Even before the Memphis Grizzlies dealt guard Marcus Smart shortly before the NBA trade deadline last Thursday, The Daily Memphian’s Chris Herrington presented all sorts of possibilities for trading … Marcus Smart.

In a busy NBA week, Herrington and Drew Hill were all over the news — before, during and after the deadline day — as Smart and Jake LaRavia left Memphis and the Grizzlies cleared salary space for the coming offseason.

Herrington also broke down the three-team deal, Memphis’ remaining roster and Jaren Jackson Jr. contract situation scenarios. Hill reported on what Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman had to say about moving Smart, how the trade reunites some former AAU rivals and the ejection of Ja Morant father’s from FedExForum. He also finished up his four-part series on Jackson’s offseason adventures and revealed how Luke Kennard has worked to rekindle MLB All-Star Brent Rooker’s love for the local NBA team.

This week, heading into NBA All-Star Weekend, the Grizzlies are out West for late-starting games tonight at Phoenix and Wednesday night in Los Angeles against the Clippers.

Also out of town this week are the No. 14 Memphis Tigers, who visit South Florida in Tampa on Thursday night before traveling to visit Wichita State on Sunday morning.

The Tigers are coming off back-to-back wins over Tulsa and Temple at FedExForum, where Parth Upadhyaya wrote on top-scoring guard PJ Haggerty after he faced his former Tulsa team, and Tim Buckley delivered columns centered on big man Moussa Cisse and point guard Dante Harris.

Speaking of the Tigers, Frank Bonner II previewed Memphis’ baseball team as it prepares for its 2025 season opener Friday against Southeast Missouri and wrote about a trio of former Tigers, including high-scoring kicker Jake Elliott, who merely spent their weekend winning the Super Bowl along with their Philadelphia Eagles teammates.

Over on the preps front, John Varlas opined on the latest news involving high school transfer rules and presented a neat story on some Barlett High girls relay runners who are featured in a documentary that has its debut screening tonight at Malco Stage Cinema & Grill in Bartlett.

Here’s a look at some of the staff’s top work from the week: — Deputy sports editor Tim Buckley

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Herrington: After trade deadline, Grizzlies playoff team is 'on the floor' By Chris Herrington

Herrington: How Jaren Jackson Jr.’s All-NBA bid could impact his Grizzlies’ future By Chris Herrington

Triple Vision: Jaren Jackson Jr. can't sit still. It's the key to the world. By Drew Hill

Zach Kleiman: Grizzlies weren't trying to 'win a press conference' By Drew Hill

Tee Morant, father of Ja Morant, ejected from Grizzlies loss to Thunder By Drew Hill

Luke Kennard helps MLB All-Star Brent Rooker revive love for Grizzlies By Drew Hill

Triple Vision: Japan inspired Jaren Jackson Jr. It showed him that he's not 'insane' By Drew Hill

Buckley: Cisse went down. Hardaway had a flashback. It wasn't pretty. By Tim Buckley

PJ Haggerty's performance against former team just 'another game' for Tigers' star By Parth Upadhyaya

Buckley: Dante Harris had a point. Message delivered. That's no fish tale. By Tim Buckley

Improved pitching, defense high on Tigers baseball coach's priority list By Frank Bonner II

Former Memphis kicker Jake Elliott sets Super Bowl record By Frank Bonner II

Varlas: Change is inevitable. But high school sports are different By John Varlas

Bartlett relay teams' redemption story coming to the big screen By John Varlas

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