#NNPA BlackPress
COMMENTARY: Should the Grizzlies trade Mike Conley and Marc Gasol to The Lakers?
NNPA NEWSWIRE — Though beloved in Memphis, Conley and Gasol have played in relative obscurity for a decade now. Playing alongside Lebron would certainly put a spotlight on their game while requiring neither one to be “The Alpha” on the team. If they can win rings while making history with The King . . . well, good for them. They’ve earned it.
By Lee Eric Smith, The New Tri-State Defender
lesmith@tsdmemphis.com
Apparently, what I once considered “unthinkable” now seems more like inevitable.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski dropped yet another “Woj Bomb” on the Grizzlies – breaking the news that for the first time, the Grizzlies will listen to trade offers for franchise icons Mike Conley and Marc Gasol.
Later, it was reported in multiple media outlets that Grizzlies owner Robert Pera spoke with both players by phone to confirm that they may well be in their final days/weeks with the team. Conley spoke with media about the call during shootaround for Wednesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets.
“It’s where we’re at, I guess,” Conley shrugged. “Part of the business. “
It was all business and all joy two summers ago, when Conley signed a then-NBA record $150 million contract with the team. Gasol had signed a similar deal the year earlier.
Even though it was clear the Core Four’s days were numbered, the Conley and Gasol signings signaled some continuity, some hope that a playoff spot was within reach with both players healthy.
That has not happened.
“A couple of years back, that’s the thought that goes through your head, like ‘Man, I could be playing in the same place 14 or 15 years.’ That’d be awesome. Hopefully, retire one day as a Grizzly,’” Conley said Wednesday. “But you also understand that in three or four years, a lot can happen, a lot can change.
“Memphis is all I know. It’s my home. I love everybody here, my teammates the organization. It’s new ground for me and we’ll see how things play out.”
Gasol also spoke to media after shootaround. If you’ve listened to Marc talk about his career, his approach to his job or how he feels about Memphis, none of his comments should surprise you.
“You still have to do your job,” Gasol said. “Things happen, and you can’t control the things happening around you. But you still gotta go out there and do your job. Whatever you need to do, go out there and play basketball. Help your teammates. Make each other better. That’s it. And compete. That’s what fans want to see, what they want to watch.”
If you want to say it right now, I’ll join you: Gosh, I’m going to miss these guys.
Listening to sports talk radio, some analysts are quick to remind us that neither of these men have been traded yet – and that a trade may not happen before the Feb. 7 NBA deadline. It may not happen until the offseason. It may not happen at all, if the Grizzlies don’t get offers they can live with. Thus, the thinking is to pump the brakes on saying farewell to these sports heroes.
Balderdash! Clearly, these people forget how NBA trades work. You’re literally with your current team at 1 p.m. on a game day. By 6 p.m., you’ve been pulled out of the locker room and a team official tells you you’re gone. Your teammates, coaches and others don’t get much time to say goodbye, and if you’re a fan, you won’t get any.
The truth is, any remaining game this season might be the last in a Grizzlies uniform for either or both of these players. So, if you get your hands on a ticket, savor it. Cheer and clap, because both of these class acts deserve it.
Which brings us to the attention-grabbing headline at the top of this story. Until there actually is a trade, there will be no shortage of fan speculation. Devoted fans, maybe even you, have been blowing up ESPN’s Trade Machine. Most of them probably won’t happen for one reason or another. But while it’s no fun to watch the Grizzlies get beaten by 20 at home on MLK Day, it’s at least fun to play with the possibilities.
And I’ve got a trade scenario you’re going to love and hate. In fact, you may even love to hate it, while simultaneously hating that you love it. First, let’s set the context:
In an ideal trade, Conley and Gasol get traded to playoff contenders, perhaps elevating into title contention. They deserve a chance to play for a ring. Even more ideal, if they get to continue to play together on a new team.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies want to add young pieces around rookie phenom Jaren Jackson Jr. – the usual combination of draft picks, young talent, expiring contracts and financial flexibility. If all goes well, the team may stink for a couple of seasons before maturing into a playoff hopeful. It was painful, but that strategy paid off for the Philadelphia 76ers.
So, an ideal trade partner would have young assets and expiring contracts. But if you’re trading for Conley and/or Gasol (and those hefty contracts), you likely believe they can help you win now. Maybe you have a star player in his prime who could use high-level veterans to make a deep playoff run.
I think there’s just such a team. Unfortunately, they play in the Western Conference. And they happen to wear purple and gold.
Yes. I’m talking about the Los Angeles Lakers. Here’s my scenario, which, regardless of its success on the ESPN Trade Machine, will likely never happen:
Lakers get: Mike Conley, Marc Gasol
Grizzlies get: Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Brandon Ingram, Michael Beasley and JaVale McGee.
Before diving into the pros and cons, let’s rewind about 11 years. Chris Wallace sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers in the deal that brought Marc to Memphis and eventually brought two more championship banners to Staples Center. Wallace stockpiled talent and picks, shuffling his pieces until he’d built a playoff contender. It was the rare deal that eventually proved to be a win for both franchises. Could it be again? Let’s dig in:
Why The Grizzlies do it: The chance to do right by Mike and Marc while simultaneously collecting a TON of young talent.
Though beloved in Memphis, Conley and Gasol have played in relative obscurity for a decade now. Playing alongside Lebron would certainly put a spotlight on their game while requiring neither one to be “The Alpha” on the team. If they can win rings while making history with The King . . . well, good for them. They’ve earned it.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies would check off a ton of boxes for a rebuild. First of all, Rondo, McGee, Stephenson and Beasley would likely be bought out or waived; if not, their contracts expire this season anyway. Pope would become an unrestricted free agent, thus freeing up his $12 million.
That leaves Ball, Ingram and Hart to join Jaren Jackson. That certainly puts a jetpack on a rebuild. Plus, you get all the headlines that Lonzo’s dad Lavar would generate.
Why the Grizzlies don’t do it: Honestly? I can’t imagine the Grizzlies turning this deal down, unless the Lakers demand some outrageous draft picks or something.
Why the Lakers do it: To maximize a championship window with Lebron James, because for both Lebron and the Lakers, competing for anything less than a championship feels pointless.
So, for those of you counting at home, in my scenario, a whopping EIGHT players would arrive in Memphis, effectively gutting the Lakers roster. They would need to add three players just to get back to the league minimum. And I’ve heard there’s a certain friend of Lebron, who might soon be a free agent – Carmelo Anthony.
So, we could be talking about a Lakers starting five that includes Conley, James, Anthony and Gasol. And just like that, the Lakers are back in the headlines again, if not a threat to Houston and Golden State.
You’d have to imagine Lebron would be delighted to play with two hungry, team-first, playoff veterans. And like he does everywhere he goes, Lebron would likely draw the best out of Conley and Gasol – which even at their advanced ages, is a little scary.
Why the Lakers don’t do it: They want to keep their young talent, plus nobody likes older players with massive contracts.
But I don’t know if that’s a deterrent. The Lakers went through all this when Shaq was traded to Miami in 2006. Faced with the possibility of wasting the talents of Kobe Bryant, they pulled the trigger on the Grizzlies trade and went straight to the championship.
It’s hard to imagine the Lakers letting Lebron play on a string of non-championship contenders. Whether it’s this fantasy scenario or another one, the Lakers front office is going to swing for the fences, sooner than later.
Like I said, it’ll probably never happen. But admit it: Reading this was more fun than watching me squirm to make something interesting out of the 20-point MLK blowout game, right? But whether it happens in a day, a week or in June, soak up the time we have left with The Conductor and Big Spain.
It could be over before you know it.
#NNPA BlackPress
NAACP Sues Trump Administration Over Dismantling of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
NNPA NEWSWIRE — The lawsuit comes after a series of drastic actions following the ouster of CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. President Trump replaced Chopra with Russell Vought, who immediately instructed staff not to perform any work tasks and ordered the closure of the agency’s headquarters, taking steps to cancel its lease.
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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
The NAACP has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the legality of the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The civil rights organization argues that the move undermines protections for Black, elderly, and vulnerable consumers, leaving them exposed to financial exploitation. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson condemned the administration’s actions, calling them a reckless assault on consumer protections. “Once again, we are witnessing the dangerous impacts of an overreaching executive office. The Trump Administration’s decision to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau opens the floodgates for unethical and predatory practices to run rampant,” Johnson stated. “We refuse to stand idly by as our most vulnerable communities are left unprotected due to irresponsible leaders. From seniors and retirees, disabled people, and victims of disaster to so many more, our nation stands to face immense financial hardship and adversity as a result of the elimination of the CFPB. If our President refuses to put people over profit, the NAACP will use every tool possible to put Americans first.”
The lawsuit comes after a series of drastic actions following the ouster of CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. President Trump replaced Chopra with Russell Vought, who immediately instructed staff not to perform any work tasks and ordered the closure of the agency’s headquarters, taking steps to cancel its lease. Vought also suspended all investigations, rulemaking, public communications, and enforcement actions. Keisha D. Bross, NAACP Director of Opportunity, Race, and Justice, said the organization maintains its commitment to restoring the bureau’s critical role in protecting consumers. “The CFPB is an agency of the people. From the protection from junk fees to fighting excessive overdraft fees, providing assistance to impacted victims of natural disasters, and holding predatory practices accountable, the NAACP stands firm in bringing back the CFPB,” Bross said. “The NAACP will fight to hold financial entities responsible for the years of inequitable practices from big banks and lenders.”
The lawsuit, filed alongside the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), the National Consumer Law Center, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, and the CFPB Employee Association, argues that the administration’s actions violate the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act. According to the complaint, the Trump administration has taken deliberate steps to dismantle the CFPB, including firing 70 employees via form email, canceling over $100 million in vendor contracts, and shutting down the agency’s consumer complaint system, which processes hundreds of thousands of cases monthly. The plaintiffs warn that these actions will leave millions of Americans defenseless against financial fraud and predatory lending practices. The lawsuit details the harm already inflicted by the agency’s closure. Among those affected is Rev. Eva Steege, an 83-year-old pastor with a terminal illness who was seeking student loan forgiveness through a CFPB-facilitated program. Her meeting with CFPB staff was abruptly canceled, leaving her without recourse to resolve her debt before passing.
The NAACP and other plaintiffs seek an immediate injunction to halt the administration’s actions and restore the CFPB’s operations. The legal challenge argues that the President has no unilateral authority to dismantle an agency created by Congress and that Vought’s appointment as acting director is unlawful. President Trump has made no secret of his desire to eliminate the CFPB, confirming last week that his administration was working to “totally eliminate” the agency. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, a key player in Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” celebrated the move with a social media post reading “CFPB RIP.”
If successful, the lawsuit could force the administration to reinstate the agency and resume its enforcement actions against financial institutions accused of predatory practices. “Neither the President nor the head of the CFPB has the power to dismantle an agency that Congress established,” the plaintiffs argue. “With each day the agency remains shut down, financial institutions that seek to prey on consumers are emboldened—harming their law-abiding competitors and the consumers who fall victim to them.”
#NNPA BlackPress
Robert Kennedy and Healthcare. Is There Trust?
NNPA NEWSWIRE — Kennedy, an anti-vaxxer is the new face of healthcare in America. He was confirmed by the US Senate in a vote split along party lines, 52-48. Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell voted with Democrats opposing the nomination.
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By April Ryan
“When you erode trust you lose your democracy because it is based on trust,” according to Black Obama Administration Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. She is responding to the United States Senate’s confirmation of Robert Kennedy Jr. as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy, an anti-vaxxer is the new face of healthcare in America. He was confirmed by the US Senate in a vote split along party lines, 52-48. Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell voted with Democrats opposing the nomination. The Alabama-based former Surgeon General declares, “We’ve had anti-vaxxers for years, but they became prominent during COVID,” creating “new” trust issues.
From Benjamin’s professional understanding, “that’s when we started to see people not trust science,” loudly. Her position is that as health matters changed over time so did the medical responses. Controversy swirls around Kennedy’s anti-vaccination stance, however, he is lauded for his posture on preventative medicine. Benjamin is hopeful Kennedy will focus on prevention as she denotes it is “the key to solving many problems in our healthcare system.” When Benjamin was the nation’s top doctor from 2009 to 2013, the Obama administration released a national prevention strategy, which she deemed “a roadmap.” During that job, she worked to move Americans “from sickness and disease to one of health and wellness.” Benjamin is hopeful that this new administration will “focus more on prevention.”
One of the pressing issues Secretary Kennedy will face is the shortage of healthcare professionals. “We’ve had workforce issues for a long time. The number of doctors, the number of nurses and we don’t have enough to cover everyone.” Benjamin points out there are regional issues with a lack of healthcare professionals. “You see those decreases particularly in rural areas.” There is a short-term fix according to Benjamin, “We have to turn to telemedicine because we don’t have [enough] doctors.” She cautions, ” It will get worse before it gets better.” With February being American Heart Month, Benjamin recommends particularly for those in the Black community to “be as healthy as you can…so you can be resilient and respond to things.” She acknowledges that overall when it comes to our health and wellbeing, “we have to train ourselves where to go for trusted information.”
#NNPA BlackPress
American Heart Association Partners with the Black Press for Groundbreaking Black Health Symposium
NNPA NEWSWIRE — The event brought together leaders in healthcare and media, emphasizing the critical need for collaboration in addressing health disparities impacting Black Americans.
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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
For the first time, a major corporation has chosen to broadcast a significant health initiative exclusively through the Black Press of America. The American Heart Association (AHA) partnered with the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) to present “Changing the Future of Health for Black Communities: Public Health and Media Symposium,” a virtual event streamed live on NNPA’s YouTube channel as part of Black History Month. The NNPA is the trade association representing the more than 200 African-American-owned newspapers and media companies in the United States, which only known as are commonly known as the Black Press of America.
Initially planned as a hybrid event in Washington, D.C., the symposium transitioned to a fully virtual format due to inclement weather. The event brought together leaders in healthcare and media, emphasizing the critical need for collaboration in addressing health disparities impacting Black Americans. The panel featured distinguished health professionals, including Dr. Regina Benjamin, the 18th U.S. Surgeon General and founder of the Bayou Clinic; Dr. Keith Churchwell, president of the American Heart Association; and Katrina McGhee, AHA’s chief marketing officer. Media figures included Sharí Nycole, co-host at Reach Media; Dr. Benjamin Chavis Jr., NNPA president and CEO; and April Ryan, senior White House correspondent and Washington Bureau Chief for BlackPressUSA.com. Sybil Wilkes, the veteran journalist known for her role on The Tom Joyner Morning Show, moderated the discussion.
Black Health in Crisis
Dr. Churchwell laid out stark statistics highlighting the disproportionate impact of cardiovascular disease on Black Americans. “Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the Black community,” Churchwell said. “Between 2017 and 2020, nearly 59 percent of Black men and women over the age of 20 had some form of cardiovascular disease, including coronary disease, stroke, and hypertension. In 2022 alone, almost 65,000 Black men and 59,000 Black women died from cardiovascular disease.” Hypertension remains one of the most prevalent health concerns. “The incidence of hypertension in the general population is 47 percent, but among Black men, it’s 57 percent, and among Black women, it’s 58 percent,” Churchwell said. “That’s the leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke.”
Dr. Benjamin emphasized that addressing these health disparities requires more than just medical intervention. “We’ve learned that to truly reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities, we must address social determinants of health, such as poverty, education, and access to care,” Benjamin said. “Studies show that poverty and dropout rates are as important a health risk factor as smoking.” She stressed the necessity of prevention, adding, “Quality health outcomes depend on access to the right information, tools, and technology. But it also depends on communication—our patients understanding us, and us understanding them.”
Media’s Role in Shaping Black Health Outcomes
NNPA President Dr. Chavis underscored the Black Press’ role in disseminating accurate health information and combating misinformation. “We must recognize that Black media has the power to inform, educate, and sustain critical messaging about health,” Chavis said. “One-shot messaging doesn’t work. We must repeat these messages consistently to keep them in the consciousness of our community.” April Ryan pointed out how urgent the matter is in Black communities. “We are still the community with the highest number of negative health outcomes in almost every category,” Ryan said. “We need to continue this conversation beyond today. This isn’t about a news cycle—it’s about life and death.”
Sharí Nycole stressed that the media must inform and lead by example. “We can’t just tell people what to do—we have to model it,” Nycole said. “We need to be visible examples of prioritizing our health, whether through social media, community events, or personal engagement.”
CPR: Creating a “Nation of Lifesavers”
The symposium spotlighted the AHA’s Nation of Lifesavers campaign to ensure more Black families are equipped with CPR knowledge. The initiative gained national attention following Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin’s on-field cardiac arrest, which immediate CPR mitigated. “Nearly three out of four cardiac arrests that happen outside a hospital occur in the home,” McGhee said. “This means the life you save is likely someone you love. Yet Black people are the least likely to receive bystander CPR. That must change.” Churchwell pointed to a recent AHA study revealing that while bystander CPR rates have improved nationwide, Black women are the least likely to receive immediate CPR assistance. “This presents a massive opportunity for intervention,” Churchwell said. “More people need to be trained, and we need to break down whatever barriers are preventing Black women from receiving life-saving care when they need it most.”
A Call to Action
Chavis announced that the NNPA will make Black health a top editorial priority and extend coverage beyond Black History Month. “We cannot afford to lose a single day without focusing on healthcare,” Chavis said. “Health is not just an issue for February. It’s an issue for all 12 months, every single year.” Ryan asserted that it’s crucial to make health a communal effort. “We have to hold each other accountable,” she said. “Host CPR nights with your girlfriends, bring healthcare conversations to the barbershop, get cholesterol checks at your church health fair. These small changes can save lives.”
McGhee also urged action. “We need to move from awareness to action,” she said. “One person in every household should know CPR. If you don’t, today is the day to start. Visit heart.org/nation to learn more.”
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