Mike Conley’s Return And The Conley-Marc Gasol Era
The Memphis Grizzlies, fresh off the most successful period in the franchise, are looking to do the more of the same around Marc Gasol and Mike Conley.
For years, the Memphis Grizzlies remained on the left while the rest of the league went right.
Around the quartet of Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Tony Allen, the Grizzlies found success with the Grit ‘N’ Grind.
From the 2010-11 season to 2015-16, the Grizzlies appeared in the Western Conference Finals, came one victory away from another and made it to the playoffs six seasons in a row. In short, it was the best period of basketball in the history of the Grizzlies’ franchise.
But like all things basketball, the league changed and the Grizzlies continued to age. As the league turned into a league where shooting and spacing the floor became a premium, all-D/no-O guards like Allen slowly became obsolete and destined for bench roles.
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As bigger, quicker small forwards slid up a position to increase team athleticism and, again, spacing, Randolph’s weaknesses became more and more apparent.
It’s not like they didn’t attempt to fix the issue. Quincy Pondexter helped, but then he got hurt. Vince Carter and Mike Miller (second stint) didn’t have much left and Jerryd Bayless shot 30 percent before being moved another answer to Memphis’ problem: Courtney Lee.
Lee was good, but as the Grizzlies, lacking assets and seeing Lee hitting free agency, flipped him for some lottery tickets, better known as second-round picks.
The Grizzlies were still good, still a handful to deal with, but based on the main pieces on the roster, they had a definitive ceiling.
And finally, the injuries came. Gasol’s foot injury, Conley’s Achilles injury and other various parts wore down and the Grizzlies needed to make a change.
Last season’s Memphis’ squad rostered 28 different players, highlighted by guys like Bryce Cotton, Xavier Munford and Alex Stepheson. It was a sobering end to the best run in Grizzlies history.
Still, Memphis made the playoffs and that was that. Entering free agency, the Grizzlies were looking to revamp the roster and if the first few days of free agency suggested anything for the future of Memphis, it’s that Memphis is going to try to do that around Gasol and Conley.
It started with the combination of Wade Baldwin and Deyonta Davis in the draft. Baldwin fits Memphis’ old defensive mantra, while adding an additional element needed in the renovation.
Good athleticism and a wingspan tapping seven feet helps Baldwin’s ability to contest and defend both wing positions and his ability to knock down threes (41 percent from 3 last season at Vanderbilt) means you can play him alongside Conley in the near future.
Deyonta Davis is a solid big man prospect, showing all the necessary (blocks, good hands, and rim protection) tools to be a potential rim running big. On the other side, Davis took just 18 jumpers last season.
For a rather handsome price of a 2019 first-round pick, the Grizzlies believe that Davis’ jump shooting could be developed, rather something that could become a weapon in his offensive arsenal in time.
If he could become a consistent shooter from 15 feet, he’d be a nice fit opposite of Gasol.
Both players join Jordan Adams and Jarell Martin in Memphis’ quiver of young guys. After a rather unsuccessful draft period, the Grizzlies are hoping this collection of talent could pan out better than O.J. Mayo, Xavier Henry, Greivis Vasquez and Tony Wroten.
The results are still pending for free agency, but the return of Mike Conley and the addition of Chandler Parsons are a great start for Memphis.
I already wrote a ton about Parsons here, but I never really considered him for the Grizzlies. It’s an excellent fit as a shooter, ball-handler, and decent defender.
Parsons could be covered on defense in tougher matchups, while still offering some additional ball-handling and shooting, an element Memphis missed outside of Gasol and Conley.
You have to worry about the knees; Parsons had some work on those knees, but he was also one of the best offensive players on the market.
And Conley’s return gives Memphis it’s 1-2 punch back. Conley is one of the best two-way guards in the league and the combination of Gasol and Conley gives Memphis a defensive identity.
There’s a fear that Gasol, Conley, and Parsons — all fresh off injuries — could be a dangerous group to build around, but in the short term, the trio has the talent to support a top 10-12 offense and defense with solid pieces around them.
The Grizzlies aren’t done yet. They were rumored to be interested in Eric Gordon, but Gordon decided to take a four-year contract worth $53 million from the Houston Rockets. Gordon would’ve been a nice addition as a sharpshooter off the bench.
With the free agency well drying up a bit, the Grizzlies could bring back Matt Barnes, sign a cheap shooter or two and field a better offensive team that could space the floor.
I like the idea of someone like Seth Curry, who can be hidden on defense while squeezing most of his offensive value.
The Grizzlies are in the midst of transition.
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The hiring of David Fizdale to man the head coaching position, the signing of Parsons to a max contract, the Grizzlies are revamping the roster around Gasol and Conley and hoping to add more shooting and more of an offensive punch, hoping to see if they can repeat the success of the Grit ‘N’ Grind era in time.