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The Memphis Grizzlies are now fielding calls regarding trades for Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. However, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, neither of the two requested a trade.
Gasol and Conley met with owner Robert Pera in Memphis recently, but neither expressed a desire to be traded, league sources told ESPN.
Both Marc Gasol and Mike Conley have spent their entire career with Memphis and are the only two pieces left from the iconic Grit-and-Grind era Grizzlies of the 21st century. But with only one playoff round victory in the last five seasons, it appears that the era may be officially over.
Teams around the league are likely to have interest in both Conley and Gasol. A former Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Star, Gasol is set to be an upcoming free agent this summer if he chooses to decline his $25.6 million player option.
Conley signed a five-year, $153 million extension with the Grizzlies in 2016, so he is still under contract through next season. He is set to make over $30 million with an option for early termination in 2020-21.
As Memphis eyes a rebuild, they will seek to clear as much salary cap room as possible and structure a young roster around their 2018 first round pick, Jaren Jackson Jr. The rookie big man is showing real potential for the Grizzlies, putting up 13.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in just 25.7 minutes per game.
Rinsing the books of some of their hefty contracts will prove to be no easy task for Memphis. Contracts with players like Gasol, Conley and Chandler Parsons have gridlocked the Grizzlies for the last few seasons, but it appears they are ready to move on.
It will all have to begin with finding a new home for the current cornerstones of the franchise in Conley and Gasol, whether they are ready to leave or not.
