A week for Hope?

How the Grizzlies draft lottery chances could change

Last week, NBA fans learned about a new detail within changes to the draft lottery rules. The new language would prohibit NBA teams from having a top 5 lottery pick in three consecutive years — and it would also apply to picks acquired in trades. That rule would also be applied retroactively to 2025. Those three factors taken together would mean the team that could be most directly impacted by that particular rule would be the Memphis Grizzlies — even though Memphis hasn't picked in the top five since 2019. Tomorrow, the NBA is scheduled to vote on the new guidelines [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/sportsmemphis-grizzlies/article/63308/memphis-grizzlies-await-vote-restrict-future-draft-pick]. Before they do that, though, we've got Grizzlies beat reporter Drew Hill joining us today to walk us through it. Plus: * Le Bonheur's next pediatric chief bows out weeks before start date [https://dailymemphian.com/section/businesshealth-care/article/63092/incoming-memphis-le-bonheur-pediatrician-in-chief-houston] * MPD officer is cited for a crash on Saturday that sent three to the hospital [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metropublic-safety/article/63267/mpd-officer-cited-for-saturday-crash] * SpaceX buys a data center building for $185 million [https://dailymemphian.com/section/business/article/63250/spacex-buys-data-center-building-for-185-million] * No Comment is staying '80s-themed but with a twist [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/foodfood-news/article/63175/no-comment-rebrand-midtown-memphis]

Setting up the short week

With Memorial Day now behind us, you might think we've started the summer season. But, not so, newsletter editor Bianca Phillips tells us. It just means the start of the grilling season. Is that true? It might be in the eye of the beholder as both the Shelby County Board of Commissioners and Memphis City Council continue their budget season. And for others, it's Memphis Italian Festival season. Join us as we set the agenda for the short week ahead [https://dailymemphian.com/article/63136/this-week-in-memphis-memorial-day-italian-fest-south-main?utm_source=site_search&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=site_search]. Plus: * Most suburban school districts are seeing flat funding from municipalities despite rising property values [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/metroeducation/article/62929/memphis-suburban-school-districts-flat-funding] * A Memphis kid has performed in "Michael" [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/arts-cultureperforming-arts/article/63146/jaylen-hunter-memphis-briarcrest-marlon-michael-jackon-lion-king] * The former Immaculate Conception high school buildings are being demolished [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/63206/cathedral-of-immaculate-conception-midtown-memphis-demolished] * TBI is investigating a second fatality involving the Task Force in a week [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metropublic-safety/article/63162/tbi-investigates-second-mstf-shooting-in-week] * A federal judge denied an injunction against TN's new congressional map [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrostate-government/article/63212/why-federal-judge-ruled-against-tennessee-redistricting-injunction] * County primary election results have been certified but there may be a challenge [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metroelections/article/63213/shelby-county-primary-election-results-certified-possible-challenge-2026] * The Melting Pot returns to East Memphis [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/63143/memphis-food-files-melting-pot-pyros-zio-matto-the-lobbyist]

May traditions, old and new

Two longtime Memphis events [https://dailymemphian.com/section/arts-culturethe-to-do-list/article/63046/memphis-to-do-list-great-american-river-run-sunset-symphony-lemon-drop-festival] return this weekend, right in time for Memorial Day. The first is the Great American River Run, which is hosted by Memphis in May International Festival and starts and finishes Downtown. The second is the Sunset Symphony, now held at the Overton Park Shell, with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. In between, there's a show you can't bring your phone to and a festival for lemon-drop-lovers. Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips joins us today to talk about what you might want to do. Plus: * A Memphis man is granted a 1-year stay after his execution was called off [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metropublic-safety/article/63170/tennessee-halts-mans-execution] * The Memphis Airport is in the early planning stages of a new rental-car facility [https://dailymemphian.com/section/businesstransportationlogistics/article/63163/memphis-international-airport-board-2027-budget] * Novel bookstore workers approve a union [https://dailymemphian.com/section/business/article/63147/novel-bookstore-workers-in-east-memphis-approve-union] * An immigrant rights group sues the Tennessee Highway Patrol over traffic stops in Memphis and Nashville [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metropublic-safety/article/63151/tennessee-immigrant-and-refugee-rights-rights-coalition-sues-highway-patrol] * The Lakeland School System approves the 2026-2027 budget [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/metroeducation/article/63088/lakeland-school-system-approves-2026-27-budget] * The Tsunami building goes on the market [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/63123/memphis-restaurant-tsunami-building-for-sale-cooper-young]

How Regional One saved a police sergeant's leg

More than a month ago, Marion police sergeant Darrell Prewitt became the victim of a high-speed collision on Interstate 40. The impact left his left leg hanging on by just a muscle. These days, however, he's back on two healthy legs, after being taken to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis and undergoing six surgeries. Today, health care reporter Steve Bohnel joins us to talk about this story [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businesshealth-care/article/62532/dont-give-on-yourself-arkansas-police-officer]. And, a warning, this podcast contains graphic descriptions of a limb-threatening injury, so it may not be for the most squeamish of listeners. Plus: * John Isner and Sam Querrey will play a special exhibition in Memphis [https://dailymemphian.com/section/sports/article/63135/geoff-calkins-john-isner-and-sam-querrey-memphis-classic] * Whitehaven YMCA's public pool opens with a promise of free swim lessons [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrocity-of-memphis/article/63091/whitehaven-ymca-public-pool-opens-free-swim-lessons] * NAACP calls for a college boycott [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/metrostate-government/article/63095/aclu-brings-in-outside-attorneys-to-argue-against] * Only MSCS third-graders at risk of retention are to retake the TCAP exam on the last days of school [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metroeducation/article/63080/only-some-mscs-third-graders-retake-tcap]

Spotlight on a mini Memphis

At 516 Tillman St. in Binghampton, there's a mini Memphis. It's the Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South's Wang Experiential Learning Center, where fifth- and sixth-graders get to explore future careers and #adulting. Today, writer John Klyce joins us to talk about JA Biztown, and why it's so important [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/business/article/62548/ja-biztown-junior-achievement-memphis-uthsc-university-of-tennessee-health-science-center]. Plus: * Outdoors Inc. is closing its landmark East Memphis store [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/63035/memphis-outdoors-inc-store-closing-joe-royer] * The DA releases footage of police spraying protestors and fellow officers during the No Kings march [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrocity-of-memphis/article/63065/da-releases-footage-of-police-spraying-protesters] * A jury convicts a man of manslaughter in a 2022 road rage stabbing of a Memphis chef [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metropublic-safety/article/63070/jury-convicts-man-of-manslaughter-in-2022-memphis-road-rage-killing] * New rules for county "community" grants heads to committee [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metroshelby-county/article/63074/shelby-county-commission-rewrites-rules-for-community-grants]