Grizzlies interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff talks about veteran center Marc Gasol's leadership despite losing. Ronald Tillery/The Commercial Appeal
Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff has been put in the position of eulogizing a roster spot and 19.5 points per game on the basketball court.
Bickerstaff has talked about Tyreke Evans’ place on the Grizzlies and his contributions this season in the past tense for a week.
Evans is not injured but missed his fifth straight game Wednesday night, coinciding with the Grizzlies fifth straight loss, a 92-88 defeat to the Utah Jazz at FedExForum.
Memphis is expected to trade Evans on Thursday by the NBA’s 2 p.m. CST trade deadline. A deal has been widely anticipated since the Grizzlies pulled Evans on Jan. 31 before a road game tipped off against the Indiana Pacers.
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There is strong speculation that Evans could end up with the Boston Celtics. Memphis is trying to acquire a first-round pick for Evans, who will become an unrestricted free agent following the regular season.
Evans, the Grizzlies’ leading scorer, signed with the Grizzlies last summer for one season at $3.3 million.
