A big decision looms for Mike Conley.
The Ohio State point guard has spend his entire career with the Memphis Grizzlies, leading competitive teams who've made the playoffs year after year, only to be knocked out before ever reaching the Finals. Now, he has a choice on whether he wants to stay with the franchise, or take his talents else where.
Conley is going to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but paying him the big bucks won't be the only requirement to get him to stay.
Mike Conley, very calmly but very firmly, put a great deal of pressure on the front office to 1. pay him and 2. pay some FAs.
— Peter Edmiston (@peteredmiston) April 25, 2016
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More of Conley's thoughts, per Edmiston:
It's no secret. Everybody's wondering if we can bring together the right guys in the offseason. They have enough money to go out and find somebody, but will we be able to attract this person or that person? That's going to be one of the deciding factors, if I believe they're going to (sign guys) or if they do it right off the bat.
I wouldn't want to delay (while waiting for others to sign with the team), but if I can get any kind of assurances earlier rather than later, it would help.
There isn't going to be a lot of point guard talent on the market in the offseason. Other than Rajon Rondo, Conley is the best option available, and many teams will bid for him if he hits free agency.
The Grizzlies can technically offer him more money than any other team, and Conley's ties with the franchise and the city of Memphis run deep.
To be clear: Conley also said "of course" he wants to stay in Memphis. And that Marc will beat him up if he leaves.
— Geoff Calkins (@geoff_calkins) April 25, 2016
The Grizzlies were able to re-sign Marc Gasol earlier this year, but it's clear that Conley will need more talented players around him if he's going to stay. Memphis will have the money, but historically they've been unable to attract any marquee free agents to town.
If they're unable to lure a big-name talent this time around, they might lose one of their home grown stars.
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