NBA Trade Deadline 2016: 5 deals the Brooklyn Nets should make
By John Buhler
This first trade scenario has more risk than reward, but it can’t be worse than the deal with the Utah Jazz to acquire Deron Williams a few years back. Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley has the mental fortitude to lead the Brooklyn Nets at the point for the next few years if he chooses to re-sign with the Nets after being traded there by Memphis.
To make this deal work, the Nets would have to send veteran point guard Jarrett Jack and promising rookie small forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to the Grizzlies for the temporary services of Conley.
With the Nets having more cap room this summer than they have had in the last two seasons combined, one could think that the Nets could potentially convince Conley he could become the franchise’s star point guard. He’d get to play in New York and would have a better chance of making an NBA All-Star team in the East than he would playing in the Western Conference.
Like Brooklyn, Memphis needs to rebuild in some capacity. With star center Marc Gasol breaking his foot, it’s a pretty good time for the Grizzlies to blow up the Grit N’ Grind group. Conley would offer more in return than any other trade asset on Memphis’ roster.
Memphis would receive a veteran point guard in Jack that could serve as a placeholder at the point while the Grizzlies look for a long-term solution there. Hollis-Jefferson provides intrigue as a promising wing prospect that Memphis can’t figure out. They are still looking for a replacement at small forward for Rudy Gay.
The salaries work out in this trade, as Conley will make $9,588,426 on the last year of his Memphis deal. Jack has two years left on his deal with the Nets worth $6,300,000 annually. Hollis-Jefferson is a cheap solution at the three on his four-year, $1,335,480 rookie deal.
Next: 4. New Orleans Pelicans