Category: Grizzlies

Where Dillon Brooks and the Grizzlies go from here

The Memphis Grizziles no longer want Dillon Brooks, but they may need his cooperation if they’re going to find a better long-term option.

After six years together, the Memphis Grizzlies and Dillon Brooks appear headed for a separation. The forward had a season worthy of All-Defense consideration mixed with bad shooting and behavior that embarrassed the organization. The team decided that the cons outweigh the pros and informed the impending unrestricted free agent that they will not retain him this offseason.

While a team deciding to move on from a player ahead of free agency isn’t new, the reporting of it two whole months ahead of free agency is unprecedented. On one hand, it’s fair for Memphis to be transparent with Brooks about their plans this summer. On the other hand, are they 100 percent sure they can do better than him this offseason? They have the means to sign a replacement, but their best path toward finding a significant upgrade at forward is a sign-and-trade or future trade involving him. This decision this early on could backfire if they’re unsuccessful at acquiring a replacement while alienating Brooks in the process.

Here is a look at how this decision could impact Brooks in free agency and the Grizzlies’ options for replacing him.

Grizzlies offseason preview: Dillon Brooks free agency, Desmond Bane extension, more

The Memphis Grizzlies will look to build off their continuity and improve internally toward their title pursuit.

The Memphis Grizzlies postseason run was cut early after falling to the Los Angeles Lakers. The young team was once again the second seed in the West and won 50 games despite significant absences from all their top players. Unfortunately, they couldn’t overcome major injuries, and perhaps the public scrutiny they received all year got to them.

On the bright side, Memphis has one of the best young cores and a deep roster well-equipped to sustain long-term success. Their books are clean and organized which will allow them to navigate some of the upcoming CBA changes. Other than taking care of some of their key players, the Grizzlies could have a relatively quiet offseason.

Here is a preview of the 2023 offseason for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Ja Morant incident: The potential financial implications for the Grizzlies

The NBA suspended Ja Morant for eight games, with eligibility to return Monday against Dallas. Despite missing Morant and injured Steven Adams, the Grizzlies have secured wins, maintaining their Western Conference contender status. This is the first …

The NBA suspended Ja Morant for eight games, with eligibility to return Monday against Dallas. Despite missing Morant and injured Steven Adams, the Grizzlies have secured wins, maintaining their Western Conference contender status. This is the first major adversity this young Grizzlies team has experienced and it could break them or harden them ahead of this year’s playoffs.

This incident could also have serious ramifications extending off the court. In particular, Morant’s All-NBA candidacy is on the line, which would have significant financial implications for both him and the Grizzlies.

NBA Intel: Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Miles Bridges, PJ Washington, Grant Williams, more

Reporting on Mikal Bridges trade talk, free agency for Miles Bridges, PJ Washington, Grant Williams and more from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto

When the dust settled from the trade deadline, there were 53 players traded, and over $500 million in salaries moved this week.

With the deadline behind us, check out the latest intel gathered by HoopsHype on trade talks that fell through and some things to keep an eye on with free agency looming.

Raptors Rumors: Gary Trent Jr, OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, Nick Nurse

Reporting on trade talks involving Gary Trent Jr, OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet, and the futures of Pascal Siakam and Nick Nurse on HoopsHype.

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Sportsnet Raptors analyst and host Blake Murphy report on trade talks involving Gary Trent Jr, OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet, and the futures of Pascal Siakam and Nick Nurse on the latest HoopsHype podcast episode.

For more interviews with players, coaches, and media members, be sure to like and subscribe to the HoopsHype podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Listen to the podcast above or check out some snippets of the conversation in a transcribed version below.

NBA Notebook: Russell Westbrook, OG Anunoby, Cam Reddish, Kyle Kuzma, Rui Hachimura, more

Reporting on trade talks for Cam Reddish, Bojan Bogdanovic, Naz Reid, Rui Hachimura, Russell Westbrook’s Sixth Man case and OG Anunoby fits.

With just over two weeks until the NBA’s trade deadline, there’s more urgency between rival executives to determine if there’s a middle ground on the asking price for a coveted player and what’s real beyond the smokescreens. 

With that in mind, this week’s NBA notebook includes the latest trade intel on Bojan Bogdanovic, Jakob Poeltl, Cam Reddish, Grayson Allen, Rui Hachimura, Naz Reid, Alec Burks, Doug McDermott, Josh Richardson, Serge Ibaka, and Kyle Kuzma’s free agency from our Michael Scotto. Plus, the latest trade rumors commentary on OG Anunoby and Hachimura from our capologist Yossi Gozlan, a free agency stock watch from our Frank Urbina, and a look at Russell Westbrook’s case for Sixth Man of the Year by Alberto De Roa. 

NBA Notebook: Knicks, Lakers, Raptors, Mavericks, Pistons, Kevin Durant

Reporting on trade talks for the Knicks, Lakers, Raptors, Mavericks, and Pistons. Plus, more on Kevin Durant’s injury on HoopsHype.

The NBA trade deadline is one month away, with rival NBA executives clamoring to see if the Raptors will make a trade to shake up their underwhelming season and if the Lakers will make a win-now move to aid LeBron James.

With that in mind, this week’s NBA notebook includes the latest trade intel on Cam Reddish, Immanuel Quickley, Tim Hardaway Jr, and Alec Burks from our own Michael Scotto. Plus, the latest trade rumors commentary on the Raptors and Lakers from our capologist Yossi Gozlan, a free agency stock watch from our Frank Urbina, and a look at how Kevin Durant’s injury will affect the Brooklyn Nets by Alberto De Roa.

Top trade candidates on each NBA team this season

Reporting on the top trade candidates for all 30 NBA teams from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

NBA executives are beginning their due diligence for the upcoming trade market with December 15th approaching, the first day players who signed offseason contracts can be traded.

Below is the latest intel HoopsHype has gathered on the top trade candidates for all 30 NBA teams.

NBA executives poll: Who are the top breakout candidates for the 2022-23 season?

NBA executives predict who will be the top breakout players of the 2022-23 season in a poll by HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

Which players will make the top leaps in their games this year?

HoopsHype polled 20 NBA executives to gauge who will be the top breakout candidates this season. Each executive was asked to list his Top 3 candidates for a breakout campaign.

Most of the talent evaluators prioritized young players who will see an increased role. Others selected younger players who could become All-Stars for the first time.

After receiving the feedback from the executives, the voting results were tabulated, with the top player receiving five points, the second receiving three points, and the third receiving one point for each ballot. Below are the results.

NBA execs poll: Luka Doncic top player to build around; Evan Mobley, Anthony Edwards Top 5

NBA executives share which players under 25 they’d build around in a HoopsHype poll conducted by Michael Scotto.

In January of 2022, HoopsHype polled 15 NBA executives and asked them to rank their top five players under 25 years old by the start of the NBA season to build around. We have repeated the exercise ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic was the unanimous first choice among the NBA executives polled, while Evan Mobley and Anthony Edwards were two of the top risers.

Four new players earned votes while three players fell in the ranking.

In our scoring system, the top player received five points, the second received four points, the third received three points, the fourth received two points, and the fifth player received one point for each ballot.

The results of the poll are listed below.