5 free agency destinations for Mike Conley
By John Buhler
Mike Conley is one of the most interesting players to hit free agency this summer at point guard. Here are five teams Conley should consider signing with.
For going on nine seasons, Mike Conley has been the engine sparking the massive turnaround of the Memphis Grizzlies at starting point guard. From leading the Ohio State Buckeyes to the 2007 NCAA National Championship Game against the Florida Gators to help Memphis get to the 2013 Western Conference Finals, Conley has proven that he can lead great teams on deep playoff runs.
The problem with Conley is that he has never played in a major media market and that he is buried behind other fantastic point guards in the Western Conference like Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker, and Damian Lillard.
For that reason, Conley has never been to an NBA All-Star Game despite having the talent of a top 30 NBA player. He’s been an integral part of the Grit N’ Grind Grizzlies along with center Marc Gasol, power forward Zach Randolph, and wing Tony Allen for years now.
Around the league, players and general managers alike know that Conley is likely ready for something bigger than what Memphis can currently offer him. He’ll get an extra year and more money to stay with Memphis because they own his Bird Rights, but what if he isn’t as tight with Gasol as the media leads us to believe? What if Conley really wants to win an NBA Championship and realizes that he’s probably not going to be able to do that at the FedEx Forum for the Grizzlies?
Along with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Al Horford, Conley makes the most interesting quartet of players that will hit free agency this summer. Here are five teams that should vie for Conley’s services in 2016 and beyond by signing him in free agency.
Next: 5. Atlanta Hawks