Grizzlies who could be waived after Ja Morant returns from suspension
Nae’qwan Tomlin will join the Memphis basketball team as a midseason transfer, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told The Commercial Appeal Tuesday.
The former Kansas State big man visited the Tigers Monday.
Tomlin (6-10) recently walked for graduation. He is awaiting admission to the University of Memphis. When that happens, he is eligible to play immediately.
Kansas, Arizona, Purdue, Indiana, Michigan State, Kentucky, Auburn and West Virginia were among dozens of programs also pursuing Tomlin.
The New York native played for Chipola (Florida) College, where current Tigers director of scouting Jordan Ver
Newton’s Third Law of Motion will soon factor into the Memphis Grizzlies’ roster.
The Grizzlies must react on Dec. 19 to the action of adding superstar point guard Ja Morant back from a 25-game suspension. Morant’s potential return outweighs the ramifications of losing a player on the 15-man roster, but this will still be a tough and crucial decision.
Bismack Biyombo was added to the Grizzlies’ roster after the fifth game, and he has started 15 of his 17 appearances. Initially, it seemed that Memphis would add a player who would just be dropped when Morant returns, but Biyombo has done enough to make the Grizzlies at least consider other options.
Trading, releasing or waiving players are among the choices, but each can be difficult. Most of the Grizzlies’ standard contracts are guaranteed beyond this season, meaning the release of any of those players could have salary cap and luxury tax consequences. With Des
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Ja Morant, Joshua Holloway should be embarrassed, not embroiled in lawsuit, 1A
mond Bane’s max contract kicking in during 2024-25 and the second year of Morant’s max deal, Memphis will likely begin next season in the luxury tax, which is designed to create spending penalties for teams significantly over the salary cap.
Waiving a player is very similar to a release, but the difference is other NBA teams will have an opportunity to pick up a waived player over a 24-hour period. If another team claims a waived Grizzlies player, Memphis will no longer be on the hook for that contract.
What about a trade? Well, December trades in the NBA are as common as two-dollar bills.
Memphis can’t use a two-way player or contract since those players do not count against the 15-man roster, and Jaylen Nowell’s 10-day contract via an injury hardship exception is expiring after Wednesday’s game against the Rockets.
Here are some options Memphis must consider.
Letting go of Kenneth Lofton Jr.
Keeping Biyombo would give the Grizzlies two experienced centers in addition to Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama’s ability to play the five. With those four players in the rotation, Memphis could opt to let go of Kenneth Lofton Jr.
Lofton has rarely seen the floor this season despite putting up staggering numbers with the Memphis Hustle in the G League. He won G League Rookie of the Year last season and was expected to make a jump into this season’s Grizzlies rotation. Despite recently losing 20 pounds, Lofton has played only 6.6 minutes per game this season after averaging 7.3 as a rookie.
Waiving or releasing Lofton wouldn’t carry the drawn-out financial impact of some others. Even though he signed a four-year contract near the end of last season, Lofton’s $2 million in 2024-25 in non-guaranteed, according to Spotrac. Memphis would just eat what remains of Lofton’s $1.7 million salary this season if it chose to let go of him.
Admitting a first-round draft mistake
It’s not uncommon to have pride in a sport like basketball, and releasing a recent first-round pick would be an admittance of a draft mistake. The Grizzlies drafted Jake Laravia two seasons ago with a first-round pick, and he is yet to have a sustained role. He’s the only remaining player from the Grizzlies’ 2022 rookie class who hasn’t started an NBA game.
Like Lofton, Laravia has put up tantalizing numbers when playing with the Hustle. The difference, however, is Lofton had 42 points and 14 rebounds in his lone start at the end of last regular season. Laravia hasn’t scored double figures since Nov. 20 of his rookie season in 2022, so Memphis is still waiting to see him turn into the difference-making 3-point shooter the team drafted him to be.
With all that being said, it’s highly unlikely that Laravia goes anywhere. He has dealt with injuries, and it is too soon to come to a verdict on what he can be. Memphis is also contractually tied to him through the 2024-25 season.
The Grizzlies picked up the rookie scale options on Laravia, Santi Aldama, Ziaire Williams and David Roddy before the season. Laravia will make more than $3.3 million guaranteed next season, which would create a sizeable dead cap.
Williams is another former firstround pick who has been in and out of the rotation, but he’s scheduled to make more than $6.1 million next season. In other words, unless the Grizzlies can find the rare December trade partner, Williams and Laravia are highly unlikely to be waived or released because of the resulting financial implications.
Bismack Biyombo's 20-game run ends
Signing Biyombo for a temporary stay was the expected outcome before he recorded 10 or more rebounds in his first four starts and gave Memphis a jolt in the frontcourt. Biyombo’s numbers have fallen closer to his career averages since the hot start. His streak of consecutive starts ended at 15 on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks. Still, he has been an asset to the Grizzlies’ frontcourt.
If Memphis determines that Lofton’s long-term value is worth the investment, parting ways with Biyombo and eating his remaining salary for this season would make sense.
Chargers QB Herbert done for season after surgery on finger
COSTA MESA, Calif. – Justin Herbert was to undergo surgery on Tuesday on his broken index finger on his right hand and will miss the Los Angeles Chargers’ remaining four games this season.
Herbert visited two hand specialists on Monday after he suffered the injury during the second quarter of Los Angeles’ 24-7 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
“He is tough as they come, but we’re going to make sure that, whatever it is, we’re going to do what is best for Justin, long term,” coach Brandon Staley said on Monday.
Herbert is the seventh starting quarterback in the league to be lost for the season because of an injury if the Jets’ Aaron Rodgers does not return from his torn Achilles tendon. That includes the top two QBS who signed extensions during the preseason.
Herbert signed a $252.5 million extension on the first day of training camp and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow inked a five-year extension worth $275 million three days before the start of the regular season.
Easton Stick will get his first NFL start on Thursday night at Las Vegas against the Raiders. The Chargers are 5-8 and have dropped four of their past five.
Ex-duke QB Leonard announces transfer to Notre Dame
Notre Dame is going from one talented ACC quarterback to another after Duke’s Riley Leonard committed to the Fighting Irish on Tuesday.
Leonard, who helped the Blue Devils start the season with a stunning 28-7 victory over then-no. 9 Clemson, entered the transfer portal after his team’s 7-5 season.
He announced his intention to play for Notre Dame on social media, writing “A dream come true. Go Irish,” with a shamrock image at the end.
Riley is expected to take over the starting job that ex-wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman had for the Fighting Irish this season. Hartman joined Notre Dame this past season after five seasons with the Demon Deacons.
Leonard played in 27 games for Duke the past three seasons, throwing for 4,450 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He played in just seven games this season after sustaining an injury late in a 21-14 loss to Notre Dame on Sept. 30.
Michigan State quarterback Noah Kim has also announced his transfer destination and tight end Maliq Carr entered the portal.
Halep gets February appeal date to challenge 4-year ban
LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Twotime Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has an appeal hearing in February to challenge her four-year ban for doping, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said Tuesday.
The three-day hearing is set for Feb. 7-9 for Halep’s appeal against the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
The court set no target for a verdict, which can take several months from a panel of three judges.
The 32-year-old Halep was banned in September after an investigation into her positive test at the 2022 U.S. Open that later included irregularities in her biological passport.
Halep, who reached No. 1 in the WTA rankings in 2017, has claimed contaminated nutritional supplements caused her positive test for Roxadustat.
The European Union’s medicines agency says the substance stimulates the body to produce more of the natural hormone erythropoietin, or EPO which has long been a doping product favored by endurance athletes.
Messi vs. Ronaldo set; Inter Miami to play 2 matches in Saudi Arabia
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will meet in Saudi Arabia after all.
Inter Miami confirmed Monday that it will take part in the Riyadh Season Cup – something that was announced by Saudi officials on Nov. 21. Inter Miami said the reports at that time were inaccurate.
Inter Miami will play Al-hilal on Jan. 29 and Al Nassr – Ronaldo’s team – on Feb. 1. Those two clubs lead the Saudi Pro League and Ronaldo is that league’s leading scorer.
“These matches will offer important tests for our team, which will benefit us as we approach the new season,” Inter Miami sporting director Chris Henderson said. “We’re excited for our group to get the chance to go up against teams with as much quality as Al-hilal and Al Nassr.”
Messi and Ronaldo have faced off 35 times between matches for club and country, Inter Miami said, with Messi’s teams winning 16, Ronaldo’s teams winning 10 and the sides settling for a draw on the other nine occasions. Messi has 21 goals and 12 assists in those matches; Ronaldo has 20 goals and one assist.
Messi has promoted tourism in Saudi Arabia and in May was suspended by former club Paris Saint-germain for making an unauthorized trip to the country. He also played in this year’s Riyadh Season Cup when PSG was the guest team.
QB Maye entering NFL draft, won't play in UNC'S bowl game
North Carolina star quarterback Drake Maye is entering the NFL draft and won’t play in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl for the Tar Heels against West Virginia.
Maye announced his decision in a social media post Monday, ending his UNC career that included two years as the starter putting up prolific numbers and making himself one of the most sought-after potential prospects for the NFL.
The school has also announced that all-acc linebacker Cedric Gray, receiver Devontez “Tez” Walker, offensive lineman Corey Gaynor and defensive lineman Myles Murphy are all entering the NFL draft. Of that group, only Murphy is set to play in the bowl game.
“We want to thank these young men for all they’ve contributed to Carolina football during their times with the program,” coach Mack Brown said in a statement. “It’s been a pleasure to watch them grow and flourish both on the field and off. We wish them nothing but the best and look forward to watching them represent UNC as they move on to the next chapters of their careers.”
Maye’s decision is hardly a surprise, with Brown saying in November he thought it was “absolute” that Maye would declare for the draft high draft potential. Maye held back on any such announcements, though he spoke with some finality after the team’s doubleovertime win against rival Duke in what turned out to be his final home game.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound third-year sophomore closed his career in a lopsided loss at rival North Carolina State, which included Maye suffering an ankle injury. But Maye returned to grind out one more drive despite clearly being hobbled while walking the sideline, saying afterward he wanted to “get back out with the guys and not leave them out there.”
Davalillo, a 2-time World Series champion in 16 major league seasons, dies
Vic Davalillo, a two-time World Series champion who spent 16 seasons in the major leagues and won a Gold Glove in 1964, has died. He was 84 or 87, depending on conflicting sources.
Davalillo died on Wednesday in Caracas after an emergency surgery due to an intestinal obstruction and renal insufficiency, daughter Helga Davalillo said.
Baseball Reference lists his date of birth as July 30, 1939, but Davalillo considered July 31 his birthday and Asdrúbal Fuenmayor wrote in a 2006 biography that Davalillo was born in 1936. The 1969 Sporting News Baseball Register also used 1936.