WASHINGTON (AP) — The Wizards are getting Trevor Ariza after all.Washington agreed in principle to acquire Ariza from the Phoenix Suns for Kelly Oubre Jr. and Austin Rivers, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Saturday because it had not been announced by either team.This Ariza trade came together hours after a potential three-way deal involving the Memphis Grizzlies fell apart late Friday night. Wizards players went through the emotional roller coaster of the failed trade after their loss at Brooklyn as Oubre and Rivers were still on the team bus to the airport and the flight home."We all understand it's a business," guard John Wall said after practice Saturday. "You never know what's going to happen, when it's going to happen. The first time I've ever seen a trade go dead and guys are on a bus talking about it. Kind of devastating for those guys."Ariza, 33, returns to Washington, where he played the 2012-13 and... [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) — 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]