The Memphis Grizzlies achieved their main goal this offseason when they were able to retain Marc Gasol in free agency. There was never really any doubt that Gasol would stay in Memphis, but the Grizzlies will have another one of their premiere players become a free agent this summer in Mike Conley. Conley may not be as easy to retain as Gasol was, but it is being reported that most people believe the point guard isn't going anywhere, according to David Aldridge of TNT.
Conley is entering the final year of his five-year, $40 million deal that will pay him more than $9 million this season. The Grizzlies are expected to be a good team again this year and should be for the foreseeable future, especially now that they have locked down Gasol long-term, which should be appealing to Conley. There is also thought that if the Grizzlies put together a good season this year that they will be an attractive destination for free agents next summer.
There have been rumblings that Conley might want to leave Memphis in free agency because he and the Grizzlies have yet to speak about an extension, but former NBA general manager Bobby Marks shot that thought down. Marks pointed out that if Conley were to sign an extension now, the maximum amount he could get would be three years and $33 million, whereas if he waits for next summer he will be able to sign a maximum contract with a starting salary of around $25 million.
Conley will enter free agency next summer at the age of 28 years old, which is still right in the middle of his prime, so the Grizzlies should not hesitate to pay him assuming he has another good season. Conley has become a very good NBA point guard, especially on the defensive side of the ball, and although he isn't a great facilitator he shoots the ball well and can also score well.
In his eight seasons with the Grizzlies Conley has averaged 13.4 points, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 44 percent from the field and 38 percent from the three-point line. Conley should come into this season extremely motivated to show his value to the Grizzlies so that he could max out his value, so expect a big year from the Memphis point guard.
