Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley Jr. (Photo : Getty Images)
The NBA rumors continue to swirl on free agents on struggling teams. The Memphis Grizzlies are improving, but how far can they go?
This is the dilemma of the Grizzlies as the West continues to become more competitive and small ball being the trend.
On the East Coast, both Big Apple teams have a need for a point guard and Conley would be a very prime commodity. The huge contract is a given but being the point guard that saves either New York of Brooklyn will make him a star-even an All-Star.
Conley was probably the top of the All-Star snub list, and not too many believe that if he were in the East (without Steph Curry, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook) and being in the biggest market like New York would boost his chances.
The Brooklyn Nets offer an extra incentive because his former coach Lionel Hollins is there. They have forged a strong point guard-coach bond as any in the league.
ESPN sold the combination well, saying Conley is "basically everything the Nets need" and that "Brooklyn has a massive need at the position, cap space to offer a max contract and a coach in Lionel Hollins." Conley himself mentioned that his former coach was "like a second father almost to me."
But Conle y has strong ties to Memphis, just like Marc Gasol. Gasol was the coveted free agent last year, courted by the Knicks, Lakers and even the Spurs. He never even had a meeting scheduled.
SI.com featured a lengthy interview with the top free agent at the "one" spot. Conley admitted that he was a factor in recruiting Gasol. "That's something very important to me. I stayed in contact, checking in on him. When it came down to it, I told him 'We're not going anywhere if you're not here.' I hoped he would make the right decision, and he did."
Gasol also admitted that Conley was the deciding factor. "Mike [being in Memphis] was big. I will go through any type of wall for that guy," Gasol said.
But the Spaniard would not use that to oblige Conley: "No, those are the decisions you make on your own," Gasol said. "I'm going to let him do the same thing.
Conley does not feel he has an obligation. "It's easy to feel obligated; it's easy to want to stay," Conley said. "This is where I've had my whole career. At the same time I understand this is a business. I have to weigh my options just like [Gasol] did. Hopefully it will be an easy decision, whatever it is."
His options are very tempting, to say the least. If Memphis struggles, the Knicks have a decent team now. His "second father" doesn't have much, but they also have a center in Brook Lopez. He could help immensely. And of course, both teams are in the East.
It may boil down to the Grizzlies performance this season. ESPN noted that no one thought LaMarcus Aldridge would leave Portland-until he actually left Portland.
