NBA Notes: Sixers, VJ Edgecombe, Grizzlies, relocation, Lakers

76ers

No Joel Embiid. No Tyrese Maxey. No Paul George. Yet the Sixers have won three of their last four, leaning heavily on young pieces like VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes and Justin Edwards, as noted by Tony Jones of The Athletic.

Edgecombe, in particular, is getting a real taste of responsibility. He’s seeing defenses geared toward stopping him. That’s new territory.

“I was being double-teamed against Brooklyn,” Edgecombe said. “I had never been doubled in my life. I guess I just have to go back and look at the film.”

He finished that game with 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting. More importantly, he’s getting reps as a primary option. For a team missing its stars, that’s about as valuable as it gets right now.

Grizzlies

The Grizzlies aren’t going anywhere.

Amid ongoing questions about the future, FedEx executive Richard Smith said an advisory firm found no indication that owner Robert Pera is looking to sell or relocate the franchise, per Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

“I don’t think there’s any truth to rumors that he wants to move the team,” Smith told Cole.

He added that his family would have had interest in pursuing the team if it were for sale, with the goal of keeping it in Memphis.

The Grizzlies and the city are currently negotiating a lease extension at FedExForum. The current deal runs through the 2028-29 season.

Lakers

This is starting to look real.

The Lakers have won six straight, including a recent run that features victories over Minnesota, Denver and Houston. All playoff-level teams. All potential postseason matchups.

As Law Murray of The Athletic noted, Los Angeles spent much of the first half of the season searching for consistency despite a solid record. That search may be over.

They’re finding answers late in games. Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton have all delivered in key moments during this stretch.

So the Lakers aren’t just winning. They’re doing it against quality opponents and in playoff-style settings. At the right time, too.