One of the more underrated storylines of NBA free agency this year is the future of the Memphis Grizzlies, which hinges on the decision of point guard Mike Conley.
Conley has spent the last 11 years in Memphis, but more and more it’s looking like the core of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph has an upcoming expiration date, especially after the team went 42-40 and got laughed out of the building against the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs, injuries or not.
According to ESPN.com’s Ian Begley, folks in the Memphis front office have started to bite their nails a bit about Conley’s trip to market:
Here’s a bit of potentially good news for those Knicks fans interested in free agent Mike Conley: some members of the Grizzlies front office are growing a bit concerned about the possibility of Conley leaving in free agency, per a source with knowledge of the situation.
Begley also explained the financial side of things:
Memphis, which plans on using a video featuring Grizzlies part-owner Justin Timberlake as part of its recruiting pitch, per a source, can offer Conley a five-year deal worth approximately $124 million. Other clubs can ink Conley to a max contract for four years worth approximately $92 million.
The whole report has a slant toward the New York Knicks, one of a few teams on the hunt for a starting point guard this summer. Needy teams can’t do much better than Conley, who is 28 years old and averaged 15.3 points, 6.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game last season, all improvements on his career averages.
The question is whether Conley wants to move to a team more likely to compete for titles while leaving some cash on the table. His decision will wind up saying quite a lot about the future of the Grizzlies, too, because it will speak to his belief in whether the front office can build a contender. This will also have a major impact on the team’s ability to pursue other free agents.
While he’s not Kevin Durant or other major names hogging the headlines, Conley’s trip to market has massive league-wide ramifications.
