Multiple Teams Interested In Trading At Least One First Round Pick For Tyler Herro

Marcus Smart was all smiles at his first media day with the Memphis Grizzlies. Smart said he’s getting comfortable and already starting to take on a leadership role with his new team.

“It’s been great,” Smart said. “As they told you already, I’ve been talking defense in there with those guys, but you realize right away that this is a group of guys that are hungry. They want to win and are trying to get better. They’re asking me questions; we’re laughing and joking, but we’re excited.”

Memphis is going to lean heavily on Smart while Ja Morant serves his 25-game suspension to begin the year. Smart said he’s ready to take on that leadership role for the Grizzlies by doing what he’s always done.

“Just continue to be me. I’ve never been fake, and anyone who knows me understands that,” Smart said. “By doing that, it allows that genuineness to come out. Figuring out the balance and everything else will work itself out.”

D’Angelo Russell and the Minnesota Timberwolves were unable to make progress on a contract extension this past offseason, sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo.

Russell is in the final season of a four-year, $117 million deal he initially agreed to as part of a sign-and-trade with the Golden State Warriors. The Wolves traded for Russell in 2020 under Gersson Rosas.

“Yeah, it’s my life,” Russell told Yahoo. “That’s it. Just be conscious of it.”

The Miami Heat have registered interest in Russell, but a direct deal for Kyle Lowry appears unlikely. The Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns are two teams known to be monitoring potential improvements in the backcourt before the deadline. The Suns were linked to Russell in 2019 as he has a close relationship with Devin Booker.

Russell was asked by Yahoo how he is currently helping to push Anthony Edwards.

“I’m an Alpha as well, you know what I mean?” said Russell. “And I feel like I’m better than a lot of shooting guards and I’m better than a lot of point guards.”