Grizzlies wing plans to leave team this offseason: Report

The Memphis Grizzlies are heading into an offseason filled with questions, but a particular query regarding the future of one of their role players has seemingly been answered.

Yuta Watanabe made his way back to the 38103 via the David Roddy trade to Phoenix in early February. After kicking off his NBA career with the Grizzlies in 2018, the forward spent the last three years suiting up for other clubs across the association before, ultimately, returning to his old stomping grounds.

Though some may have hoped that the 29-year-old would have been viewed as a cheap floor-spacing depth commodity to have out on the wing moving forward, it appears his reunion in Grind City isn't expected to last longer than these past few months.

Yuta Watanabe plans to leave Grizzlies in favor of Japanese league

Via his personal Instagram account, Watanabe revealed his intentions to decline his $2.6 million player option with the Grizzlies ahead of the 2024-25 season and kick-start a professional career in his native country of Japan.

Assuming he does not return to the states for another stint in the big leagues, Watanabe wraps up his six-year NBA career having played for four organizations including the Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, and Phoenix Suns.

In 213 games played, the wing established himself as a quality long-range sniper, even being labeled by Kyrie Irving as "the best shooter in the world" a couple of years back.

Logging 13.3 minutes per night, Watanabe finishes out his NBA tenure with averages of 4.2 points and 2.3 rebounds on 37.0 percent shooting from distance.