Grizzlies' Ja Morant on Missing Game-Tying FT vs. Lakers: 'Failure Builds Character'
Oct 25, 2021
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) wipes his face with the jersey during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Grizzlies won 120-114. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant had an outstanding performance with 40 points and 10 assists on Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers, but he came up short in the game's biggest moment.
With Memphis trailing by three with 1.9 seconds left, Morant went to the free-throw line with a chance to tie the game. Morant made the first two free throws and missed the third. The Grizzlies went on to lose, 121-118.
After the game, Morant immediately took to Twitter and showed he was undeterred by the loss, tweeting, "failure builds character." He also challenged himself.
After Sunday's performance, Morant is averaging 35 points through three games this season. The Grizzlies will look to bounce back on Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Ja Morant on Future, New Grizzlies Contract: 'I'm Not a Big Fan of the Leaving'
Oct 21, 2021
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) eyes his opponent in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)
Grizzlies star Ja Morant all but confirmed he will sign an extension next summer to stay in Memphis.
The guard told The Athletic's Joe Vardon that he indicated he has no intention of leaving the Grizzlies when he's eligible for a rookie extension following the 2021-22 season.
“Me, I’m not a big fan on the leaving,” the 22-year-old said.
He added: "As long as I'm here, I'm here; that's my focus. Regardless, I'm going to make the best of any situation, continue to just go out with my teammates, win games, play in front of our fans and do whatever I can to continue to bring love."
Like many stars in the NBA, Morant could opt to join a Big Three like the ones with the Los Angeles Lakers or Brooklyn Nets. However, the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year said he feels the Grizzlies already have enough in place to contend in the Western Conference.
"I feel like the talent was always there. We just have to piece it together, and a lot of credit goes to our front office and our coaching staff giving us the right pieces to be good as soon as we started," Morant said.
Whether Morant is right on that remains to be seen. It's hard to imagine the Grizzlies competing with the likes of the Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz for one of the top spots in the West.
Still, the Grizzles are buoyed by Morant, who has emerged as one of the NBA's best young players. He opened up the 2021-22 season in dominant fashion against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night, notching 37 points, six rebounds and six assists in a 132-121 win, leading all players in scoring.
The Murray State product averaged 19.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game last season while shooting 44.9 percent from the field and 30.3 percent from deep.
Morant is in the same elite category as Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, who both received five-year, $207 million rookie max extensions in August.
The South Carolina native is eligible for a five-year, $181 million rookie max extension this summer. Other players eligible for the same extension include New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson and New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett.
Morant has led the Grizzlies in scoring in each of his last two seasons, so it would be no surprise if Memphis is ready to cough up the cash to keep its franchise cornerstone.
Ja Morant Says He Was 'Almost Shook' By Grizzlies Fans' 'MVP' Chants in Opener
Oct 21, 2021
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) goes to the basket as Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio (3), forward Kevin Love (0) and center Evan Mobley (4) watch during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant powered his team to a 132-121 season-opening victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
During his 37-point performance, the home crowd chanted "MVP!" and he said afterward he was "almost shook" and that "they almost made me miss my free throws."
Morant scored 20 of his 37 points in the first half. He shot 17-of-29 from the field and added six rebounds, six assists and two blocks in the victory. He also managed to shake off his excitement over the MVP chants to make both of his free throws with 37.3 left in the fourth quarter to put Memphis up 130-118.
Morant was active on the defensive end and made highlights on the fast break:
Desmond Bane added 22 points, and De'Anthony Melton scored 20.
The Grizzlies led by as many as 16 in the first half, but the Cavaliers wouldn't go down easily. Morant and Melton were clutch down the stretch, combining for 14 points late as the Cavaliers got the lead down to one point on a couple of occasions.
Last season, Morant led the Grizzlies to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Memphis fell to the Utah Jazz in five games, but with Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Steven Adams, Dillon Brooks (once he's back from a left hand fracture), Bane and Melton, the Grizzlies have a young core in place to make another run to the playoffs.
If you're wondering what Morant's MVP odds are, he opened the season on DraftKings at +4500.
Memphis will have a couple of days of rest before its second game of the season Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies Agree to 4-Year, $105M Rookie Contract Extension
Oct 18, 2021
Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. celebrates his 3-point basket during the first half of the team's NBA preseason basketball game against the Chicago Bulls on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Memphis Grizzlies and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. agreed to a four-year, $105 million contract extension Monday.
Agent Austin Brown of CAA told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski about the agreement, which comes hours before the 6 p.m. ET extension deadline for the 2018 draft class. Trae Young, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Michael Porter Jr., Mikal Bridges and Robert Williams III previously agreed to extensions.
Jackson was limited to 11 games last season due to a torn meniscus that he suffered in the NBA bubble. He's been 100 percent throughout the preseason, and his continued development is a large part of the Grizzlies' hopes for improvement this season.
A fleet-footed big who can play either the 4 or 5, Jackson could develop into one of the game's premier two-way big men. He's already a career 37.4 percent shooter from distance, and he has averaged 1.5 blocks per game.
Rebounding has been an issue—Jackson pulls down only 4.7 per game—but that's a byproduct of the Grizzlies regularly trusting him to switch onto guards in pick-and-roll situations.
After swapping Jonas Valanciunas for Steven Adams in a larger draft-day deal, general manager Zach Kleiman told reporters that the Grizzlies will be relying more on Jackson this year:
"A big goal of this offseason was positioning ourselves to be in a place where Jaren can absorb more of the offensive load. Where he can step in and we can play the way we want to play. For this team to reach its ceiling, for us to be our best selves, that involves Jaren really coming into his offensively and us putting him a position to be successful."
The Grizzlies view Jackson and Ja Morant as their two most important long-term rotation members, so locking him up was a no-brainer. Getting Jackson on a below-max contract could wind up being a massive heist if he hits his ceiling.
Bucks vs. Grizzlies Preseason Game Canceled After False Fire Alarm in 3rd Quarter
Oct 6, 2021
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) handles the ball ahead of Milwaukee Bucks guard George Hill (3) in the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
The preseason game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum in Memphis was canceled Tuesday night in the third quarter after a false fire alarm halted play.
The players are heading to the locker room and fans are being evacuated. Not sure what's up but we'll keep you posted
I asked Jrue Holiday, who is carrying a tray of Gus’ chicken to the bus, if the game is canceled. ‘I’m gonna go ahead and say yes, as they have us evacuating. But I haven’t heard anything.’
Mike Budenholzer and a Bucks assistant are carrying a table over to the Bucks’ bus. They are apparently going to set up a picnic as we wait for the league to cancel this game.
About an hour after the alarm went off, the game was formally canceled.
The Bucks did not play any of their three stars, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton or Jrue Holiday in the game. Jordan Nwora led the team with 16 points.
Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. did play for Memphis, however, with the former putting on a show. Morant put up 27 points, six rebounds, five assists and another one of his patented monster dunks:
Jackson added seven points, seven rebounds, four blocks, two assists and a steal.
Memphis next faces the Charlotte Hornets on the road Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET. The Bucks travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets in a rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Marc Gasol's Contract Bought Out by Grizzlies After Trade from Lakers
Sep 15, 2021
Spain's Marc Gasol plays against Japan during a men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Saitama, Japan, Monday, July 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
The team announced on Wednesday that Gasol has been waived. According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, the move could allow the center to return to play in Spain.
The Grizzlies recently acquired Gasol, a 2024 second-round pick and cash from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for the draft rights to Wang Zhelin.
Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Grizzlies were going to work with Gasol on a plan to waive and release the three-time All-Star.
Wojnarowski noted that Gasol decided he wanted to at least start the 2021-22 season in his native Spain with his family "after the tumult of the Orlando bubble in 2020 and the COVID-19 restrictions of the 2020-21 season."
Despite a difficult season on the court with the Lakers, Gasol made it seem like he was going to be back for at least one more year in the NBA. He told reporters after Spain's exit from the Olympics in August he was going to play the upcoming season.
Gasol admitted last season that he struggled adjusting to a reduced role off the bench after the Lakers signed Andre Drummond.
"Things can change quickly in the NBA, just as they have changed for me," he told reporters in April. "But I'm committed to this team. It's a hard pill to swallow because I know I'm going to be out of the lineup at some point. That's never easy on the player. As a basketball player you want to play, you want to contribute, especially when you've made that commitment for that reason, but we'll see."
Gasol set career lows in scoring average (5.0), rebounds (4.1) and minutes per game (19.1) in 2020-21. The 36-year-old has seen his on-court impact decrease over the past two seasons as he has gotten older.
Getting traded to Memphis has the potential to be a full-circle moment for Gasol's career, if this is in fact the end of his time in the NBA. He began his career in the United States with the Grizzlies in 2008, spending 11 seasons with the franchise before being traded to the Toronto Raptors in February 2019.
Gasol ranks second in Grizzlies history with 769 games, 11,684 points and 2,639 assists. Mike Conley is the only player ahead of him in all three categories.
The trade to the Raptors led to Gasol winning the first NBA championship of his career.
Gasol has played 13 seasons in the NBA with the Lakers, Grizzlies and Raptors. He has averaged 14.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in 891 appearances. He was named to the All-NBA team twice, including a first-team selection for the 2014-15 season.
Lakers News: Marc Gasol, Pick Traded to Grizzlies for Wang Zhelin's Draft Rights
Sep 10, 2021
PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 1: Marc Gasol #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Phoenix Suns during Round 1, Game 5 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on June 1, 2021 at Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers announced Friday that they've traded center Marc Gasol, a second-round pick in the 2024 NBA draft
and cash considerations to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday in exchange for the
draft rights to 2016 second-round selection Wang Zhelin.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the deal saves the Lakers $10 million, while Gasol will work
on a contract buyout with the Grizzlies so he can remain with his
family in Spain.
It's a full-circle moment for Gasol, who
was selected by Los Angeles in the second round of the 2007 draft
before his rights were traded to Memphis. He spent 11 years with the
Grizzlies before joining the Toronto Raptors in 2018 and then the
Lakers in 2020.
The 36-year-old Barcelona native
averaged 5.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks across 52
appearances for the Lakers last season.
It's unclear whether he'll eventually
seek an NBA return or follow a path similar to his brother, Pau
Gasol, who rejoined Barcelona in February. The siblings both started
their pro careers with the Spanish club.
The younger Gasol was asked about his 41-year-old brother's Barca reunion in April.
"Seeing him happy is the only thing
that it’s important to me," Marc told reporters. "To see him
happy and see him smile. I understand that for you it is different,
that you see him as a basketball player. To me, he is my brother. The
only thing that it’s important to me and I care about is that Pau
is happy."
Meanwhile, his departure from the
Lakers doesn't come as a major surprise after the team added two
other veteran centers, Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan, during an offseason roster overhaul. It would have created playing time issues
if all three remained on the squad.
Wang, 27, hasn't made the NBA jump since the
2016 draft despite some strong numbers with the Fujian Sturgeons in
the Chinese Basketball Association. The 7'0", 270-pound post player
has averaged 18.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 36 games
during the 2020-21 campaign.
He's a four-time CBA All-Star, but it's
unknown whether the Lakers targeted him as a potential rotation
player in the future or simply an asset who could complete the deal without
bringing in any immediate money to offset the $10 million in savings
from moving Gasol.
L.A. and Memphis will face off Oct. 24
in the third game of the 2021-22 season for both teams.
Woj: Juancho Hernangomez Traded to Celtics for Kris Dunn, Carsen Edwards
Sep 3, 2021
Minnesota Timberwolves' Juancho Hernangomez (41) plays in an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Thursday, May 13, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
The Boston Celtics reportedly acquired
Juancho Hernangomez in trade with the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange
for Kris Dunn, Carsen Edwards and a second-round pick swap in the
2026 NBA draft.
Hernangomez's stay in Memphis was
short. The Grizzlies received the 25-year-old Spanish forward Aug. 25
along with Jarrett Culver as part of the trade sending Patrick
Beverley to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 2016 first-round pick has now
switched teams three times since February 2020. He started his career
with the Denver Nuggets, who traded him to Minnesota to start his
recent nomadic journey.
He's averaged 5.7 points and 3.5
rebounds while shooting 43 percent from the field across 257 career
appearances.
Hernangomez will mostly play a stretch
4 role for Boston and could also see some minutes at center as part
of small-ball lineups under new head coach Ime Udoka.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies increased
their backcourt depth with the additions of Dunn and Edwards.
Dunn, who's struggled with injuries
throughout his five-year NBA career, was limited to four appearances
for the Atlanta Hawks last season. His best statistical campaign with
the Chicago Bulls in 2017-18 when he averaged 13.4 points, 6.0
assists and 2.0 steals.
Edwards played a limited role across
two seasons with the Celtics after being selected in the second round
of the 2019 draft. He's averaged 3.6 points and 1.1 rebounds in 68
games.
Both players will compete for minutes
behind the Grizzlies' starting backcourt tandem of Ja Morant and
Dillon Brooks to open the 2021-22 season.
Zach Randolph, Tony Allen to Have Jerseys Retired by Grizzlies During 2021-22 Season
Sep 1, 2021
MEMPHIS, TN - FEBRUARY 28: NBA Legends Zach Randolph, and Tony Allen speak to the media during a press conference on February 28, 2020 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Memphis Grizzlies announced Wednesday that they will retire the jerseys of both Zach Randolph (No. 50) and Tony Allen (No. 9) during the 2021-22 season.
Allen was told the news on the Chris Vernon Show:
"It's a dream come true... it's like a complete honor. I'm thankful." - @aa000G9@ChrisVernonShow announced today that both Tony Allen and @MacBo50 will have their jerseys retired this year.
Randolph's retirement ceremony will come on Dec. 11 against the Houston Rockets, while Allen's event will take place on Jan. 28 against the Utah Jazz.
The two players were part of the organization's most successful run, earning seven straight playoff appearances from 2011-17, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2013.
The franchise debuted in 1995-96 as the Vancouver Grizzlies and only has four other playoff appearances outside of that stretch—all first-round losses.
Randolph is one of only three Memphis players to earn an All-Star selection along with Marc Gasol and Pau Gasol. The power forward was named to two All-Star games during his eight years with the Grizzlies, averaging 16.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game from 2009-17.
He led the team in scoring three times during this stretch.
Allen only averaged 8.9 points per game during his seven seasons in Memphis (2010-17), but he helped craft the team's identity as a hard-nosed, defensive squad.
The guard was named to the NBA All-Defensive team six times while with the Grizzlies, including three first-team selections.
Both will now be honored by the organization with teammates Marc Gasol and Mike Conley Jr. potentially not far behind them.
NBA Trade Rumors: Cavs, Grizzlies Haven't Talked Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson Deals
Aug 25, 2021
Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) gestures to teammates during the first half of Game 5 of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Memphis Grizzlies are not currently involved in trade talks, per Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press.
Earlier Wednesday, Evan Dammarell of Right Down Euclid reported that the Cavs were interested in Grizz wings Dillon Brooks or Kyle Anderson and that "things remain fluid in trade discussions."
Brooks is entering his fifth season. He averaged 17.2 points per game for the Grizz, who were the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Anderson, who will begin his eighth campaign, posted 12.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game for Memphis.
Memphis has a solid core and foundation to build off, especially with budding superstar Ja Morant leading the way.
The Grizz also have a good mix of talented young players (e.g., Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke, Desmond Bane) and veterans (Patrick Beverley, Steven Adams, Rajon Rondo).
It's a deep roster, and if their current group stays healthy, then the Grizz could do damage in the playoffs.
Memphis would ultimately be better off keeping Brooks and Anderson and seeing where this group goes after a promising playoff push last year.
As for the Cavs, they're fully in rebuilding mode. They have some talented young players to build around, such as rookie big man Evan Mobley, wing Isaac Okoro and guards Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. The talent is there for the Cavs to return to the playoffs someday, although the 2021-22 season may be too early for a postseason run as the team develops.
Cleveland could use some help on the wing, and Brooks and/or Anderson would help in that regard. At the same time, the Cavs could also stay put, work with the young talent they have and watch them grow together.
For now, the Cavs and Grizz have their sights set on the beginning of the 2021-22 season. They just so happen to be facing each other to start that campaign with a matchup in Memphis on Oct. 20.
