Grizzlies' Desmond Bane (22) high fives fans as he walks off the court after the Grizzlies defeated the Mavericks 120-106 in the play-in game to secure a spot in the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, April 18, 2025. Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Stephen A Smith’s Controversial Memphis Statement After Blockbuster Trade

Originally posted on Memphis Grizzlies on SI
By Grant Mona | Last updated Jun 17, 2025 12:11 PM ET

Around the trade deadline, there were rumors of the Memphis Grizzlies being a possible target for Jimmy Butler. As interest grew among teams, Jimmy Butler expressed his desire to avoid playing in Memphis with the Grizzlies, despite their talented young roster.

"League sources just relayed to me that the Memphis Grizzlies along with a few other teams have received word that Jimmy Butler has no interest in being traded there. So the message is being delivered that a trade should not be attempted to acquire [Jimmy Butler]." @ChrisBHaynes https://t.co/r3RGnBVgAq pic.twitter.com/HPpRKVJz6h
— Dru (@dru_star) January 7, 2025

After a challenging 2023-2024 season for the Grizzlies, they bounced back in the 2024-2025 season, returning a mostly-healthy Ja Morant and establishing themselves as one of the best teams in the Western Conference through the All-Star break.

A Jimmy Butler trade never materialized, and he was instead sent to the Golden State Warriors, propelling them to a playoff run. As the Grizzlies navigated a rough stretch after the All-Star break, they parted ways with their longtime coach Taylor Jenkins in an effort to reset the team.

BREAKING: The Miami Heat are finalizing a deal to send Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors for Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schroder, Kyle Anderson and a protected first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/82mWHKCnVM
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025

Memphis fell to the Play-In Tournament and secured the 8th seed in the Western Conference before playing the 68-win Oklahoma City Thunder and getting swept.

ESPN star Stephen A. Smith appeared on "First Take" to make a bold claim about why players are turning down opportunities to play in Memphis.

"Cats like Jimmy Butler and others don’t feel like it’s the safest environment. I’m talking to the local authorities in Memphis. You gotta clean some of that stuff up because it's disuasive to NBA players. They have talked about it. I know. They've told me," Smith said.

"You gonna tell folks why nobody wants to be in Memphis? Or you want me to do it?"
"Cats like Jimmy Butler and others don’t feel like it’s the safest environment. I’m talking to the local authorities in Memphis." - Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/qD9UjV5ZV4
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 17, 2025

The Grizzlies are now entering a season that feels like a reset, hiring a new head coach in Tuomas Iiusalo and trading star guard Desmond Bane for a haul of draft capital.

This article first appeared on Memphis Grizzlies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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