NBA Trade Deadline 2018: 5 Conley or Gasol trades the Grizzlies have to consider
3. Domantas Sabonis, Darren Collison, Glenn Robinson, Al Jefferson and Indiana’s 2019 first round pick to Memphis; Mike Conley and Wayne Selden to Indiana
Get excited and fire up the homecoming tributes for Conley! In actuality, the Pacers might be hesitant to pull the trigger on this kind of trade. Including Sabonis and a first round pick might simply be a deal breaker for them. In light of Victor Oladipo’s renaissance though, taking a swing on a tested veteran like Conley might be worth the (gargantuan) risk. As Indiana’s books currently stand, Victor Oladipo is the only big money player set to be on the team payroll through 2021. That’s also the year Mike Conley’s $35 million dollar player option will kick in (assuming of course he exercises it). That’s a frighteningly high number, but with so many short term deals on the books, Indiana won’t be condemned to cap hell by acquiring him.
On the court, Conley is a substantial upgrade over Darren Collison in most facets of the game. Collison is a nice player and a capable steward at the one spot. He’s generally a liability on defense though. Swapping him out for Conley would give Indiana a legitimately fascinating backcourt. Although Oladipo is slightly overrated as a defender, that duo could become a hellacious tandem on the defensive end. Conley would also bring some serious pedigree as a leader to this squad.
For Memphis, the trade would vastly improve its financial situation while netting the team a first round pick. The contracts of Collison and Jefferson end after the 2019 season, but both are only partially guaranteed for next year. That means that the Grizzlies could easily waive those guys to free up salary and open up roster spots for youngsters. And then there’s Sabonis, who has been a totally different player this year after languishing in OKC last season. He’s obviously not a total game changer, but Sabonis is a nice complementary piece that would fit the timeline of a rebuilding Grizzlies squad.