Joe Mullinax here, the host of the daily Locked On Grizzlies podcast, with your daily Locked On Grizzlies newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Grizzlies and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Where does Marcus Smart fit in Memphis?
Oct 26, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart (36) dribbles during the second half against the Orlando Magic at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images|Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
It is a question that has been asked about Marcus Smart for years.
Where exactly does Smart best help whatever team he is a part of?
It’s clear the guy can play basketball. He’s still a strong perimeter defender. He has logged a significant amount of time in the postseason (108 games played, to be exact). As a secondary facilitator and overall locker room leader, you can do a lot worse than Marcus Smart.
And yet, the Boston Celtics were willing to move on from him. Maybe the Memphis Grizzlies will be as well.
This has nothing to do with his current, admittedly slow, start. He is shooting a miserable percentage from the field (23.5%) in just five games played. He can’t knock down open jumpers. But his per-100 stats as a rebounder and assist generator are on par with past experience. And the shooting numbers will progress to the mean eventually.
The concern has more to do with the fact he’s an undersized wing that isn’t a point guard - at least not in the truest sense of the word. He isn’t good enough as a primary facilitator to make an argument that should be his place on the roster. But as he ages, his size (or lack thereof) means losing foot speed - which is problematic obviously in mismatch opportunities.
All this to say, since Ja Morant exists and Desmond Bane is much more of a true “shooting guard” than a wing in his own right, Smart may simply not make sense in Memphis.
Where may he make more sense? A place like Milwaukee, where Smart can absolutely be a “shooting guard”, is a possibility. Philadelphia could also possibly use a player like Smart, and the team Memphis just saw - the Brooklyn Nets - could also check a box.
But again, how does Smart get to those places? Will additional money need to be added to a deal? Will a team be willing to take on Smart and an expiring contract like Luke Kennard to get off longer-term money? Or would numerous 1st round picks tagged to Smart and Brandon Clarke work for a team rebuilding and trying to offload they most valuable asset - preferably a wing?
And then there’s the reality that current Grizzlies players hold more value than any of their draft capital. Say the Milwaukee Bucks do indeed go in to the market of trying to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo. If Memphis truly wants to keep Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. together, the only way to bring in a Giannis would be to tag a player like GG Jackson to the deal (in addition to dumping salaries of Luke Kennard and Brandon Clarke).
There are a lot of things that would have to happen for any trade to occur. So for now, Grizzlies Head Coach Taylor Jenkins will have to keep finding the right fit. Because Marcus Smart must be a force for Memphis to make a run in the Western Conference.
Sports fandom has long been a vehicle of escape, basketball fandom perhaps even more so. If you’re someone who toggles between NBA and WNBA, then you’ll never have a break in games you can escape into. If you’re purely an NBA watcher, then the league has done its willful best to make its product one that runs all year round, even if the games themselves take a break. If you’re even a little online then you can find something NBA-related to get excited/upset/anxious/overworked about any day the year, even in the deepest dregs of August.
Escapism is fine as a temporary measure. There’s no person alive that doesn’t seek it out in some shape or form, sometime. In basketball fandom the dangers of treating the game, and the people who play it, as a pure means of escape run fairly parallel to the dangers of this political moment.
To lose sight of the humanity of athletes, to range on the spectrum of othering to nullification of their personhood; to assume a franchise has only your interests as its sole, driving concern. To put so much stake into the outcome of a game, a season, that anything outside of pure dominance and control is considered failure. To take on defeat as a personality trait and grow miserable, hostile, blame serving both as vitriolic release and an easy balm.
This is perhaps a clumsy attempt to address the U.S. election results last night in a newsletter about NBA basketball, but it seemed a perfect encapsulation of my point of blind escapism to write about OKC’s pestering defence, or Joel Embiid’s three game suspension after shoving a reporter, and make no mention of Donald Trump’s second ascension.
Basketball isn’t apolitical. No sport is, but the NBA hasn’t been for a long time. Shut up and dribble, stop-work protests in the Orlando Bubble led by athletes personally the target of police brutality, taking a knee. Even when it isn’t trying to be, it is, because it’s a game played by people and beyond that, predominantly Black men. In October 1979, when the Knicks paired their roster from 13 players down to 11 — a move required by league regulation — media and fans jumped on the move because the remaining team became the first all Black roster in the league. “White people have to have white heroes,” Cavs owner, Ted Stepien said at the time, “I myself can’t equate to Black heroes, I’ll be truthful. I respect them, but I need white people.”
Being the target of someone’s desire for escapism can be enough to turn something from the political to the personal, and vice versa. We’re seeing a new iteration of it now with the rise of sports betting and the blurring of boundaries between athletes and fans, but Kareem Abdul-Jabbar saw and put it succinctly in the early 1970s. “Out there, you’re a vector for all the hostility in the stands,” he said.
As a conduit for escape, there are no political prerequisites. Fandom isn’t barred from you based on your voting patterns. There may be an urge now, regardless of how you hoped (even as an observer, as I am) this election ended up, to burrow into basketball as escape, almost as a reflexive action. The distinct humanitarian fracturing at play not only in this election but on a global scale, this onus of “us vs.them”, or blame over solution (blame as solution), the narrowing of scope to only have your own interests at heart, is all a symptom of escapism. Just as it’s crucial as an engaged fan to not lose sight of an athlete’s personhood, the same goes, albeit on a decidedly more critical scale, in the wider world.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Analysis Kevin Durant reacts to a viral moment featuring Ja Morant’s highlight play, showcasing Morant’s impressive skills against the Nets. (Sports Illustrated)
Milestone Zach Edey makes NBA history in the Grizzlies vs. Nets game, leaving a notable mark on the league’s records. (Sports Illustrated)
Must Read Over the years, the NBA has learned to embrace activism and social justice. Read more. (TIME)
Legacy Reflecting on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s impact — here’s how he changed the rules for Black athletes. (National Endowment for the Humanities)
Analysis How did Sterling Brown get the NBA to listen to its players? (The Daily Beast)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Replacements For Jeremy Sochan & Aaron Gordon
Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (8) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Ball Arena.|Photo by Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
As we gear up for another action-packed Wednesday with 12 NBA games, it’s crucial to stay updated on player statuses and potential fantasy basketball moves. Injuries are shaking up lineups, and knowing who to add or drop can make all the difference in your fantasy league.
Key Injuries and Player Additions
Aaron Gordon’s calf strain is a significant blow, sidelining him for an estimated four weeks. This opens up opportunities for Peyton Watson, who is expected to see increased minutes, making him a valuable addition to your roster. Julian Strawther might also benefit, but Watson is the priority pick.
Jeremy Sochan’s thumb fracture is another long-term injury, likely keeping him out for six to eight weeks. In his absence, Julian Champagnie emerges as a strong candidate for increased playing time. While Keldon Johnson might be a points league preference, Champagnie is a solid choice across formats.
Nick Richards is dealing with fractured rib cartilage, sidelining him for at least two weeks. With Mark Williams also out, the Hornets will likely start Taj Gibson, but he’s not a recommended fantasy add. Instead, keep an eye on Grant Williams, who could be a viable option in deeper leagues.
Game Previews and Strategic Considerations
The Detroit Pistons face the Charlotte Hornets, with the Hornets slightly favoured. Jalen Duren’s recent performances have been promising, but his minutes might be capped, allowing Isaiah Stewart to continue his role as a backup centre. Stewart’s current role suits him well, and he’s performing admirably in it.
For the Charlotte Hornets, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller’s dynamics are worth monitoring. Ball’s interactions with Charles Lee and Miller’s reduced minutes and shooting are areas of concern. Miles Bridges’ performance has been underwhelming, but improvement is expected.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Grizzlies podcasts.
Ja Morant and Zach Edey thrive in tough Memphis loss against Brooklyn Nets Zach Edey did something as a rookie for the Memphis Grizzlies that only Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon did before him? Ja Morant made not one, but two, jaw-dropping plays in a loss against the Brooklyn Nets? Host Joe Mullinax chooses that joy instead of the despair of defeat on this Election Day edition of Locked on Grizzlies!
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