A disastrous season in Memphis got even worse today with the announcement that Mike Conley will have heel surgery and miss the rest of the season. Conley appeared in just 12 games this year and hasn’t been on the court since mid-November.
It’s the latest in a long string of bad news for the Grizzlies, who are 17-31 and mired in 12th place in the Western Conference. Memphis is seven games out of a playoff spot, but only three games from the top in our latest Reverse Standings, which means a high lottery pick could be in the cards for a franchise whose roster got very old while making seven straight playoff appearances.
If the Grizzlies are ready to rebuild, one obvious place to start is with Marc Gasol. The veteran center, who will turn 33 on Monday, is having a typically productive year, averaging 18.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 47 games. He’s a three-time All-Star and probably would have received more consideration this season if Memphis were higher in the standings.
The Grizzlies’ front office continues to say it plans to hang on to Gasol, but the team’s financial situation may force a move. Memphis has three gigantic contracts on its books in Gasol, Conley and Chandler Parsons, and if all three remain, the team won’t have significant cap space until the summer of 2020.
Conley probably has three seasons left on the record-setting contract he signed in the summer of 2016. He will make more than $30.5MM next season, more than $32.5MM in 2019/20 and has a player option worth more than $34.5MM in 2020/21. Parsons, who has only played 26 games this season, still has two more years and more than $49.2MM left on his deal. Gasol is owed nearly $24.12MM next season with a player option for nearly $25.6MM in 2019/20. Conley won’t be dealt because of the surgery, and Parsons’ injury history makes his contract among the most untradable in the league. So that leaves Gasol.
In addition to giving themselves some cap flexibility, the Grizzlies should be able to get a nice package of young talent and draft picks in return. The Cavaliers and Bucks have been tied to trade rumors involving DeAndre Jordan, and both would surely be interested in Gasol. The Celtics, among others, could also get involved.
We want to hear from you. Should the Grizzlies start the rebuilding process by trading Gasol, and what should they ask for in return? Jump into the comments section below and give us your opinion.
Move Gasol to the Wizards, the man deserves to compete. Can’t keep banking on Conley for the rest of Marc’s prime which is what 2 more seasons barring injury. Still have the top 5 pick to draft Bamba so it won’t be that much of a drop-off, Conley is always injured so keeping a healthy Gasol around makes no sense.
Memphis should move him 100%
Memphis needs to move him
Memphis should get on the phone with Milwaukee and make a deal.
It’s best to trade Gasol and start a rebuild. I’d tried to work with the Cavs to get that Nets pick. If they deal Gasol, I’d look at stretching Parsons to save around $14-$15 mil next offseason.
Trading Gasol to Cavs for Thompson, Frye, and the Nets 1st, plus stretching Parsons in the summer would net 20.9 mil in savings, minus 10-12 mil for the lottery picks. Memphis would then have about that much in cap space to make some minor deals or reason players they like. I think this could be a good start to a rebuild for Memphis. Also, once Conley is healthy, you can look to move him.
I was all pushing for Gasol in the offseason, spurred by 39% shooting from 3. However I’m looking at that $72mil owed now. His stats have declined across the board except for assists, which might be a waste for a Cav center– that sort of offense did not work for the Cavs when Love was doing it. Either MGasol is declining or is just not inspired with the new teammates, which is not surprising, given TAllen & ZBo are out. I’m not sure what Gasol is worth now. Memphis is moving too slowly.
If Lebron does not commit to a contract that Brooklyn pick will not get moved simple as that. Altman has to be sure bringing in Gasol puts them over the top, I think it does but the ball is in Lebron’s court really.
Too old.
Parsons is all but stealing money.
How about the Lakers? Boogie is a no go for next year. They don’t have a pick so, they will need to give up an actual asset, either Kuzma or Ingram. More likely Kuzma, Lopez, and Randle for Gasol and whatever filler makes the money work.
Pass! Gasol is to old!
Then the Lakers wouldn’t be able to sign a Paul George/LeBron James, etc. And why would you deal the youth/core of your team?
Gasol and Wright for Lopez, Clarkson, and Kuzma would clear enough salary for them to go after PG13 or LBJ. The talk was always about one of those plus Boogie. Gasol only has 2 years on his contract but he is a stretch 5. Gasol, PG13, Ingram, Hart?, Ball.
They signed Lopez, he was having a standout season in BKN last season…..
Lakers should be looking to off load him now, sure the Bucks would be interested.
I think the right move is to keep gasol and trade off everything else as best offer deals with the goal being to acquire as many either draft picks,intriguing youth, or “useful players” as possible. in a perfect world, you end up with a high draft pick added next year, another first round pick or a promising young player, and a few role players via salary matching in trades and a few small but shrewd FA(mle level) signings. you’d then be banking on enough talent to click around gasol to show him that they’re not far off from contenders(and of course be willing to use the ability of offering the most money). you’d also be ok in the event of him leaving because you’d have that top draft pick in the previous draft already, that other young asset, and you’d still be able to move those other vets you acquire to fully jump into rebuild mode
I agree that Boston certainly has the assets to acquire a star player, but where does the matching salary come from? They essentially don’t have any salary on the books that they don’t need.
Horford would have to be part of the deal
Well…
– Gordon Hayward
Right and if Hayward or Horford are part of the deal is it even worth the asking price since Memphis doesn’t have a use for either, they would just be there to match salary or be traded again. If they trade Gasol for Hayward and a pick they’re basically punting on committing either way, which does not work.
I do think they should move Gasol, and I see the Spurs as a good fit.
They have Parker’s expiring deal. As weird and in-Spurs like as it would be, now that they’ve handed the keys to Murray, it makes sense to make him part of the package.
Add in Gay’s deal (probably won’t pick up his option on a rebuilding team, one of the young promising players like Forbes or White, this year’s first and next year’s second and it becomes an enticing salary dump, young assets deal for the Grizz. A three headed monster of Gasol x 2 and LMA, or moving LMA in another deal gives the Spurs an instant upgrade.
Spurs are not trading Parker, full stop.
And if anyone, they’d be best to trade Pau for Marc. But that wont happen either.
Trading LMA could be an option, but not when they’re sitting 3rd in the West. That’s not an improvement nor beneficial to improving their Playoff chances.
In my opinion, Kawhi will be the one who’s traded. Writing is on the wall.