NBA free agency: 10 destinations for Derrick Rose in 2017

The Memphis Grizzlies might be in dire need for a strong starting point guard in 2017-18 if their longtime starter Mike Conley leaves in free agency either this year or next if he does sign a one-year deal to wait for the soon-to-be-exploding 2017-18 NBA salary cap like so many of his colleagues plan to do.

Without Conley, Memphis might spiral out of control into irrelevance in the deep Western Conference. Memphis could look different offensively under new head coach David Fizdale in 2016-17, but the Grizzlies still have one of the NBA’s three worst jump-shooting rosters.

Since Memphis may not have a great perimeter game by 2017-18, the Grizzlies could take a look at signing a point guard that loves to attack the rim in Rose. He could form a great pick-and-roll partnership with either star Memphis big man Marc Gasol or Zach Randolph. The sluggish pace with which Memphis plays might also be great for Rose’s fragile knees.

Memphis will absolutely prefer to have Conley over Rose if it was up to the Grizzlies organization. Now that Rose is in New York, it might actually be in Conley’s best interest to go the one-year deal with a player option for year two route with Memphis.

This buys Conley more time to find another team to play for if he is so inclined. If he does eventually leave the Grizzlies, Rose isn’t a bad replacement for the departed Conley in 2017-18.

Next: 8. Utah Jazz.