The Mavericks have July 1st meetings lined up with their top two free agent targets, Mike Conley and Hassan Whiteside, according to reports. ESPN’s Chris Broussard writes that the Mavs will get a Friday meeting with Conley, while ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said in a radio interview that Dallas will be getting the first meeting with Whiteside (hat tip to HeatNation.com).
Within that same interview, MacMahon suggests that the Mavericks will “absolutely” put a maximum-salary offer on the table for Whiteside. The Heat have the space to make such an offer as well, but reports have indicated that not all members of Miami’s front office are sold on the idea of a max deal for Whiteside.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies believe they will hold off all challengers for Conley and re-sign their starting point guard, according to Marc Stein of ESPN (Twitter link). However, Broussard writes that it’s not a foregone conclusion that Conley will return to Memphis. If the Grizzlies are reluctant to go beyond four years in their offer, it could open the door for rival suitors, per Broussard.
In addition to the Mavericks, the teams expected to pursue Conley include the Rockets, Pelicans, Nets, and Lakers, but those teams have yet to formally set up meetings, sources tell Broussard. Assuming Conley does meet with some or all of those clubs, he will likely meet with the Grizzlies last, giving them the opportunity to make the final pitch before he makes his decision.
As the Mavericks pursue Memphis’ starting point guard, the Grizzlies have their eye on a pending free agent from Dallas, according to Stein, who tweets that Memphis may try to sign Chandler Parsons. Parsons is reportedly seeking a max contract as well, so the Grizzlies would have to accommodate huge deals for both Conley and Parsons if they intend to sign both players, but it seems to be an option they’re considering.
1.) I’m not sure how much money Memphis has, but I’m not sure they have enough to max both Conley and Parsons. Some team(s) will offer both a max contract. Memphis has to keep the band together with Z-Bo, M Gasol, T Allen, and now M Conley. That’s going to take a lot of money, plus now to max Parsons?
2.) If I’m the Mavs, my pitch includes, “you’ve had this SAME basic line up in Memphis since we won the Championship in 11. In those five years you’ve had three first round exits and haven’t been better than a four seed. Clearly it hasn’t happened yet, a shake up might work pairing you with Whiteside, Dirk, and Wes Matthews.”
I don’t know how much the Grizzlies want to go over the cap (and into the luxury tax) but they could probably fit Parsons by signing him first and then Conley (since they own his Bird Rights and could go over the cap to sign him).
Couldn’t we do the same with Parson’s after signing Conley/Whitesdie?