MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies may be ready to start rebuilding, listening to trade offers for the NBA's longest-tenured teammates.Guard Mike Conley said Grizzlies owner Robert Pera had told both he and center Marc Gasol on Tuesday that they will be mentioned in potential trade talks.Pera "called me just to make me aware that they were going to go about doing this," Conley said after Wednesday's shoot-around before their game against the Charlotte Hornets. "Outside of that, I haven't really thought about it or heard much about it."Gasol declined to share details of his conversations with the Grizzlies owner, saying he considers those private. Gasol, who can opt out of his contract this summer, says he had not asked to be traded.Conley and Gasol are the Grizzlies' remaining cornerstone players having played their entire careers with Memphis. ESPN.com reported late Tuesday afternoon that the Grizzlies were open to trading the veterans.Asked if he was surprised by the reports,... [More]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Guard Mike Conley says Grizzlies owner Robert Pera had told both he and center Marc Gasol that they will be mentioned in potential trade talks before reports that Memphis will be listening to offers for the NBA's longest-tenured teammates.Conley said Wednesday after shoot-around that Pera called him Tuesday to alert him to the Grizzlies' intentions.Gasol declined to share details of his conversations with the Grizzlies owner, saying he considers those private. Gasol, who can opt out of his contract this summer, says he had not asked to be traded.Conley and Gasol are the Grizzlies' remaining cornerstone players having played their entire careers with Memphis. ESPN.com reported late Tuesday afternoon that the Grizzlies were open to trading the veterans.Since starting the season 12-5, Memphis has gone 7-23.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace has apologized to Memphis' fans for an apparent altercation following the team's latest loss.Wallace said Thursday that the Grizzlies had an "emotionally-charged" meeting Wednesday night after a 101-94 loss to the Detroit Pistons. It was Memphis' 10th loss in 13 games."When losing happens, obviously emotions get frayed and we're very passionate and competitive people in this game," Wallace said. "Unfortunately, we had an incident."The Athletic reported Garrett Temple and Omri Casspi were involved in an altercation . After practice Thursday, both Casspi and Temple spoke with Temple describing what happened as "brothers getting into it.""Some things were said and some things happened," Temple said. "At the end of the day we're brothers. We've known each other since we were rookies. At the end of the day, we came out of that meeting ... on the same page and we're moving on from it."Memphis now is 10th in the West after a 12-5 start... [More]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace has apologized to Memphis' fans for an apparent altercation following the team's latest loss.Wallace said Thursday that the Grizzlies had an "emotionally-charged" meeting Wednesday night after a 101-94 loss to the Detroit Pistons. It was was Memphis' 10th loss in 13 games.The Athletic reported Garrett Temple and Omri Casspi were involved in an altercation . After practice Thursday, both Casspi and Temple spoke with Temple describing what happened as "brothers getting into it ."Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff took more than 30 minutes to meet with reporters after the game, and only veterans Marc Gasol and Mike Conley were the only players in the locker room when it opened.Wallace says he was concerned at how quickly news of the incident spread and discipline will be handled internally.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

With eight shopping days to Christmas, the NBA's decision to have Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia's Joel Embiid in its holiday lineup is more than just sides in another hoop smorgasbord.It puts the spotlight on — and raises a question — about the MVP race, as in, who in the Eastern Conference is a legitimate contender. It's a question because the last East MVP, LeBron James going on six years ago, has moved West.Of course, the conversation has to include the biggest name to go the opposite direction this past offseason: Toronto's Kawhi Leonard, who forced his way out of San Antonio in a trade after missing most of last season with a mysterious leg injury."Oh yeah," first-year Atlanta coach Lloyd Pierce declared about the East's MVP hopes."We missed Kawhi last year and the people that coached against him didn't for a reason," said Pierce, who was an assistant with the 76ers for Embiid's first two seasons. "He's a dominant two-way player. Antetokounmpo is unbelievable and... [More]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Joakim Noah will to try revive his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies.Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace announced Tuesday that the team has signed the 6-foot-11 Noah for the remainder of the season."For Memphis to give me a shot, I feel really blessed and very fortunate to be back in the NBA," said Noah, 33. "I just want to be here for the guys and be a good influence."Noah made consecutive All-Star appearances in 2013 and 2014. He finished fourth in the Most Valuable Player balloting and was named NBA defensive player of the year in the 2013-14 season.But he hasn't been much of a factor in recent years as injuries curtailed his production.Noah appeared in just seven games with the New York Knicks last season and averaged 1.7 points, 2 rebounds and 5.7 minutes.He has career averages of 8.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.35 blocks in 11 seasons with the Chicago Bulls (2007-16) and Knicks (2016-18)."Joakim is one of those guys who fits our system, fits the way we play, our mentality," Grizzlies guard Mike Conley said. "He embodies everything that 'Grit 'n' Grind' means and stands for, so we're happy to have him."___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies know only too well that they won't outshoot or race up and down the court with the likes of Golden State and Houston. Their version of grit 'n grind that got them to seven straight playoff berths might not work with this current roster.But Memphis still has guard Mike Conley and center Marc Gasol and the Grizzlies know who they are and that they need to play defense to be competitive in the loaded Western Conference."We've got to be a contrarian team, and we've had a lot of success here over the years in this grit-grind era of being a contrarian team," Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said.Most of the Grizzlies' confidence stems from having Conley back from a heel injury that limited him to 12 games last season , and Conley averaged 17.1 points per game in his short stint. Gasol remains one of the NBA's top centers, and he and Conley are the NBA's longest-tenured teammates without any interruption.Memphis revamped the roster in the offseason,... [More]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Mike Conley has limped out of so many arenas that the Grizzlies point guard had resigned himself to dealing with the nagging pain from his left heel for the rest of his life.No more.After the pain limited him to only 12 games, Conley chose season-ending surgery to smooth out the bone aggravating his Achilles tendon. He used the talk of him being injury-prone as even more motivation during his rehab following the surgery."It is motivational for me to come back and show the world," said Conley, who entering his 12th NBA season is the Grizzlies most experienced player. "You just wake them up again and just understand that I'm not that guy from last year that was hobbling around, and I'm feeling great and just excited for another year to help this team do we try to do and achieve the goals that we have."The Grizzlies started last season 5-1 and atop the Western Conference. Conley averaged 17.1 points a game until the pain sidelined him.Then in late January, the Grizzlies... [More]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Mike Conley and the Memphis Grizzlies want to make very clear that what happened last season was an aberration.Conley and the rest of the Grizzlies — yes even oft-injured Chandler Parsons — are reporting for training camp healthy and ready to erase the memories of that painful and ugly 60-loss season."Now we're back both feet planted, and we give ourselves just as good of a shot as anybody," Conley said Monday.The Grizzlies have been through a whirlwind of changes since wrapping up that 22-60 season.J.B. Bickerstaff, who took over on an interim basis after David Fizdale was fired last November, starts training camp Tuesday as a head coach at the beginning of a season for the first time in his career. Conley has been cleared with no restrictions with his sore left heel finally fixed surgically after limiting him to just 12 games last season.Memphis also has a handful of new faces on the roster trying to keep pace in an ever tougher Western Conference.The Grizzlies drafted... [More]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Simply redesigning uniforms wasn't enough for the Memphis Grizzlies. They seized the opportunity to change so much more.Everything from logos to color schemes to the way their court at FedExForum will have a new look this season , part of the team's most significant reimaging since 2004.All that and the Grizzlies also added FedEx to the jersey as the team's corporate sponsor. The unveiling ceremonies Thursday night at FedExForum for the media and key fans even included a FedEx courier delivering packages containing the new jerseys."A month ago, we did this photo shoot (with the new uniforms), and I just loved them," said second-year forward Dillon Brooks, who along with guard Mike Conley, served as models in a video for the new uniforms. "I even tried to put one in my bag and take it home. But obviously, it came out."As for Conley, often on the cutting edge of fashion, also gave the uniforms a nice review: "My professional opinion is I look great," he said drawing... [More]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies are going with a brand new look from redesigned uniforms and updated logos to even revamping the court at FedExForum.And the Grizzlies also have FedEx as their first jersey sponsor.The Grizzlies unveiled their biggest changes since 2004 on Thursday night with point guard Mike Conley and second-year forward Dillon Brooks who starred in a video presentation of the new home and away uniforms at a special event in the arena lobby for media and key fans.The planks on the court now run side to side instead of from basket to basket. The logo's grizzly head now is outlined in "steel gray" to accentuate the fierceness of the bear's eyes, and the claw ball emblem has been rotated to form an M for Memphis.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff believes he can make the franchise competitive immediately with a quick recovery from a 60-loss season.That's what his boss expects as well."We're going into it with an optimistic view and we're planning on success," Bickerstaff said Wednesday, one day after having the interim tag removed from his title . "We're planning on a playoff run. There's no doubt about it."The Grizzlies announced Tuesday that Bickerstaff would remain their head coach after he worked the last 63 games of Memphis' 2017-18 season on an interim basis. Bickerstaff began the 2017-18 season as an associate head coach on the staff of David Fizdale, who was fired in late November .Memphis went 15-48 under Bickerstaff and finished the season 22-60 , posting the second-worst record in the NBA and ending a string of seven straight playoff appearances. General manager Chris Wallace said he was encouraged by Bickerstaff's approach during a season derailed by injuries."You... [More]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff believes he can make the franchise competitive immediately with a quick recovery from a 60-loss season.That's what his boss expects as well."We're going into it with an optimistic view and we're planning on success," Bickerstaff said Wednesday, one day after having the interim tag removed from his title . "We're planning on a playoff run. There's no doubt about it."The Grizzlies announced Tuesday that Bickerstaff would remain their head coach after he worked the last 63 games of Memphis' 2017-18 season on an interim basis. Bickerstaff began the 2017-18 season as an associate head coach on the staff of David Fizdale, who was fired in late November .Memphis went 15-48 under Bickerstaff and finished the season 22-60 , posting the second-worst record in the NBA and ending a string of seven straight playoff appearances. General manager Chris Wallace said he was encouraged by Bickerstaff's approach during a season derailed by injuries."You... [More]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies have decided to make J.B. Bickerstaff their next head coach, removing the interim tag from his title.The Grizzlies did not disclose terms Tuesday of Bickerstaff's new deal. He will be introduced at a news conference Wednesday.Bickerstaff was the associate head coach when Memphis fired David Fizdale in late November of his second season. Guard Mike Conley had season-ending surgery to repair his left heel and Achilles tendon, and the Grizzlies finished the season at 22-60 for the second-worst record in the NBA behind only Phoenix.They had to win their regular season home finale to avoid the worst record since relocating to Memphis for the 2001-02 season. But they should wind up with their highest draft pick since 2009."J.B. did an admirable job as interim head coach last season in what was a challenging set of circumstances," general manager Chris Wallace said in a statement. "J.B. has connected with our players and earned their respect throughout... [More]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies have decided to make J.B. Bickerstaff their next head coach, removing the interim tag from his title.The Grizzlies did not disclose terms Tuesday of Bickerstaff's new deal. He will be introduced at a news conference Wednesday.Bickerstaff was the associate head coach when Memphis fired David Fizdale in late November of his second season. Guard Mike Conley had season-ending surgery to repair his left heel and Achilles tendon, and the Grizzlies finished the season at 22-60 for the second-worst record in the NBA behind only Phoenix.They had to win their regular season home finale to avoid the worst record since relocating to Memphis for the 2001-02 season. But they should wind up with their highest draft pick since 2009.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A season that opened with such promise for the Grizzlies wound up as one of the franchise's worst since moving to Memphis.The Grizzlies couldn't have started better than 5-1, sitting near the top of the Western Conference standings with a pair of early wins over the Houston Rockets and a home victory over the Golden State Warriors. By the end, the Grizzlies' hopes of an eighth straight postseason appearance turned to hopefully landing a top two pick in June's NBA draft.When the injuries started, most notably what wound up a season-ending left heel-Achilles tendon injury to point guard Mike Conley, the season imploded. And kept getting worse through multiple double-digit losing streaks. The first long slide cost coach David Fizdale his job after a short tenure and leaving interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff at the helm.The change didn't help as the Grizzlies lost 19 straight between early February and mid-March — the longest skid since the team moved to Memphis in 2001."It's... [More]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Robert Pera has sent a formal notice to the NBA office that he plans to buy out two minority partners and remain controlling owner of the Memphis Grizzlies.The Grizzlies announced Monday night that Pera both alerted the league office and shared his decision in a letter to season-ticket holders in which he also confirmed his commitment to Memphis.The two partners triggered a "buy-sell" clause from 2012 when Pera, the founder of Ubiquiti Networks, bought the team with a handful of minority owners. The clause required Pera to either buy out the shareholders or sell Steve Kaplan and Daniel Straus his portion of the Grizzlies.The Commercial Appeal shared a copy of Pera's email to season-ticket holders where he shared his commitment to Memphis and the Grizzlies."I am committed to Memphis as an NBA market and as the home of the Grizzlies," Pera wrote. "We recognize that this has been a trying season for you as fans. That serves to reinforce our dedication to building a successful... [More]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies say guard Mike Conley will have season-ending surgery to smooth a bone in his left heel and is expected to return healthy for next season's training camp.The Grizzlies made the announcement Saturday, hours after New Orleans Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins seriously hurt his left Achilles tendon.Conley has not played since Nov. 13 after starting 12 of Memphis' first 14 games this season. The Grizzlies announced Nov. 17 that Conley was out indefinitely with a sore left heal and Achilles tendon. Conley averaged 17.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists over 31.1 minutes in his 11th NBA season. He has been playing an average of 31.1 minutes each game.The Grizzlies wrote Jan. 18 on Twitter that Conley had started playing 3-on-3 with teammates.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

G Mike Conley is traveling with the team and has taken part in practices, as well as a pregame workout before Saturday's contest at Golden State, the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reported. Conley has missed 24 straight games with a left heel injury.

PG Mike Conley (Achilles soreness) missed a 23rd straight game. The Grizzlies fell to 4-19 in those games and to 55-97 (.362) when Conley has been out of the lineup in his career.