Yuta Watanabe is close to a deal with the Chiba Jets of Japan's B.League. Watanabe has spent the last six seasons in the NBA, but announced earlier this offseason that he was planning to play in Japan for next season.

Watanabe has played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns in his NBA career. Last season, he signed with the Suns on a two-year deal, before being traded to the Grizzlies mid-season. Watanabe has a $2.6 million player option for next season, which he'll have to decline to sign with the Jets.

Watanabe will play with Japan at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. He'll then have a homecoming next season as the biggest Japanese star to play in the country's top league.

Donovan Clingan has positioned himself to be a top prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft. Despite that status, Clingan could slip in the draft, because several teams with top picks already have centers in place.

If Clingan starts to slide, a handful of teams are positioned to try to trade up to select him. The Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz could all move up from their later-lottery picks to get in range to draft Clingan. The floor for the UConn center is considered to be the Portland Trail Blazers, who hold the seventh overall pick.

Clingan measured at 7-foot-3 with a 7-foot-7 wingspan and a 9-foot-7 standing reach at the Draft Combine. He's considered an outstanding defender, and he has nice touch on his jumper too. Many scouts envision Clingan eventually becoming an all-around offensive threat, who can also protect the rim, similar to a later-career Brook Lopez.

The Houston Rockets have discussed trading the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft with both the Brooklyn Nets and Memphis Grizzlies.

The Rockets' target in trade talks with the Nets is Mikal Bridges. However, Brooklyn is seeking players to add around Bridges in any deals they make.

The Grizzlies are reportedly attempting to move up to be in range to draft center Donovan Clingan. Memphis has a need for a long-term center to add to their core. Clingan isn't expected to be available when the Grizzlies select with the ninth overall pick.

The Memphis Grizzlies are expected to evaluate trade opportunities for the No. 9 overall pick, sources tell Zach Lowe of ESPN.

The Grizzlies are treating their 23-24 season as a gap of year of sorts as Ja Morant began the season suspended and then suffered a season-ending injury. The Grizzlies could look to turn the lottery pick into a veteran contributor.

Memphis, however, isn't determined to trading the pick and instead "will look at everything."

With the 2024 NBA draft considered one of the weaker ones in recent memory, the trade packages for No. 9 could be limited. 

The NBA held its 2024 draft lottery in Chicago on Sunday with the Atlanta Hawks winning the top overall pick. The Hawks entered the lottery with just a three percent chance of securing the top pick.

Ja Morant has hired Mike Miller of Lift Sports Management as his new representation. Miller also represents Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr.

Morant was previously represented by Jim Tanner.

Morant signed a five-year, $193 million extension with the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2022 offseason and cannot become a free agent until 2028.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Yuta Watanabe took to Instagram Live to share his plans for next season. Watanabe said he's leaving the NBA to return home to play in his native Japan.

Watanabe said there are many factors in his decision, including it being best for his mental health. There were no indications of what team he intends to play for. Watanabe is also expected to play for Japan at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The 6-foot-9 forward has a $2.6 million player option with the Grizzlies for next season, which it appears that he'll decline. Watanabe was acquired by Memphis from the Phoenix Suns in a trade deadline deal. In total, Watanabe has appeared in 213 regular season NBA games over six seasons with the Grizzlies, Suns, Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets.

A Tennessee judge ruled Ja Morant fairly acted in self-defense when he punched a teenager at his home in July 2022. 

The ruling comes after a December 2023 civil immunity hearing in Memphis, where Morant testified that he "swung first" at Joshua Holloway, then 17, to protect himself during an altercation that led to Holloway filing a September 2022 lawsuit accusing Morant of assault.

The fight occurred during a pickup basketball game.

Holloway, allegedly frustrated by losing several games, was accused of throwing a one-handed pass at Morant during a check-ball situation.

The ball hit Morant in the face, after which Morant said Holloway took a step toward him and that he then stepped forward and punched Holloway.

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Zavier Simpson to a second 10-day contract and wing Jack White to a 10-day contract. 

Simpson (6-0, 190) has appeared in three games as a reserve for the Grizzlies and has averaged 5.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals in 24.0 minutes after signing his first 10-day contract on March 30 as a Call-Up from the NBA G League’s Motor City Cruise. 

White (6-7, 225) appeared in 29 games (23 starts) for the South Bay Lakers during the showcase and regular season and averaged 9.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists in 26.2 minutes.

The Memphis Grizzlies retired Marc Gasol's No. 33 jersey in a ceremony on Saturday night.

Gasol is the second player to have his jersey retired by the franchise after Zach Randolph.

Gasol is the Grizzlies’ all-time leader in minutes played, games started, field goals made, free throws made, rebounds, and blocks.

Randolph, Mike Conley, and Tony Allen were also in attendance.