Memphis Grizzlies Rumors: Mike Conley Will Chase Money

The latest Memphis Grizzlies rumors have point guard Mike Conley running to the money in free agency, according to his longtime former coach.

Mike Conley might be the best point guard nobody knows.

An All-Defensive selection in 2012-13, Conley is a very good point guard who had the unfortunate timing of coming to the Memphis Grizzlies around the same time a collection of star point guards took over the Western Conference.

Conley is scheduled to become a free agent this summer and despite a popular narrative that the 28-year-old will remain loyal to the Grizzlies, his longtime former coach told the New York Daily News that Conley will want someone to show him the money.

Lionel Hollins coached Conley in Memphis for 4½ seasons and is credited for a significant portion of Conley’s development as an NBA player. Conley has said Hollins is a “second father” figure to him.

“I don’t know if Michael looks elsewhere, but that might end up being the best move,” Hollins told the Daily News. “Mike is at that crossroads where he’s (28) years old. He’s coming up on a contract year. He wants to get paid.

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“Will Memphis pay him as much as somebody else? If he can get to a situation that has a future of winning or is he going to a team that doesn’t have a future of winning? That’s probably going to be important to him as well.”

Conley is in his ninth season in Memphis since being the fourth overall selection out of Ohio State in the 2007 NBA Draft and his game has quietly developed despite being in the shadows of brighter lights Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard in his own conference.

Conley gave the Grizzlies a hometown discount the last time around, signing a five-year extension in November 2010 valued at $40 million, a deal which took effect in 2011-12 and expires this summer.

This season, he’s right around where he usually is in terms of raw statistics, averaging 14.9 points, 6.1 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 31.7 minutes per game for the Grizz, but his field-goal percentage is a career-worst 41.1 percent and his 3-point shooting is down to 35.4 percent from 38.6 percent in 2014-15.

The Grizzlies are 32-23 and in fifth place in the West, but will go the rest of the way without All-Star center Marc Gasol, who is out with a broken foot.

Memphis just retooled at the trade deadline last week, bringing in colorful characters Chris Andersen and Lance Stephenson and moving former undrafted free agent JaMychal Green into the starting lineup in Gasol’s place.

Conley is making almost $9.6 million this season and could ostensibly double that in his next deal, coming in the summer of exploding salary cap love as it does.

Hollins wonders if the Grizzlies have the budget to commit to Conley on such a large deal, even though they hold his Bird rights, meaning they can offer the longest deal at the highest dollar figure.

“It comes down to: This is your life,” Hollins said. “This is your opportunity. You have the hammer in your hand and you have to wield it because you may never get it again.

“The reality is you have to do what’s best for your family and the future. And if somebody comes around and offers Michael $18 million and Memphis can’t match, I think you have to make those decisions from that perspective.”

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Conley has said “everything is on the table” in free agency and he will not lack for suitors. The New York Knicks will be in the market for a point guard, as will Hollins’ former team, the Brooklyn Nets, among others.

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Lionel Hollins Says Mike Conley Will Chase Cash In Free Agency

By Phil Watson | Feb 23, 2016

The latest Memphis Grizzlies rumors have point guard Mike Conley running to the money in free agency, according to his longtime former coach.