On Nov. 21, after a 104-103 victory at San Antonio, the Memphis Grizzlies had a record of 12-5 and sole possession of first place in the Western Conference.
With many experts predicting the Grizzlies to be on the outside looking in when it came to the playoff picture, ‘Grit and Grind' looked like it was on its way to proving people wrong once again.
Since that victory over the Spurs, the Grizzlies' season has flipped completely. Memphis is 6-16 since Nov. 21 and has fallen to a tie for 12th in the conference. They have not had bad luck either. Their average point differential of -1.4 is third worst in the West, with both the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans having better point differentials despite worse records. Memphis has lost each of its last five games, including losses to the Pistons and the Nets.
It may be time, after a couple of years of mediocrity, for the Grizzlies to blow up their roster and tank around promising rookie Jaren Jackson Jr.
Despite their reputation, the Grizzlies do not have an exceptionally old roster. However, it is a top-heavy roster with a pair of expensive veterans at the top.
Mike Conley, as part of his 5 year/$153 MM deal that he signed in free agency two years ago, will make $30.5 million this year, $32.5 million next year and $34.5 million in the 2020-21 season.
However, outside of Jackson Jr. and center Marc Gasol, who has an opt-out after this season he may or may not exercise, Conley is likely the best trade chip the Grizz have. Trading him would potentially clear his hefty salary off of the books in future seasons while also bringing back young talent.
The Grizzlies also owe their 2019 first round pick to the Celtics if it lands above the top nine selections, giving them more motivation to tank.
If the Grizzlies decide to break up their roster and trade Conley, who has played in Memphis for 12 years, here are five trades that make sense for both the Grizzlies and any teams involved.
5. Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia acquires Mike Conley for PG Markelle Fultz, SG Zhaire Smith, PF Mike Muscala and SF Wilson Chandler
With the November acquisition of Jimmy Butler from the Minnesota Timberwolves, it appears that the 76ers are going all in on this season. However, even with the addition of Butler to the roster, the 76ers still do not seem to be on the same level as the Raptors, Bucks or Celtics.
Bringing Conley to the City of Brotherly Love would make the Sixers the most top-heavy team in terms of talent in the East.
This trade would come with some costs though. In order to fit Conley's $30.5 million salary, the Sixers would have to gut the depth of their roster even more. Chandler and Muscala combine to make $18 million this year and are an expensive pair of role players, but each have played important minutes for a Sixer team that lacks quality players off of the bench.
The depth situation likely would not get better in the future either, as Butler is a free agent after the season and resigning him would take Philly well into the luxury tax. Losing Fultz and Smith hurts, but the Sixers seem to have soured on Fultz and Smith likely will not play important minutes in the NBA this season.
It is easy to see why Memphis would be interested in this deal. While Fultz has been the subject of trade rumors for months amid his ongoing mystery injury problems, he still is a former #1 overall pick with loads of potential.
If he is able to overcome his injury issues, he would pair with Jackson Jr to be the next Conley and Gasol in Memphis, giving the Grizzlies a bright future. Smith, the 16th pick in the 2018 draft, is a bouncy young guard who has yet to play in the NBA due to a foot injury and an allergy that caused the 20-year-old to lose 20 lbs.
However, Smith is expected to play in the NBA this season and is well on his way to recovery.
4. San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio acquires Mike Conley for C Pau Gasol, PG Patty Mills, SG Lonnie Walker IV and a 2020 first round pick
Unlike the Grizzlies, the Spurs got off to a poor start and have rebounded to go 8-2 in their last 10 and improve to 23-17 and 6th in the west.
What makes that 23-17 record even more impressive is that the Spurs have accomplished it without a true point guard being healthy. Dejounte Murray, last years starter, has missed the entire season thus far with an injury, and Derrick White has also missed significant time.
This trade would accomplish two things for the Spurs. Partnering Conley with Demar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge would give the Spurs one of the best starting lineups in the league while also removing Gasol and Mills from the Spurs future cap situation. Gasol's minutes would be taken by 23-year-old center Jakob Poeltl.
In this deal, the Grizzlies would bring home Pau to back up his younger Marc and return him to the city where he played his first six and a half NBA seasons. Mills would also replace Conley in the Memphis starting five. Walker IV is included in the deal as a talented shot creator who only recently played his first professional games.
In order to sweeten the deal for the Grizzlies, considering Memphis is taking on another year of Gasol and another two years of Patty Mills, the Spurs will include a 2020 first round pick, which could fall anywhere from the late lottery to the early 20's.
The downside of this deal for the Grizzlies is that with the presence of Gasol and Mills, the team likely will not bottom out to a top 5 pick unless another deal for Marc Gasol can be found.
3. New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans acquires Mike Conley for SF Wesley Johnson, SF Solomon Hill, SG E'twaun Moore, PG Elfrid Payton, a 2019 first round pick and a 2021 lottery-protected first round pick
The Pelicans have committed to trying to keep Anthony Davis in New Orleans long term. However, in order to convince their star big man to stick around after his contract expires in a year and a half, the team will need to make significant additions to their roster and leap back into the playoff picture.
Enter Mike Conley: the 31-year-old point guard is exactly the player the Pelicans should be looking to add to their roster.
While the Pelicans actually have a worse record than the Grizzlies, their need to retain Davis long term motivates them to be buyers. The Pelicans are only three games out of the playoffs and just five games away from the fifth seed, so their season is far from over.
Conley is the perfect fit for the Pelicans roster. His presence as a true ball-handler allows Jrue Holliday to play more in an off-ball role, where he had sustained success last season playing next to Rajon Rondo.
Conley is also a great defensive player, which allows the Pelicans to play Conley, Holliday, and Davis together, an imposing defensive trio. Conley is a clear upgrade in all areas from Payton, who the Pelicans move to the Grizzlies in the deal.
While Conley would be a great addition to the Pelicans, the team also gives up most of their wing depth in this deal, which makes it a tough pill to swallow. Darius Miller and Ian Clark are the only wings left on the roster, which would force the Pelicans to either play Holliday at the 3 or try to make a follow-up trade for a wing.
The Pelicans give up two firsts to complete the deal, but the cost likely only turns into one first if Davis chooses to depart New Orleans.
The Grizzlies agree to this trade due to the presence of the two first round picks. Johnson's and Payton's contracts expire after the season and Hill and Moore come off the books the following summer.
Payton may be a long-term fit in Memphis if they do not find another suitable point guard.
2. Utah Jazz
Utah acquires Mike Conley for PG Ricky Rubio, SF Kyle Korver and SF Thabo Sef0losha and a lottery-protected 2019 first round pick.
Just like New Orleans, Utah has struggled this season after a successful trip to the Western semifinals last season.
Conley could be the difference maker the Jazz need and would fit with the team's defensive identity. Conley would also fit well as a pick and roll partner for Rudy Gobert, and would take the ball out of the hands of Donovan Mitchell, who has struggled to replicate the magic of his rookie season.
This trade would need to wait until Jan. 28 to be completed, due to Korver's trade restriction.
With this deal, the Grizzlies acquire two capable wings who come off the books after the season as well as Rubio, who would capably replace Conley. Rubio also is a free agent this summer, but the Grizzlies could choose to retain him.
They also pick up a lottery-protected pick from the Jazz that does not convey if the Jazz fail to make the playoffs. The downside of this deal is that the Grizzlies likely fail to get a top 5 or even top 9 pick with the duo of Rubio and Marc Gasol, meaning the Grizzlies pick could still convey to Boston.
1. Detroit Pistons
Detroit acquires Mike Conley for PG Reggie Jackson, PF Jon Leuer, SF Stanley Johnson and a 2019 first round pick
Detroit is another team that is on the fringe of the playoff picture despite a bloated payroll and higher expectations.
At 17-20, the Pistons are a game out of the eighth seed in the East despite the stellar play of Blake Griffin and the steady presence of Andre Drummond. Reggie Jackson has been a disappointment, shooting just 40% from the floor with a below average PER of 14.3 while playing bad defense.
Adding Conley would likely guarantee a playoff berth for Detroit and give them a controllable core of Conley, Griffin, and Drummond for at least the next two and a half seasons.
Memphis takes on Jackson and his contract banking on a rebound in a new situation while adding Johnson and a first-round pick. Leuer is a useful big man who Memphis could try and flip in another deal. The 2019 pick is non-protected, guaranteeing the Grizzlies a pick even if they lose theirs to Boston.
Outside of Philly, Conley does not make any team a championship level contender. Rather, teams that are motivated to make the playoffs are likely to be the teams interested in the veteran. Most teams either have a better point guard or are not trying to make the playoffs.
The Los Angeles Lakers, another potential Conley destination, are likely more focused on keeping their cap room open for Kevin Durant, Butler, Klay Thompson or a Davis trade.
Either way, the Grizzlies are in a tough position as a mediocre but not terrible team.
With their poor performance thus far this season, they should go all in on tanking by trading Conley and Gasol and building around Jackson Jr. and the young players they acquire for their veterans.
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