Mike Conley (Photo : Ezra Shaw | Getty Images Sport)
The Memphis Grizzlies have somehow saved their season by changing their philosophy. The "Grit 'n Grind" is simply not working anymore, and SB Nation said it's "dying."
They note that the Grizzlies rely on their elite defense, but is now ranked 25th in defensive efficiency. Also, they are still a bad three point shooting team. SB Nation says "things look far more bleak than the standings indicate."
Recently, Coach Dave Joerger has used power forward Zach Randolph off the bench and used a "small ball offense" with Matt Barnes and Jeff Green getting more usage. Tony Allen, another symbolic "grit and grind" warrior, has also been getting fewer minutes as he no longer delivers the defense that made him notorious around the league.
With the decline of his comrades, Mike Conley is a risk at this point as he'll be a free agent at season's end. He is the top point guard prospect and teams will go hard at him. If Conley walks away, it would be a disaster for the Grizzlies.
As stated in Grizzly Bear Blues, the New York Knicks will be one of the hardest suitors for Conley and they are confident that they can convince him to stay in the Big Apple. While they can sign him outright in the summer, using his Bird Rights will help immensely, thus trading for him is a good option.
In their proposal, the "Grizzlies trade Mike Conley, Courtney Lee & Russ Smith to New York Knicks for Langston Galloway, Kyle O'Quinn, Jose Calderon, Derrick Williams, the Knicks 2018 1st round pick (unprotected) and the Knicks 2022 2nd round pick."
The trade will bring the surprise player Langston Galloway and some solid pieces like O'Quinn and Williams as well as an unprotected 1st round pick to the Grizzlies. For the Knicks, they can have the solid point guard they have always desired to help Carmelo Anthony and develop Kristaps Porzingis.
If the Grizzlies assess their situation and find that Conley would really leave, this is a viable option for them.
