feel good,” Wagner said. “I’ve been working really hard the last couple of weeks to get back as soon as I can. Hopefully that will be in Berlin. But regardless of if I play or not, it’s going to be just a true full circle moment for Mo [Wagner] and I.”
Wagner has missed the last 16 games for Orlando, including Sunday’s 128-118 win over the Pelicans, as he recovers from a high ankle sprain. In his 24 games played this season, he has averaged 22.7 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds.
“Growing up going as little kids to that gym to watch the pros play and now bring the NBA game there, is pretty special for us,” Wagner said. “So we’re just going to the try and enjoy every second of it, take it all in and appreciate the opportunity.”
The Magic are currently tied with the Cavs for the sixth seed with a record of 22-18, and are hoping that Wagner’s return can help them start to move back up the standings.
We have more injury news from around the league:
- Jalen Green continued ramping up his on-court work on Friday with the Suns‘ coaching staff, writes Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. “You’re going to feel some general soreness just by getting out there on the court and that’s normal,” coach Jordan Ott said prior to Phoenix’s game against the Knicks. “That’s not specific to the injury. He’s got to keep going. He’s going to have to fight through some that overall just soreness back on the court. Now he’s getting bodies. The beating and banging with the bodies and know we’re right there. Got to get across the finish line.” Ott noted that Green will be on a minutes restriction when he returns, but that he’s expected to start. “He’s been out for multiple months. There’s obviously going to be some type of target range or number that we try to get him to,” Ott said. “He’ll definitely be in the starting lineup as soon as he gets back and ready to go. We need his speed, his ability to attack off the dribble. We need him, but we need him healthy.”
- Seth Curry has missed the last 12 games with a sciatic nerve-related injury and he’s not expected to be back on the court for the Warriors anytime soon. According to the team (Twitter link), Curry has been working with Golden State’s training staff and will be reevaluated in two weeks. He has played just two games for the Warriors this year, both at the start of December. In his season debut, he scored 14 points in just under 18 minutes while hitting six of his seven shots.
- Jalen Williams wore a heated glove on his shooting wrist when he was on the bench during the Thunder‘s win over the Heat on Sunday, reports Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman (via Twitter). Williams is still feeling the effects of the hand surgery that sidelined him for the start of the season, and expects that will be the case for a while. “This injury is not something where you get it, have two hand surgeries and then it’s, ‘Alright, you’re good to go,'” he said. “It’s something over the course of a year, a year and a half and having summers to really figure it out, where it’ll be really back to normal.”
Heat Notes: Rotation, Powell, Herro, Rozier
Time is ticking on the Heat as they try to get an understanding of what their full-strength rotation looks like, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
The Heat’s game on Saturday was one of just a handful of contests in which their entire core was healthy and on the court, which is why their loss to the league-worst Pacers isn’t setting off alarm bells. However, Miami and players know that it’s time to figure out how the team plays at full strength.
“I mean, you gotta think about it,” Norman Powell said. “Like we’ve played a certain way for a while, you know, we had Pelle (Larsson) in the starting lineup, and then we went to the big lineup, and then another guy comes back in Tyler [Herro] who’s a scorer and can really boost your offense, and now everybody has to adjust and figure it out. It’s not gonna be as soon as it happens, as soon as everybody’s healthy we’re gonna be playing and clicking on all cylinders.”
The Heat are currently in eighth place in the Eastern Conference and are just 2.5 games out of a top-four spot despite all the lineup interruptions. Head coach Erik Spoelstra is confident that with a little injury luck, the offense should sort itself out.
“That group, when they’ve played together, there’s been an explosive offensive group,” Spoelstra said, while acknowledging the small sample that the unit has played.
We have more from the Heat:
- Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle had high praise for Powell, despite the Heat wing only scoring six points in 22 minutes in Saturday’s matchup. “Norman Powell is such an important player for them,” Carlisle said (Twitter video link). “Powell, to me, is an All-Star this year, he’ll get a vote from me. I have no problem saying it publicly. He’s been really tremendous this year for them.” Powell is currently averaging a career-high 23.8 points per game while shooting 41.5% on 7.3 three-point attempts per game.
- The Heat were disappointed that Herro’s return to the starting lineup was delayed when Thursday’s game against the Bulls was postponed due to moisture on the court, writes Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “We were all looking forward to playing in Chicago,” Herro said. “I think that was one of our most, if not our healthiest we’ve been in quite some time. We all went to dinner after the game together like, ‘Damn, we were looking forward to playing.'” Against the Pacers on Saturday, Herro was able to make his first start in a month, scoring 21 points in 32 minutes with seven rebounds and four assists. Herro is active for the team’s game against the Thunder on Sunday, but the starting unit faced another setback as Powell missed the game with lower back soreness.
- One reason the NBA hasn’t terminated Terry Rozier‘s contract, which would free up cap space, is that the league hasn’t been granted access to the evidence that will be used in the federal case against Rozier, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). Because the league has no evidence to overturn its previous findings, it cannot move forward with terminating Rozier’s deal as it did previously with Jontay Porter‘s contract. Jackson writes that the Heat believe that they can still use his expiring salary in a trade.
Lakers Notes: James, Doncic, Hachimura, Season
Although he has performed better as of late, LeBron James‘ numbers for the Lakers this season are some of the lowest since his rookie year. That’s OK with James, who knows what his role is for a team that’s now led by Luka Doncic, writes Dave McMenamin for ESPN.
“Luka don’t need to bend his game [for me],” James said. “Luka is our [26-year-old] franchise for this ballclub. He don’t need to bend his game… It’s up to us to bend our game around him and figure it out. We just try to be dynamic and work off of him. We know he is an unbelievable pick-and-roll player, unbelievable shot-maker. He commands the defense. He has four eyes, sometimes six eyes on him. So, it’s up to us to put ourselves in the right position.”
The Lakers have played well this season while players cycle in and out of the rotation, but in a tightly-packed Western Conference, James recognizes there’s room for improvement.
“We’re just trying to weather the storm with the guys that we have,” James said. “But, it is going to start with me and Luka, for sure. Every time we hit the floor. He has the ball in his hands. I’m going to have the ball in my hands. We have to make sure we are putting our guys in position offensively, and then defensively.”
James also provided an update on what fans should expect in regard to his availability moving forward.
“Every back-to-back, for the rest of the season, is TBD,” James said. “I am 41. I got the most minutes in NBA history. Bank [that answer] right now.”
We have more from the Lakers:
- Doncic has noticed the effort from the all-time great and doesn’t take it for granted. “He’s been absolutely amazing,” Doncic said of James. “Just helping me out, helping others out, being super efficient on the field goals. … He can do anything. Just really appreciate him. … We are playing better with each other, game by game. And this is just going to be improving more.”
- That process of improvement hit a snag this week as the Lakers lost two straight games to the Spurs and Bucks. Against Milwaukee, the Lakers’ stars came up short, writes Broderick Turner for the L.A. Times. James went scoreless over the last three minutes and had the game-clinching turnover, while Doncic fouled out with 16.2 seconds left in a tie game. Doncic was frustrated with the call after committing that shooting foul on Kevin Porter Jr., telling reporters after the game, “I don’t think he shoots like that. The referee said it was a foul. So, I guess it’s a foul.” Coach JJ Redick acknowledged it wasn’t Doncic’s best effort, but wasn’t overly concerned. “He missed some free throws, and I think he’s been such a dynamic driver and paint-toucher for us that those plays can kinda mess with your mind a little bit,” Redick said. “But he’s won of so many games and he’s not gonna, every, whatever game it is, you’re naturally gonna have not your best stuff. And he’s didn’t have his best stuff tonight.”
- Rui Hachimura, out since December 28 with a calf injury, was a full participant in practice on Sunday, Redick said, and he’ll likely play on Monday, per Daniel Starkand of Lakers Nation (Twitter link). Redick said that Hachimura will come off the bench, given that he’s on a minutes restriction. Once that restriction is lifted, Redick says he will decide whether or not Hachimura will rejoin the starting lineup.
- While the Lakers’ desire to add a two-way wing player to their roster is a poorly-kept secret, some around the league point to them as an example of why it might be a quieter trade deadline than expected, according to Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst of ESPN. The general sense is that L.A.’s limited assets will make it difficult to make an impact addition during the season. “They just need to fast forward to the offseason,” an anonymous league executive said. “They can’t realistically add to the roster. They don’t have a solve. They’re focused on keeping cap space and trying to do moves on the margins, and it’s hard to find a lot that makes sense.”
Stein’s Latest: Morant, Young, Knicks, Gafford, More
Ja Morant has become the name to watch in NBA trade circles following reports that the Grizzlies were open to listening to offers for their star point guard.
In his latest article for The Stein Line (Substack link), Marc Stein notes that, due to their reported interest in trade targets like Trae Young, Anthony Davis, and Domantas Sabonis, there is a belief around the league that the Raptors may be facing internal win-now pressure, which could lead to them making a play for Morant.
Stein also states that, despite rumors that the Kings aren’t looking to making a move for the oft-injured point guard, he has heard rumors that Sacramento’s interest in Morant could be piqued if the Grizzlies would consider a return built around DeMar DeRozan, Devin Carter, and draft assets.
Carter was the 13th pick in the 2024 draft but has struggled to carve out a role with the Kings, averaging just 8.4 minutes this season.
Morant has played 18 games this season and is averaging 19.0 points and 7.6 assists on .401/.208/.900 shooting splits.
We have more from Stein’s latest newsletter:
- One of the lingering questions following the Wizards‘ trade for Young is whether Washington will extend its newly acquired guard. Stein, who notes that the Hawks’ refusal to extend Young was one of the impetuses that led to their separation, says there are rumblings that the four-time All-Star will ultimately land a two-year extension. With Young widely expected to see little to no action during the second half, Stein notes that the Wizards will likely to point to Toronto’s handling of Brandon Ingram last year as a precedent if the league takes issue with their new point guard sitting out. Ingram didn’t suit up for the Raptors last season, with the team citing an ankle injury.
- The Knicks have struggled to regain their footing after claiming the NBA Cup, winning just one of their last six games. While it’s unlikely that they’ll part with any of their core players, Stein writes that Guerschon Yabusele and second-year wing Pacome Dadiet are both available as New York attempts to tinker around their margins. Yabusele, after a breakout return to the NBA with the Sixers last season, has struggled to find a rhythm or role in coach Mike Brown‘s system, leading to him being in and out of the rotation. Dadiet, the 25th pick in the 2024 draft, has seemingly been overtaken in the rotation by youngsters like Mohamed Diawara and Kevin McCullar Jr., having played just 44 minutes in 14 games.
- While the Hawks‘ interest in Davis is well-documented, Stein writes that they also have some level of interest in another Mavericks big man: Daniel Gafford. Gafford offers less upside than Davis, but such a deal would help the Hawks keep Zaccharie Risacher out of trade talks. Stein adds that the Pacers and Celtics are also interested in pursuing the 27-year-old center.
- Spencer Dinwiddie is now eligible to sign with an NBA team after parting ways with Bayern Munich, but Stein reports that he could need some time to deal with the personal matters that led to his leaving the EuroLeague club.
- According to Stein, the Mavericks are holding off on waiving Dante Exum to open up a roster spot to promote Ryan Nembhard because they hope they can use Exum’s $3.3MM salary in a trade instead. Decisions on converting two-way players like Spencer Jones (Nuggets), Daniss Jenkins (Pistons), and Pat Spencer (Warriors) will likely all happen after the trade deadline for similar reasons, especially since those players won’t reach their active game limits until around that time.
Grizzlies Notes: Jackson, Morant, Brooks, Edey, Konchar
In an interview with Mark Medina of EssentiallySports, Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. discussed adjusting to Tuomas Iisalo‘s offensive system, signing a lucrative long-term extension last offseason, playing with Ja Morant, and more. Rookie forward Cedric Coward has credited Jackson with being a veteran mentor, according to Medina.
“I just tell him what I see and what I’ve seen over the years,” Jackson said of Coward. “I tell him not to be hard on himself. If you just put in the work, it’s going to show. If you just stay with it, stay consistent and don’t get too high or low, that’s things that I’ve learned from other people. I tell him a lot of stuff.”
Jackson also reacted to the news that Morant is on the trading block following Friday’s one-point loss to Oklahoma City, tweets Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
“I feel for him. That’s my brother. … No matter what, he changed my life coming here,” Jackson said of Morant.
Here’s more from Memphis:
- Iisalo says Morant’s recent absences aren’t related to trade rumors, according to Cole (Twitter link). The 26-year-old point guard will miss his fifth straight game on Sunday due to a right calf contusion. “Strictly based on the injury,” Iisalo said of Morant.
- Suns forward Dillon Brooks returned to Memphis on Wednesday for his latest rematch against his former team. After Phoenix cruised to a lopsided victory, the 30-year-old wing said the Grizzlies made a mistake by moving on from some of their former starters, Cole writes for The Memphis Commercial Appeal. “I just think they moved too fast,” he said. “Especially when I was there and Des(mond Bane) was there and (Steven Adams) was there. I think (the Grizzlies) moved too fast, trying to be (inventive) too fast and it kind of bit them in the butt a little bit.”
- Second-year center Zach Edey, who is recovering from a stress reaction in his left ankle, has been away from the team in recent days consulting with medical specialists, but he’ll be traveling with the team for its upcoming trip to Europe, per Iisalo (Twitter link via Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian). Iisalo added that the team would provide an update on Edey soon, though he didn’t know exactly when. The Grizzlies face the Magic in Berlin, Germany on Thursday and play them again next Sunday in London, England.
- Veteran wing John Konchar, who has been out since December 7 due to a thumb injury which required surgery, was upgraded to available for Sunday’s contest vs. Brooklyn, the Grizzlies announced (via Twitter).