Draymond Green called for the Memphis Grizzlies to relocate to Nashville on his podcast, also criticizing the city's hotels and recovery options for visiting NBA players.
If it hasn't been obvious by now, Draymond Green once again made clear that he wants the Memphis Grizzlies to play elsewhere.
The Golden State Warriors forward went on The Draymond Green Show and called for the franchise to relocate to Nashville, also taking shots at the city's hotels and recovery options for visiting players.
The comments were made as the basketball community looks forward to the possibilities regarding NBA expansion. The league is expected to vote soon on whether to open formal franchise bids. Las Vegas and Seattle are the frontrunners. If both get in, someone from the West probably ends up in the East.
Green sees relocation to Nashville as a move the Grizzlies need to make for the betterment of the rest of the league.
"Adam, let them just do us all a favor and take the team to Nashville," Green said, speaking directly to commissioner Adam Silver. "Memphis, which probably should be in Nashville, should be an Eastern Conference team. Definitely should be in Nashville."
After previously criticizing the hotels in Memphis earlier this season, Green continued to add
"There's no great hotels in Memphis," Green said. "I love the people of Memphis. They are incredible. Shoutout to the people of Memphis. I love them. But, just from an NBA standpoint, there's not a sauna or a hot tub in sight. Nowhere. Not at the gym, not at the spa, not at a hotel, nothing."
Green pleaded with Silver to get the Grizzlies "the hell out of Memphis" to "do us all a favor."
"Get the Grizzlies the hell out of Memphis and send them to Nashville," Green said. "Do us all a favor, Adam. Nobody will be upset. Not one person."
Back in February, he called Memphis hotels "rough." ESPN's Stephen A. Smith piled on by suggesting Nashville as a landing spot earlier this week — prompting a public response from Greater Memphis Chamber President and CEO Ted Townsend.
Silver has emphasized that the NBA isn't considering relocation. Expansion and relocation are viewed as two separate things, as far as the league is concerned.
The Grizzlies were launched in Vancouver in 1995 and moved to Memphis in 2001. Nobody from the organization has suggested they want to leave, and city officials have often pushed back on the idea.
Memphis sits 11th in the West at 24–44 amid a rough season made worse by injuries and roster churn. However, with young talents like Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, and Jaylen Wells, there is plenty to look forward to as the Grizzlies build, whether Green enjoys playing in Memphis or not.