What Deals With Chandler Parsons, Mike Conley Mean

What is in store for the Memphis Grizzlies after agreeing to terms with Chandler Parsons and Mike Conley? Who are the other targets? Are they still elite?

Mike Conley wanted help. The Memphis Grizzlies got him help. After Dallas wouldn’t offer their starting small forward, Chandler Parsons, a max contract, the Grizzlies swooped in to lure him away from a Western Conference foe, the Portland Trail Blazers.

Chandler Parsons agreed to terms with the Grizzlies for a four-year, $94.8 million max contract. A few hours later, Mike Conley agreed to re-sign with the Grizzlies for a five-year, $153 million max contract, the richest deal in NBA history.

Now, there are plenty of questions for the Grizzlies? Can their max group of Mike Conley, Chandler Parsons, and Marc Gasol stay healthy after injury-riddled seasons? Are there any other players the Grizzlies are keying in on through free agency or trades?

Will a healthy core lead to the Grizzlies finally coming out on top in the Western Conference?

Chandler Parsons Contract Analysis

Signing Chandler Parsons may be the biggest free agent acquisition in the history of the franchise. As a franchise not really known for chasing big-name talent, they landed a guy who fits two of their biggest needs: starting small forward and shooting.

Chandler Parsons has averaged 14.3 points on 47.4 percent shooting from the field and 38.0 percent shooting from 3 in his five-year career. At 6’10”, he can be a mismatch at his natural position, small forward, as well as a stretch 4 when the Grizz want to go small.

He has also averaged three assists per game in his career. Because of that number, he can relief Conley of playmaking duties, allowing Mike to get more spot-up opportunities from 3.

Chandler Parsons’ shooting and scoring ability also eases pressure off bigs Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.

Year after year, as the Grizzlies tended to not address their shooting struggles, teams caught on and started double-teaming their bigs to see if guys like Tony Allen can shoot.

While that was going on, opponents were clogging the paint against Mike Conley, defending arguably his best offensive weapon. The addition of Chandler Parsons spaces out the floor and opens things up for their post men and Mike Conley.

Off the court, Chandler Parsons can be used to recruit free agents, like he did in Dallas. Coach David Fizdale already seems to be a great recruiter. If he can prove to be a great communicator and coach, the Grizzlies may experience more success in free agency in coming years.

At nearly $95 million for four years, there are some risks behind it. Chandler Parsons has had two seasons ended by knee injuries. A microfracture knee surgery and a torn meniscus are quite sketchy for fans to hear.

However, in order to keep Mike Conley and stay competitive in a brutal Western Conference, this was a risk that the Grizzlies should be willing to take.

Mike Conley

There are some critical of Mike Conley’s new contract; $153M for a point guard that hasn’t reached an All-Star Game? Sounds absurd for most, but it should sound reasonable for Mike Conley.

He has been in the Western Conference with star backcourt players Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Kobe Bryant, James Harden, Klay Thompson, and Damian Lillard.

Take an Eastern Conference All-Star point guard like Kyle Lowry or Jeff Teague out West, and they probably would not make it either.

Conley backs up his contract not through his stats but his intangibles. He has led the Grizzlies to the playoffs in six years of his nine-year career. He runs their offense. He is also a two-time Sportsmanship Award winner, so that should say something about his leadership.

Furthermore, the Grizzlies also fell apart after their floor general went down, going 4-20 in the last 24 games of the season, including a four-game sweep in the playoffs.

Once Marc Gasol’s season ended due to injury, in the 10 games Conley played in, he was still able to weather the storm, averaging 17.8 points and 6.1 assists and leading the Grizz to a 7-3 record.

If Mike Conley can come back healthy, along with a healthy Chandler Parsons and Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies should able to make some noise in the West, while silencing the critics of these hefty contracts.

What’s Next?

Adding Chandler Parsons to a core of Mike Conley, Tony Allen, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol should put the Grizzlies in contention for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

In order to put themselves in the position for a higher seed, they must add a playmaking or scoring wing off the bench. Their bench front court is solidified with Brandan Wright back this season and young bigs Jarrell Martin, JaMychal Green, and Deyonta Davis.

They have quality backup point guards in rookie Wade Baldwin IV and recent signee Tony Wroten.

With Vince Carter or Matt Barnes unlikely coming back to the Grizzlies, they would be wise to add a talented wing off the bench.

After missing out on Courtney Lee and Eric Gordon, they would be wise to chase Pau Gasol. The Grizz could lure him by finishing his career with his brother and first NBA team.

If they could pull this off, they could unload Zach Randolph and/or Brandan Wright for a wing (Wilson Chandler? Terrance Ross? Danilo Gallinari?).

If all else fails, maybe they should look at bringing back Lance Stephenson.

The Grizzlies have shown a willingness to spend big with the acquisition of Chandler Parsons and the re-signing of Mike Conley. They are now one legitimate piece away from making some noise out West.