Tyreke Evans has been held out as Memphis (18-34) continue to hope they can get a first-round pick in exchange for the veteran guard who averages 19.5 points and shoots 39.2 percent from 3-point range. There are also reports the team may move Ben McLemore, who has averaged just 6.2 points since arriving in the offseason from Sacramento.
The state of flux has hindered Memphis on the court, where they are trying avoid a winless four-game road swing after a 101-86 defeat at Toronto on Sunday. Marc Gasol scored 20 points and Andrew Harrison added 16, but that was about it offensively for the Grizzlies, who shot 35.8 percent and were outscored 62-36 in the paint.
Atlanta, meanwhile, have put out the word that everyone but rookie center John Collins, who is averaging 10.4 points and 6.9 rebounds, can be made available as general manager Travis Schlenk plans to build a new nucleus around the 19th overall pick.
The two biggest names, Dennis Schroder and Kent Bazemore, were part of a Hawks team that won 60 games in 2014/15 but are not generating sizable interest. Despite averaging 19.3 points, Schroder is not a good outside shooter, and teams are wary of Bazemore's contract, which has two years left at $37 million and a player option for the second.
The Hawks edged New York 99-96 on the road Sunday for just their second win in seven games as Bazemore scored 19 points and Mike Muscala added 15 off the bench. Atlanta hit 15 of 33 from 3-point range, shooting better from beyond the arc (45.5 percent) than overall (40.2).