The Grizzlies suddenly have a treasure trove of future firsts. Per Bobby Marks of ESPN, the Grizzlies' tally is 13 first-rounders across the next seven seasons. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reports that Utah is sending Memphis its most favorable first-rounder in 2027 between the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Jazz; the Los Angeles Lakers' 2027 first-round pick; and the Phoenix Suns' 2031 first.
Noah Clowney delivered another breakout performance with 29 points and career highs in free throws made (10) and attempted (12), but it still wasn't enough. The Utah Jazz surged in the fourth quarter to snap Brooklyn's two-game win streak and send the Nets to 5-17 after a 123-110 win. And for most of the night, it looked like Brooklyn had done enough to extend that streak.
Hats off to Markkanen for making the most of his situation in Utah. He was a key piece in the Donovan Mitchell trade to Cleveland back in the 2022 offseason, and the Finnish sharpshooter surprised everyone by stepping into the role of Utah's franchise player right away. Markkanen would, of course, be awarded the Most Improved Player award and earn an All-Star selection during his breakout in 2023. That season, he averaged nearly 26 points on 49.9% shooting from the field, 39.1% from three, and also grabbed 8.6 rebounds.