5 Players the Memphis Grizzlies held onto for too long

4. Mike Conley

Conley is a Grizzlies legend. The fourth overall pick in 2007 spent 12 years with the Grizzlies and was a key figure during the best run in franchise history. He deserves a ton of credit for his contributions, but Memphis missed the opportunity to trade him at the peak of his value.

By the end of his run, the Grizzlies had missed the playoffs for two straight years and the Grit and Grind era was over. Conley was coming off one of the best statistical seasons of his career, but he was approaching his 32nd birthday. Teams were not eager to give up a massive return.

Memphis Grizzlies missed a shot at maximizing the value of Mike Conley.

They got two draft picks, a former first-rounder entering his second season, and two role players for the veteran point guard. It was a significant return, but Conley would have commanded more two years earlier at 29 years old coming off a season where he averaged over 20 points per game.

The Grizzlies had just lost in the first-round of the playoffs, and Mike Conley was their best player. It is never easy dealing away a key piece, but it was the team’s shot at maximizing their return and avoiding a three-year rebuild.