The Memphis Grizzlies have no plans to trade Marc Gasol or Mike Conley.

"We have no intention to trade Marc," Chris Wallace told ESPN. "We never seriously considered that at all. We never placed any calls to any teams in that regard. So that's not happening.

"It's not just Marc that this whole equation is about. It's also Mike Conley, when he comes back. We've got two guys among the elite in the league at their respective positions that are still very much in their window with an awful lot of tread left on their tires."

The Grizzlies have been on a losing streak and fired David Fizdale this week.

Wallace remains optimistic that the Grizzlies can compete for a playoff berth this season.

"We're full speed ahead," Wallace said. "We've been in the playoffs seven years in a row. We've got a team when fully healthy and we get everything together is more athletic, more versatile and more potent offensively than we've had for a number of years. Even though the going has been a little difficult early, there's still 62 [games] to play. We believe in this team. We're hoping -- got our fingers crossed -- that we'll get everybody healthy soon.

"Our expectation always is to be a playoff team and have a chance to do some things when we get in there. We're behind in the standings right now, but it's a long way to go. When we get our guys back, I think we'll surge."

Nikola Mirotic addressed the media as he nears return from injuries sustained from his in-practice fight with Bobby Portis.

Mirotic said he accepts the apology of Portis. Mirotic had previously requested the Bulls either trade him or Portis.

"I've been playing this game nine years professionally," said Mirotic. "I was always a good teammate, always professional with everybody. I'm going to continue to do that. If I'm here, it's because I want to support the team. He's a part of the team. I'm going to support him too"

While Mirotic is ready to move on, he isn't completely forgetting about the incident.

“I just know that right now the only goal – Bulls goal and my goal – is to make me get back with the team and practice together and get my strength back and as soon as I can, play with the team,’’ Mirotic said.

The Memphis Grizzlies have not yet shopped Marc Gasol and have rebuffed inquiries from rival teams.

Gasol can become a free agent in 2019 and the Grizzlies appear to be on the verge of a rebuild. Memphis re-signed Gasol and Mike Conley to five-year deals in subsequent offseasons as they attempted to remain a playoff contender while also adding Chandler Parsons on a four-year deal.

The Grizzlies fired David Fizdale this week as they attempt to salvage their season following an extended slump.

Nikola Mirotic continues to move closer to a return but he has yet to regain communication with Bobby Portis.

Mirotic suffered a concussion and two broken bones in his face during an in-practice fight with Portis in October.

"Niko had a really good week of workouts," said Fred Hoiberg. "He's continuing to ramp up his activity. He had good strength workouts and he's increasing his workload on the floor, so we're hoping to get him back with the team shortly."

Hoiberg also said Mirotic has been increasing his communication with his teammates.

"Guys have been good," Hoiberg said. "Niko's been in the building with our team; guys have been in there with him. He's still working on his own as he continues along the rehab process, but things have been going well from that standpoint."

Mirotic has yet to retract his request that the Bulls either trade him or Portis. The Bulls hope that Mirotic and Portis will be able to move past the altercation.

Jahlil Okafor continues to wait for a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers so he can resume his NBA career. Okafor last played on Nov. 7th as Brett Brown has declined to play him during garbage time out of respect for his situation.

"I would like for them to just send me somewhere where I can get an opportunity," Okafor told ESPN. "I've done everything they've asked of me and I would just like to get an opportunity to play with a trade or a buyout. I just hope something happens quickly.

"This is my third year in the NBA, and I know it's a business. I don't know if it's fair or not, but in talking to other people in the NBA, talking to retired players, one thing I've heard them say is that what's going on with me isn't right and they've never seen anything like this before.

"I know it's business, but in my eyes, I don't know if it's good business."

Bryan Colangelo has continued to work the trade market for Okafor but hasn't found anything. The 76ers are seeking a second round pick as Colangelo has dropped his previous asking price of two first round picks and then one first round pick and a solid player. The 76ers declined any trades that would use up their cap space before extending Robert Covington.

"We appreciate the effort that [Okafor] has put forth, and other than a little frustration expressed recently, he's been patient waiting for an opportunity to play," Colangelo told ESPN. "I continue to explore opportunities with both Jahlil and [agent] Bill Duffy to find a more suitable spot for him."

Philadelphia declined Okafor's $6.2 million fourth-year option for 18-19.

While many teams have interest in Okafor as a long-term project, none are inclined to give up a second round pick. Bill Duffy and Okafor are pushing hard for a buyout. Colangelo is holding out the possibility that Okafor's $5 million salary could be packaged as part of a bigger deal before the Feb. 9 trade deadline, even if he can't find a singular move involving Okafor.

"This really sucks," Okafor told ESPN. "I want to play ball."

DeAndre Jordan has been discussed in trade talks between the Los Angeles Clippers and multiple teams.

Jordan can become a free agent this offseason and has been in extension talks with the Clippers. But the Clippers have been struggling after a fast start to the season. Jordan does not currently have an agent.

Lawrence Frank said last month that Jordan will be a “Clipper for life.”

The Clippers signed Blake Griffin to a five-year, $173 million deal this past offseason and may be reticent to committing additional long-term money if they begin a rebuild.

Jusuf Nurkic requested a trade from the Denver Nuggets in April of 2016 and again in December before he was moved to Portland in February of 2017.

Nikola Jokic had emerged as the Nuggets' starting center during the 15-16 season while Nurkic was rehabilitating his left knee.

The Nuggets attempted to mend the relationship with Nurkic and promised he would open the season as a starter, but he realized there was a catch.

“In the first game, I only played three quarters,” Nurkić said. “I had 23 points and 9 rebounds. I’m playing a good game, we’re winning and I’m not playing in the fourth quarter? From that point, I could kind of see that something was wrong.”

The Nuggets were attempting to make it work with Nurkic and Jokic playing together, but Malone pulled Nurkic from the starting lineup after 25 games. Nurkic and his agent, Aylton Tesch, requested a trade for a second time.

“I believe you can develop guards together. But two centers? No way,” Nurkić said. “I don’t want to make this a big drama like KD. I was never on the same page with the coach and the front office. It just came to the point where I needed to go. My career was on the line.”

Nurkic received criticism from the local media for how he handled the situation.

“People assume I had an attitude problem and people like to make up stories that paint me as a bad guy,” he explained. “Once I asked for a trade, there were even more rumors that I wasn’t happy. But I shouldn’t be happy! No one in that situation should be happy. I put in the hard work to play and someone was holding me down.”

The Denver Nuggets would not include Jamal Murray in trade talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving.

If Denver had offered Cleveland a package of Murray, Wilson Chandler and a top-3 protected first round pick for Irving, they would have been in the bidding.

The Nuggets also had trade talks with the Suns for Eric Bledsoe.

The Denver Nuggets were close to a trade with the Phoenix Suns for Eric Bledsoe.

The deal would have included Emmanuel Mudiay and a first round pick, but talks ultimately collapsed.

Phoenix traded Bledsoe to the Milwaukee Bucks for protected first round pick and second round picks, along with Greg Monroe.

"We chase every opportunity to improve ourselves," Tim Connelly said. "We've had a lot of excellent players offered to us for our young talent. There's a fine line between overvaluing your own players and being too aggressive chasing short-term results."

The Denver Nuggets had a deal to trade Jameer Nelson to a projected lottery team for a protected second round, but ultimately decided to release him. By waiving Nelson, they allowed him to choose his destination.

"You can't make decisions with your heart only," Connelly says, without confirming any Nelson deal. "But these are good guys. To view them as just assets -- that's not something we ascribe to. Guys we've had here will speak highly of how we've treated them."

Michael Malone wanted to keep Nelson, who gave him reliable minutes at point guard.

"It was tough to see Jameer go," Malone says. "The players trusted him. I find value in veteran mentors. In our meetings, of course I brought up all the reasons it made sense to keep him. But you have to think big picture. It wasn't like I was kicking and screaming. By the end, we were all on board."

Nelson signed with the New Orleans Pelicans when he cleared waivers.