Conley Agrees to 5yr Deal worth 153M

[bwgood77]

Do you put a cap on it and let him walk and then maybe look to trade Gasol for highest package? I think the best approach is to pay Conley whatever it takes, unless you think he might want to leave, or even if you decide the price is too high, look for sign and trade opportunities to bring back assets.

Absolutely I don't think you can let him walk for nothing. If you can do a S&T for assets, and then trade Gasol for a big package, then you could go young, though I still would probably try and keep them both and build around them for now...too many young teams have that head start on going young, and there are really only a handful of teams at the top of the west that are better, and you never know how things shake out, injuries go, or a big upset can occur like when the Grizz as an 8 seed knocked out the Spurs....I mean the Grizz get the 4th or 5th seed, win, and have that same sort of upset, taking out the 1 seed again, suddenly you're in the conference finals.

When you have a couple of all stars you can surround with others with so many teams building from the ground up right now, keep fighting and selling tickets, and once those young teams get to where they are 500 and are knocking on the playoff door, THAN go young and cash out, and rebuild when fewer teams are and your young players are 5-7 years younger than theirs, and will peak later.

It really seems like most of the rebuilding teams want to be done with that, so a couple years from now cashing your all stars while under contracts for a few years if need be, you can load up on assets and perhaps get top 3 or 4 picks for a few years and maybe a franchise player.

[KF10]

I think every team (including the Grizz) should be careful in offering Conley a max deal. Given his injury, I think there is a risk. That being said, Conley is a very, very good 2-way PG and those kind of players are hard to find. So, there is that. Memphis' core is beginning to age and the chances of reaching WCF-level like they were in 2013 will be difficult, imo. Z-Bo is going to be 35 soon (contract ends after next season), Tony Allen is 34 (contract ends after next season), etc. Gasol is signed right through 2020. If I was the Grizz, I would roll the dice and give it another year in competing -- so in turn, I would sign Conley whatever it takes to keep him, imo. Conley, Allen, Z-Bo, Gasol + stuff is still a PO team, imo. I'm curious how David Fizdale impact this team. Joerger is a fine coach and got the most of his team despite the many injuries that transpired last season. If David Fizdale is anywhere near Joerger's level of coaching, I think Memphis is a definite PO team -- assuming most of his team can stay healthy, though.

[magnumt]

Do you put a cap on it and let him walk and then maybe look to trade Gasol for highest package? I think the best approach is to pay Conley whatever it takes, unless you think he might want to leave, or even if you decide the price is too high, look for sign and trade opportunities to bring back assets.

Absolutely I don't think you can let him walk for nothing. If you can do a S&T for assets, and then trade Gasol for a big package, then you could go young, though I still would probably try and keep them both and build around them for now...too many young teams have that head start on going young, and there are really only a handful of teams at the top of the west that are better, and you never know how things shake out, injuries go, or a big upset can occur like when the Grizz as an 8 seed knocked out the Spurs....I mean the Grizz get the 4th or 5th seed, win, and have that same sort of upset, taking out the 1 seed again, suddenly you're in the conference finals.

When you have a couple of all stars you can surround with others with so many teams building from the ground up right now, keep fighting and selling tickets, and once those young teams get to where they are 500 and are knocking on the playoff door, THAN go young and cash out, and rebuild when fewer teams are and your young players are 5-7 years younger than theirs, and will peak later.

It really seems like most of the rebuilding teams want to be done with that, so a couple years from now cashing your all stars while under contracts for a few years if need be, you can load up on assets and perhaps get top 3 or 4 picks for a few years and maybe a franchise player.

I know quite a few teams will be interested in Conley this offseason. But, those same teams will be very cautious because of the injury and surgery.

So many in the league are reminded of the Allan Houston's, Brandon Roy's, or T-Mac's when it comes to huge max-type contracts and subsequent lingering and devastating knee and leg related injuries. Rendering the player a shell of his former self, who in many cases can't even finish out the cotract.

We all remember these as the Albatross Contracts. Undealable, and cap-killers. Looked good at the time, as an acceptable risk...2 years or so in, it became poisonous to the team and hinder any further growth/advancement.

To answer your question directly about rebuilding. The Grizzlies could take the Danny Ainge (Celtics) route and move their aging all-star vets (while they still can) for multiple picks to a team(s) right on the cusp. Hope they fail (ala the Nets), and end up with some VERY valuable high draft picks, a young team, and a TON of cap space.

--Mags

[SD2042]

Do you put a cap on it and let him walk and then maybe look to trade Gasol for highest package? I think the best approach is to pay Conley whatever it takes, unless you think he might want to leave, or even if you decide the price is too high, look for sign and trade opportunities to bring back assets.

Absolutely I don't think you can let him walk for nothing. If you can do a S&T for assets, and then trade Gasol for a big package, then you could go young, though I still would probably try and keep them both and build around them for now...too many young teams have that head start on going young, and there are really only a handful of teams at the top of the west that are better, and you never know how things shake out, injuries go, or a big upset can occur like when the Grizz as an 8 seed knocked out the Spurs....I mean the Grizz get the 4th or 5th seed, win, and have that same sort of upset, taking out the 1 seed again, suddenly you're in the conference finals.

When you have a couple of all stars you can surround with others with so many teams building from the ground up right now, keep fighting and selling tickets, and once those young teams get to where they are 500 and are knocking on the playoff door, THAN go young and cash out, and rebuild when fewer teams are and your young players are 5-7 years younger than theirs, and will peak later.

It really seems like most of the rebuilding teams want to be done with that, so a couple years from now cashing your all stars while under contracts for a few years if need be, you can load up on assets and perhaps get top 3 or 4 picks for a few years and maybe a franchise player.

I know quite a few teams will be interested in Conley this offseason. But, those same teams will be very cautious because of the injury and surgery.

So many in the league are reminded of the Allan Houston's, Brandon Roy's, or T-Mac's when it comes to huge max-type contracts and subsequent lingering and devastating knee and leg related injuries. Rendering the player a shell of his former self, who in many cases can't even finish out the cotract.

We all remember these as the Albatross Contracts. Undealable, and cap-killers. Looked good at the time, as an acceptable risk...2 years or so in, it became poisonous to the team and hinder any further growth/advancement.

To answer your question directly about rebuilding. The Grizzlies could take the Danny Ainge (Celtics) route and move their aging all-star vets (while they still can) for multiple picks to a team(s) right on the cusp. Hope they fail (ala the Nets), and end up with some VERY valuable high draft picks, a young team, and a TON of cap space.

--Mags

Now with Fizdale being the HC of the Grizzlies now, I can't say for sure what direction the Grizzlies will take. I will say this much. The roster needs some upgrades as the team continues to get older. Given the shape of how the Western Conference is currently and how the Grizzlies are currently with their roster, I can't see them beating out the likes of the Warriors, Thunder or Spurs in a playoff series. Personally, I think they should rebuilt the roster and fight their way up from there.


As for Conley concern, if the Grizzlies bring him back, I would be careful giving him the max deal giving his history of injuries.
Also surround him with a better backcourt SG who can play on both ends of the floor. TA is getting older and is losing his effectiveness. Jordan Adams hasn't been fully tested as he wasn't healthy last season. I would like to see what will happen with him with Fizdale being the coach now.

If by some other reason Conley doesn't come back, then utilize a S&T deal to get some pieces back in return.

[Danny Darko]

I think the Lakers would Max him out if they weren't already guard heavy. If I thought Butler could be had for Russell and Lou/Swaggy/#31 I would still max Conley. If people are talking max for Harrison Barnes, Bismack and others, it seems like he'll also get it.

[skywalker33]

Really isn't a question, there will be some PG needy team that will offer the max, NYK and BKN come to mind.

[dark-child]

This is the proverbial double edged sword:

While I agree with the pressure he is putting on the organization to improve the team prior to his resigning. It does put into focus their band aid approach has come back to haunt them. It also makes them deal with the reality of a significant free agent signing taking place, which is NOT the Grizzly history. The GM trades for talent, he doesn't not draft it and develop it, nor is there any evidence he can sign a free agent with this organization who will actually move the needle.

I disagree with giving Conley the full max since you are basically bidding against yourself. If he wants to leave then let him leave. He will have to take a significant loss to do so. Nothing will give him the opportunity of competing at the highest of levels other than the Spurs but to do so would be a huge sacrifice with still no guarantees as he is not on the level of OKC-Westbrook, Warriors-Curry, Clippers-CP3, so his addition to that team does not put them over the top. All of that is real talk before you even consider his injury history, so the front office needs to be smart about this, and of course we would like him back but not at the expense of a bad deal. They should give him the exact same deal they gave Marc Gasol in terms of dollars and not a penny more.

If he leaves then yes, you have to consider trading Marc for multiple picks since both the #3 & the #5 are reportedly in play. Boston has three first round picks and two high second round picks, so the potential of acquiring Avery Bradley, and either the #3, and a late first, with the 31st is too much to pass up given the fact you really don't know what Marc will be after the foot injury. With that in mind I almost hope that Conley does leave because the franchise will be better served if he does.

The question will be can the front office leave EGO out of it and be strong enough to let him walk? I really don't think so!

[Ignitowsky]

Really isn't a question, there will be some PG needy team that will offer the max, NYK and BKN come to mind.

i don't think that New York will offer him a contract. Maybe if Donnie Walsh was running the show, but i don't see Jackson signing a guy who is clearly past his prime and having a history of injuries to a 4 year deal. The albatross that was names Amar'e Stoudemire is still fresh in everyone's mind.

For different reasons i dont see the Nets signing him either. They'd imo be far better off sgning 3 or4 midlevel guys than investing in one guy for a team that is going nowhere any time soon.

[dark-child]

6/22/2016 was not a good day for Mike Conley Jr as two NBA trades cost him millions. Mike Conley Sr attempted to salvage the day by having it out there that Jr could be interested in Dallas & San Antonio. Both destinations do not represent Max money sites and do not have a significant opportunity over the Grizz in the chase to represent the Western Conference. Mike Conley Sr at least had the good sense to make it known that a 5th year, which the Grizz can offer is the way to secure his signing so when it is not the full max or anything near it they can save face a little. What a great day for the Grizz organization, the average may be above twenty per year and the total above 100 million but it will now be nowhere near the 25 million potentially it could have been. LEVERAGE = GRIZZ

[dark-child]

Wade Baldwin + vet (Chalmers) vs. Maxing Mike Conley = NOT THE BEST WEEK IN THE WORLD FOR #11

[qwerty1234]

I don't think we have a choice, max him and hope some of our youths begin stepping up over the next few years. No one of Conley's caliber is going to come to Memphis unless we develop them so why save the money for role players?

[ChokeFasncists]

If Conley were to leave, it seems like it's best to trade Gasol and rebuild.

One obvious partner would be Boston, since they need a center and have a lot of young players and picks.

Then maybe sign Jeremy Lin to replace Conley and sign some promising young players.

[Naysorn]

It's time for the Grizzlies to start their rebuild.

[SD2042]

I don't think we have a choice, max him and hope some of our youths begin stepping up over the next few years. No one of Conley's caliber is going to come to Memphis unless we develop them so why save the money for role players?

Memphis definitely not a popular market for free agents to come running towards. You're right that the best way to get the team going strong is to develop the talent and hope they turn out for the best so they can become good and great enough to draw attention in free agency overtime.

If Conley were to leave, it seems like it's best to trade Gasol and rebuild.

One obvious partner would be Boston, since they need a center and have a lot of young players and picks.

Then maybe sign Jeremy Lin to replace Conley and sign some promising young players.

If Conley leaves, I would suggest a S&T so the Grizzlies can get some talent back in return. Same way with Marc Gasol if Conley opts elsewhere.

[ChokeFasncists]

If Conley leaves, I would suggest a S&T so the Grizzlies can get some talent back in return. Same way with Marc Gasol if Conley opts elsewhere.

Good luck.

[SD2042]

If Conley leaves, I would suggest a S&T so the Grizzlies can get some talent back in return. Same way with Marc Gasol if Conley opts elsewhere.

Good luck.

The Grizzlies will need it.

[NowLarry]

If we can somehow turn Randolph and Conley into Jabari Parker and Michael Carter Williams then I dont think anyone would miss Conley next season.

[wco81]

$153 million contract, the biggest deal in NBA history, for now.

[SD2042]

$153 million contract, the biggest deal in NBA history, for now.

I suspect by next summer, Curry will have the record beaten. Which makes me wonder this question.

In the Book of Guinness, is there a record for someone who have broken sports record within a sport like bball for instance?

[tsherkin]

Like most teams who don't get dumb-tardedly lucky in the draft, the Grizzlies will need luck. At least for now, they have Conley and Gasol.