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NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Destinations For Memphis Grizzlies’ Mike Conley

By Chris Kern

MEMPHIS, TN - JANUARY 16: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots a free throw against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 16, 2019 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - JANUARY 16: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots a free throw against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 16, 2019 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Mike Conley Memphis Grizzlies (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are a team that should be willing to take on Conley’s contract. They have a lot of bad contracts in their own right and they’re already locked into the Andre Drummond–Blake Griffin pairing for the next couple of seasons.

They could look to blow it up but I would say there’s about a 0% chance of that happening even though I don’t think they will be even able to build an Eastern Conference contender around those guys.

If they want to go all in on that duo then bringing in Conley makes a lot of sense. They have the contracts to make it work financially starting off with Reggie Jackson.

He is making $17 million this season and that number rises to $18 million next season which could be a number the Grizzlies are more than willing to take on.

The rumors surrounding Jackson have gone on for a long time and if the Pistons are able to trade him in a deal to bring in a third all-star caliber player then it is a no brainer for them to do that.

Just his money isn’t enough to make it work but other guys such as Jon Leuer and Langston Galloway could be involved to make it work.

In this deal, the Grizzlies would prefer to get back either a young player or two or a first-round draft pick. They would prefer both but that seems unlikely at the moment though the market for Conley could develop over the next two weeks and change that.

A couple of wing players who could be included are Glenn Robinson and Reggie Bullock. Robinson is 25 years old while Bullock is 27. They are on cheap deals with Bullock expiring this summer and Robinson next summer.

While it may seem that Memphis wouldn’t want those guys they may be willing to take on one of them in a deal instead of a second-round pick for example.

As for young guys Memphis could want in a deal it likely starts with wing player Luke Kennard. He is a young scorer but hasn’t played a big role. Bruce Brown and Stanley Johnson are two guys who could be considered as well. All three of these players are 22 years old so they could all improve after a change of scenery.

In the eastern conference, a trio of Conley, Griffin, and Drummond should be able to make the playoffs if they’re all healthy no matter who else is around them.

While they may not be able to compete for a finals berth or anything getting to the playoffs would be an accomplishment for a team that has made just once in the last nine years and that was when they got swept by the Cavs in the 2016 playoffs.

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They showed a lot of promise in that series and had fans excited about the future but they haven’t been able to build off it. They should consider doing whatever it takes to get back.

In a deal between these teams, the Grizzlies would want the Pistons first-round pick. If they’re willing to give that up plus a young player then this deal could get done pretty easily but I doubt that will be the case.

They don’t have a lot of young assets so they will need to be smart about how they go about making this deal. A potential deal could look like Jackson, Leuer, Robinson, and a first-round pick for Conley.

Garrett Temple is a guy to keep an eye on who Detroit would want as well and to make that happen they could just include Galloway as well.

Just as every team mentioned this is all just speculation. Rumors will start to come out over the coming weeks and we’ll start to see what kind of market is out there.

Next. Garnett Takes Jaren Jackson Jr Underneath His Wing. dark

At the moment some of these trades may seem realistic but in a week maybe it’s not enough or too much for him. The Grizzlies aren’t going to trade him just to get salary cap relief. They are going to make sure they at least get some sort of future asset in any deal.

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