Yesterday one of the bartenders at Blind Bear told me I was that place’s “emotional support regular.” That made me smile.
The Grizzlies have offered Ja Morant a 5-year, $193 million extension which will begin in 2023 after his rookie contract expires. The extension is the maximum allowed under the NBA collective bargaining agreement. An escalator clause in the contract will turn it into a supermax deal, worth $231 million over 5 years, if Ja qualifies by making an all-NBA team next season.
Congratulations, Ja. You deserve it. Memphis loves you.
The Grizzlies’ front office made another smart deal yesterday, re-signing backup point guard Tyus Jones for 2 years and $30 million. I applaud this move vigorously. Jones will bring security and stability to the Grizzlies and can act as a mentor to Kennedy Chandler. He wanted a starting job, which he won’t get in Memphis, but $5 million a year above the mid-level exception (his likely compensation if he’d signed with another team) should help soften the blow.
In not-so-good news, Jaren Jackson Jr. will have foot surgery and will miss 4-6 months. That means he could miss as much as the first two months of the 2022-23 regular season.
One more interesting piece of news from NBA free agency: Kevin Durant has requested a trade away from the Brooklyn Nets. Although Phoenix and Miami are his top two destinations, the probability of Memphis getting him is greater than zero. Dillon Brooks + Brandon Clarke + Steven Adams + two first-round picks for KD? I’d do it. Trouble is, Brooklyn would probably want Desmond Bane or Jaren Jackson Jr. as part of the package.
EDIT: One more piece of free agency news. Minnesota signed Kyle Anderson for 2 years, $18 million. So he’s gone from Memphis.
There was a report of a robbery at gunpoint at Front and Monroe about 7 this morning. The suspects fled in an older-model Kia.
It’s the first of the month, so let’s have a look at FedExForum events happening in July:
- Tonight: Kingdom Tour: Maverick City Music X Kirk Franklin. Special guests Jonathan McReynolds and Housefires.
- Friday, July 15: Yo Gotti & Friends Birthday Bash 8. The lineup has not been announced, but in the past Yo Gotti has brought in names like Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj, Gucci Mane, and Lil Wayne.
The Redbirds host the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp tonight at 7:05. All weekend long there will be a 4th of July Cookout specialty ticket. It gets you unlimited burgers, hot dogs, chips, cookies, and up to two drinks (soft drinks or water) per person. There will be fireworks after the game today, tomorrow, and Sunday. The first 1000 fans through the gates tonight receive a Memphis Redbirds tumbler.
The Memphis Farmers Market spotlighted a very interesting vendor on social media this week – Bailans. They produce authentic African spices that don’t contain additives, salt, or sugar. Their offerings include
- African hot chicken spice
- Ethiopian seasoning (Berbere)
- Moroccan roasted vegetable seasoning
- South African Piri Piri hot everyday seasoning
- Moroccan all-purpose seasoning (Ras el Hanout)
- African blend seafood seasoning
- South African curry (Cape Malay)
- African blend steak seasoning
Can’t make it to the Market tomorrow? You can order the seasonings online, and they have gift packs too.
From the Memphis Flyer: A Memphian will compete in the Nathan’s Hot Dog eating competition on Coney Island this year, and he has a Downtown connection. He won the meatball-eating contest at the Bardog alley party one year, and afterward Aldo sponsored him for some eating contests, including qualifiers for the Nathan’s event.
From Food & Wine: This hard seltzer is brewed with leftover hot dog water. Ummm. Hard pass.
UCLA and USC will join the Big Ten by 2024. Will this trigger another round of conference realignment? WIll the Pac-12 still be considered a “Power Five” conference without two of its biggest names?
Today is International Chicken Wing Day.
That’s the news for today. I hope this post helped kill a few minutes of your time pleasantly as you wait for the “You can leave work early” email. Back tomorrow with more news.