Chris Dodson Articles - Page 2

The Memphis Grizzlies are clinging to hopes of an NBA Play-In Tournament berth, but this team needs more than injury luck to succeed in the postseason. Although Ja Morant had supposedly “figured out” the Oklahoma City Thunder last spring, the landscape has changed dramatically in the last six months. NBA Trade Deadline rumors are swirling […]

Tuomas Iisalo’s Memphis Grizzlies did not set out to replace Ja Morant. Not publicly, anyway. Morant remains the franchise’s most electric talent, its most recognizable face and, when healthy and available, its emotional engine. But NBA front offices plan for contingencies, and coaches who survive in this league tend to think two steps ahead. Over […]

The Berlin setting was grand, but the ending felt all too familiar for the Memphis Grizzlies. In the first of two NBA Europe events, Tuomas Iisalo’s squad squandered a 20-point lead against the Orlando Magic, wasting a dominant first from Jaren Jackson Jr. and exposing late-game issues that traveled just as far as the team […]

The optics have been complicated, the noise unavoidable, and the questions persistent. Ja Morant’s fence-mending has not been on the floor, the Memphis Grizzlies have slipped into the Western Conference’s play-in tier, and a season that once carried top-six expectations now requires nightly grit just to stay afloat. Still, Jaren Jackson Jr. does not believe […]

The NBA’s All-Star process has never been kind to teams buried at the bottom of the standings, and Trey Murphy III understands that reality as well as anyone. The new-look New Orleans Pelicans started training camp with playoff aspirations, but the season has been derailed by injuries to its most established stars. Dejounte Murray and […]

With the NBA trade deadline looming and the out-of-sorts New Orleans Pelicans sitting in last place in the Western Conference, the typical script would call for a franchise-altering shakeup. However, inside the facility, a narrative built around patience and a potent, burgeoning partnership is still permeating. That is why the front office is reportedly telling […]

Last place has a way of stripping away illusions before the NBA Trade Deadline, and for the voodoo-hexed New Orleans Pelicans, the core questions are glaring. Zion Williamson was supposed to be the closer, the gravitational force who bent late-game possessions to his will. Trey Murphy III has surged into an All-Star-level role, providing spacing […]

The comparisons come with an obvious caveat. Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is a two-time NBA MVP, a championship centerpiece, and one of the most distinctive offensive engines the league has ever seen. Derik Queen is a rookie still learning how to impose himself consistently at the professional level. And yet, inside the New Orleans […]

Tough lessons come quickly and often in the NBA. Unfortunately for the fans, the last-placed looking-for-answers New Orleans Pelicans have learned, sometimes painfully, that their margin for error shrinks dramatically when Herb Jones is not on the floor. It is not simply about losing one of the NBA’s elite perimeter defenders. It is about losing […]

For the first time in his career, Zion Williamson is playing without looking over his shoulder. There is no minutes restriction, no looming medical check-in, just the game’s natural flow and his own stamina dictating his time on the court. That newfound freedom is the foundation for everything else unfolding for the regrouping New Orleans […]

It’s that time of the season. No, not trade rumor whispers. Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans are publicly stumping for a group of his youngest teammates, firmly believing a trio of rookies deserves NBA Rising Stars honors. Sure, Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears have given fans plenty of hope for the future. Everyone knows they’ll […]

The whispers connecting Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Boston Celtics have circulated through NBA trade rumor mills, but Memphis Grizzlies fans can rest easy. A clear examination of roster construction, financial logistics, and draft capital underscores how a potential trade is fundamentally unserious, representing little more than wishful thinking. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, plus […]

The tension between Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies has become impossible to ignore. When a franchise cornerstone and the organization that built around him start butting heads, the clock starts ticking on a potential rupture that could define both parties for years to come. However, this relationship isn’t beyond repair, given Morant’s presence with […]

The New Orleans Pelicans have witnessed plenty of memorable rookie seasons over the years, from Chris Paul’s electric debut in 2005-06 to Anthony Davis’s dominant introduction in 2012-13. Now, Jeremiah Fears is writing a new chapter in franchise history, and the numbers suggest the 19-year-old is on pace to leave both Hall of Fame-bound legends […]

The journey from a summer league prospect to a central figure on an opponent’s whiteboard is rarely a quiet one. However, Cam Spencer’s ascent with the bruised-up Memphis Grizzlies has been marked by a subtle but unmistakable shift in the atmosphere whenever the young guard takes the floor. What began as a summer experiment has […]

The busted-up Memphis Grizzlies boarded a transatlantic flight for two European games against the Orlando Magic with far more questions than healthy bodies. After beating the Brooklyn Nets, Tuomas Iisalo offered a series of updates, painting a mixed picture of availability for Ja Morant, Ty Jerome, and Zach Edey. While the trip promises excitement for […]

The final minutes of a close NBA game are a unique brand of chaos. The pace tightens, the pressure mounts, and every possession becomes a high-stakes chess match where experience is the most valued currency. For Tuomas Iisalo’s drama-driven Memphis Grizzlies, finding players who can not only survive but thrive in that “crunch time” environment […]

The NBA trade rumor mill spares no one, but when the whispers turn to a superstar like Ja Morant, the noise becomes a deafening roar. As reports swirled about the Memphis Grizzlies potentially considering a monumental franchise shift, all eyes turned to the locker room for a reaction. It was the team’s DJ, Jaren Jackson […]

The wildly optimistic New Orleans Pelicans have spent years searching for the right on-court chemistry around various All-Stars. Lineups have been shuffled, roles have been redefined, and offensive identities have been rewritten around disappointing news stories. Now, quietly and decisively, the Pelicans believe they have found their most sustainable star pairing in Zion Williamson and […]

The idea of Giannis Antetokounmpo paired with Ja Morant is intoxicating on paper. One is a generational force of nature in the half-court and transition. The other is among the league’s most electric downhill creators. In a vacuum, it looks like a shortcut back to title contention for the Milwaukee Bucks after two seasons of […]

The winds of change are blowing through the FedExForum before the NBA Trade Deadline. After a tumultuous few seasons defined by injuries, suspensions, and unmet expectations, the Memphis Grizzlies are entertaining offers for Ja Morant. EVP Zach Kleiman is suddenly trying to fill a massive rotational void and redefine an identity, all while turning around […]

Few storylines carry the weight of Ja Morant’s uncertain future with Tuomas Iisalo’s regrouping Memphis Grizzlies as the NBA Trade Deadline looms. Once the electrifying face of the Grind City revival, the two-time All-Star has seen his tenure marred by injuries and off-court issues alike. A rocky campaign that’s left a 16-22 Play-In-bound squad out […]

The wheeling-and-dealing Detroit Pistons are going through the crucible every young championship hopeful must survive to reach the NBA Finals. After years of rebuilding, the franchise has finally developed a legitimate cornerstone in Cade Cunningham, assembled promising young talent, and cultivated a winning culture under J.B. Bickerstaff. However, they need a couple more upgrades to […]

The NBA trade deadline often produces landscape-altering deals, but rarely do we see opportunities where four franchises can simultaneously address their most pressing needs. A multi-team framework sending Zion Williamson to the banged-up Chicago Bulls presents exactly that rare scenario for the New Orleans Pelicans. Well, as long as the not-quite-there New York Knicks and […]

The line between NBA dynasty and draft-bust disaster is often drawn in the fragile ink of health reports and levels of realized potential. No two franchises have had to learn those hard lessons more than the Tyrese Haliburton’s Indiana Pacers and Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans. Both are flirting with last-place finishes to this season, […]

The stakes have never been higher around Beale Street or Bourbon Street-based basketball. EVP Zach Kleiman’s Memphis Grizzlies have started another new season poorly; Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are failing to launch their respective redemption tours. The same goes for Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans. After a few years defined by suspensions, injury […]

The Memphis Grizzlies desperately needed a victory in the FedEx Forum, and Tuomas Iisalo made some news in an unconventional fashion. With more than half their regular rotation sidelined, Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs still come up short in the FedEx Forum. Sure, the five combined blocks from Santi Aldama and Jaren Jackson Jr. deserve […]

At first glance, Ja Morant and Trae Young appear to occupy similar territory in the NBA trade deadline discourse. Both are former franchise cornerstones that have seen their value complicated by on-court results and off-court considerations. Both also play for teams hovering in the middle of their respective conference races, but the similarities end there. […]

The NBA Trade Deadline news cycle is churning with countless whispers, but the latest rumblings surrounding Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans are grounded in an unavoidable reality. A shrinking pool of teams can even consider a deal for the former first overall pick. Almost every contender is after Herb Jones or Trey Murphy III instead, […]

The NBA trade deadline creates urgency for teams in several unique ways, and this season presents a stark contrast between two All-Stars reportedly on the block. Zion Williamson’s piecemeal New Orleans Pelicans and Trae Young’s agitated Atlanta Hawks are dealing with two drastically different trade market equations. While Young’s name has dominated trade speculation with […]

New coach, new front office, same old story for Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans heading into the NBA Trade Deadline. They are long on theoretical talent, short on wins, and recalibrating how to value fan-favorites Herb Jones and Jose Alvarado. Trey Murphy III sits at the top of the internal hierarchy now, with Joe Dumars […]

The Memphis Grizzlies find themselves in a precarious position as the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline looms. Tuomas Iisalo’s injury-riddled roster is clinging to the 10th spot in the Western Conference, barely holding onto the final Play-In Tournament berth with a 15-20 record. One bench-bolstering move, plus a bit of health luck around Ja Morant and […]

Chad Iske has spent nearly two decades in the NBA’s inner sanctum. The Kansas alum has been in meeting rooms with George Karl and on courts with Carmelo Anthony, Brad Beal, John Wall, and LaMelo Ball. The Iowa native has seen Nikola Jokic grow up with the Denver Nuggets and celebrated with a Coach of […]

Critics of today’s NBA sometimes claim the players simply do not know their history. However, Trey Murphy III broke that mold right after getting called up during the NBA Draft. Well, at least when it came to breaking three-pointer records with the rebuilding New Orleans Pelicans. The 17th overall pick was going to be quite […]

The punch-drunk New Orleans Pelicans are approaching a defining stretch of their season, one that will test not just their depth, but the clarity of the Joe Dumars vision. Zion Williamson and Derik Queen are finally playing 30+ minutes a night together, showing fans what could be a great foundation. Beyond that and the trade […]

The prideful New Orleans Pelicans have endured a challenging start to the season, navigating a string of injuries that have tested the depth of their roster. However, as the team waits to welcome back key contributors Dejounte Murray and Herb Jones in the coming weeks, there’s a palpable sense of optimism surrounding the franchise. Zion […]

Going into 2026, the busted-up New Orleans Pelicans find themselves in a familiar, albeit uncomfortable, position. However, though sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, there is no scent of surrender in the Smoothie King Center. According to interim coach James Borrego, a determined sense of resolve hangs in the air around Zion […]

The New Orleans Pelicans knew Derik Queen was a productive rebounder before the 2025 NBA Draft. What James Borrego did not expect was everything else the Maryland alum was bringing to the home of Mardi Gras. Thankfully, it seems apparent now that the Rookie of the Year candidate’s rebounding base, coupled with emerging rim protection and […]

A reshaped roster, an early-season coaching change, and a fan base impatient for tangible progress have created an unforgiving environment, particularly for a rookie still learning the ropes. However, according to James Borrego, Derik Queen is tuning out the static to become the next face of the New Orleans Pelicans. Selecting Queen 13th overall in […]