With the future on hold, Tayshaun Prince and Quincy Pondexter were not on the court Sunday when their Memphis Grizzlies faced the Phoenix Suns.
The operative word: their. On Monday, both players were traded. A three-team swap was made official, with Prince on his way to the Boston Celtics and Pondexter to the New Orleans Pelicans.
"Until everything settles officially through the league I can't comment on anything else," Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger told The Commercial Appeal over the weekend. "I'd like to."
Once he can comment, Joerger will tell how his team will shake out. He will discuss how he will use Jeff Green, a forward en route from the Celts; and guard Russ Smith, coming from the Pelicans.
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It's also possible other players could be involved in the deal, which might not be as complete as reports indicate. Once concluded, the Celtics are expected to flip guard Austin Rivers, whom they will get from the Pelicans, to the Los Angeles Clippers.
While Green was pulled from the Celtics' lineup on Friday, Prince played for the Grizzlies but Pondexter didn't. In what was his final game for the Grizzlies, Prince had six points in 25 minutes.
Green could be a solid acquisition for the Grizzlies, providing outside scoring that has been lacking in the current roster. He also will help on defense as well.
He will be an upgrade over Prince, a 13-year player who slipped into the rotation.