Memphis Grizzlies Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Rockets, Grizzlies Discuss Brandon Knight Trade

February 1st, 2019 at 9:46pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Rockets have discussed a trade with the Grizzlies involving guard Brandon Knight, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer tweets. Houston has been offering a first-round pick to sweeten the package, O’Connor adds.

Knight is making a guaranteed $14.6MM this season and another $15.63MM next season. Knight, 27, has only appeared in 12 games this season after missing all of last season with a knee injury. He hasn’t seen the court since January 11th.

It’s not clear which Grizzlies player(s) the Rockets would be targeting in return for Knight, but Memphis has gone into fire sale mode and is shopping veterans Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. Garrett Temple and JaMychal Green, both on expiring contracts, are among the Grizzlies’ lower-cost trade candidates who could help a contender like Houston.

The Grizzlies would likely try to buy out Knight if they acquired him.

Grizzlies’ Omri Casspi To Undergo Knee Surgery

February 1st, 2019 at 6:26pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Grizzlies forward Omri Casspi will undergo surgery next week to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee, according to a team press release.

An MRI on Friday revealed the injury. A timeline for his return will be determined following the procedure.

Casspi, who played for the Warriors last season, was signed to a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract in July and will be an unrestricted free agent once again this summer. The 30-year-old journeyman forward has appeared in 36 games this season, averaging 6.3 PPG and 3.2 RPG in 14.4 MPG off the bench.

Casspi has not played the last three games. His stint in Memphis hasn’t gone smoothly, including a scrap with teammate Garrett Temple early last month. However, he reached double figures in points in four of his last six appearances.

Jazz, Grizzlies Have Explored Trade Involving Conley, Rubio

February 1st, 2019 at 12:06pm CST by Luke Adams

12:06pm: Sources tell Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune (Twitter link) that the Jazz aren’t high on the 2019 draft, so they’re willing to move this year’s first-rounder. However, if the Grizzlies believe they could do better than Utah’s mid-to-late first-rounder for Conley, they could ask for a second pick, Larsen notes.

9:53am: The Jazz and Grizzlies have engaged in exploratory discussions on a potential trade that would be headlined by Mike Conley and Ricky Rubio, reports Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter links). As Stein observes, more pieces would need to be involved if talks get more serious and the two teams work toward a deal.

These aren’t the first rumblings we’ve heard linking Conley to the Jazz. Last week, a report indicated that Utah had interest in the Grizzlies point guard, and ESPN’s Zach Lowe wrote this morning that the two sides had engaged in talks. Sources told Lowe that those discussions could pick up steam as the weekend approaches, while Tony Jones of The Athletic suggests (via Twitter) that the two sides are already “fairly far down the road” on a potential trade.

While the Jazz’s interest in Conley is “undeniable,” per Stein (Twitter link), the bump up from Rubio’s salary ($14.975MM) to Conley’s ($30.521MM) would be substantial. At least one more sizable contract – perhaps Derrick Favors‘ pseudo-expiring $16.9MM deal – would need to be included for matching purposes, and Memphis is also believed to be seeking “prime” draft compensation in any swap involving Conley or Marc Gasol, according to Stein.

Rubio is on an expiring contract, while Conley remains under contract through the 2020/21 season, with increasing cap hits over the next two years. If the Jazz were to make a move for the veteran, they’d be acquiring a very good point guard who has played like a borderline All-Star this season, but they’d be significantly compromising their cap flexibility over the next couple years. Still, perhaps that’d be a good use of the team’s future cap space, since Utah isn’t considered a top destination for free agents.

The Jazz have reportedly been seeking a third impact player to slot in alongside Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, so it will be interesting to see just how serious they are about making Conley that player as next Thursday’s trade deadline approaches.

For his part, Conley has averaged 20.2 PPG, 6.3 APG, and 3.4 RPG with a .433/.359/.844 shooting line in 51 games this season.

Marc Gasol Comments On Being Traded For Brother

January 30th, 2019 at 8:42pm CST by Austin Kent

In 2008, the Grizzlies packaged up star big man Pau Gasol and sent him off to the Lakers in exchange for Marc Gasol and a pair of first-round picks. Over a decade later, the brothers could theoretically be swapped again. While Marc has established himself as a franchise staple, the soon-to-be rebuilding Grizz are said to be open to offers for him. “There’s a part of me that would like that,” Marc told David Cobb of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “He still has a place here.“

Kings, Pistons Show Interest In Marc Gasol

January 28th, 2019 at 9:38pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Kings and Pistons have expressed interest in Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, according to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, citing multiple sources.

The Grizzlies are trying to dump Chandler Parsons‘ contract in the deal. That complicates any potential transaction involving Gasol, since he has a player option for next season worth $25.6MM, O’Connor notes.

Gasol and Parsons are making a combined $48.2MM this season, so packaging them together and making the salaries match up with a trade partner would obviously be a challenging task. Parsons has another guaranteed $25MM remaining in the final year of his contract next season.

Memphis’ willingness to deal its two big-name veterans, Gasol and point guard Mike Conley, became public last week. The Grizzlies have fallen out of the playoff picture, putting them in a seller’s mode.

The motivation for the two suitors mentioned is unclear.

The Kings have been linked to Dallas forward Harrison Barnes as well as Atlanta guard Jeremy Lin in recent weeks. They also showed interest in Knicks center Enes Kanter before talks broke down. So the Kings are seemingly itching to make a move before the February 7th deadline.

How Gasol would fit into their immediate plans is a question mark, since Sacramento has a number of young bigs. It began Monday three games out of the final Western Conference playoff spot. Sacramento’s highest-paid players, Zach Randolph ($11.1MM) and Iman Shumpert ($11.0MM) have expiring contracts, as does Kosta Koufos ($8.74MM).

The Pistons’ interest in Gasol would be centered around dumping salary, so they’d probably have to sweeten the pot with a future first-rounder and a young player. Reggie Jackson, Jon Leuer and Langston Galloway fit the category of bad contracts that run through next season. Detroit is two games out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference despite a prolonged slide.

Alternatively, Detroit could go into full rebuild mode and put Andre Drummond in a deal involving Gasol in order to free up much-needed cap space. If the Pistons were to acquire Gasol without including Drummond in the trade, Gasol would have to come off the bench behind Drummond and Blake Griffin.

Western Notes: Holiday, Grizzlies, Kings

January 28th, 2019 at 10:05am CST by ChrisCrouse

Anthony Davis has requested a trade and it could have a domino effect on the rest of the Pelicans‘ roster. Jrue Holiday, who is gaining All-Star consideration this year, could be viewed as an attractive trade asset, Bobby Marks of ESPN.com writes.

Holiday, who signed a five-year deal with New Orleans in 2017, is making approximately $26MM this season and will take home the same amount over the next two campaigns. His deal contains a player option worth slightly under $26.9MM for the 2021/22 season.

Marks examines some other potential sellers at the trade deadline. Here are the highlights from the teams in the Western Conference:

The Grizzlies are open for business when it comes to trading Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. Conley has the most on-court value, Marks notes. Conley’s deal runs through the 2021/22 season and he’ll take home approximately $34.5MM in the final year of the deal. The point guard will turn 33 prior to that season and his age and length of the deal present risks for rival suitors.
Marks expects Garrett Temple, JaMychal Green and Justin Holiday to garner interest from teams in contention for the playoffs. It was previously reported that teams were calling Memphis about Green and Temple. Holiday, whom the Grizzlies recently traded for, can not be dealt in combination with any other player.
The Kings are outside the playoff picture and have little incentive to tank considering their first-rounder will go to either Philadelphia or Boston, Marks notes. The team possesses roughly $11MM in cap space, though it doesn’t have to utilize it by the trade deadline. The ability to use the cap space will expire on June 30, so Sacramento could make a deal closer to the NBA draft.

Conley And Gasol Preparing For End of Partnership

January 27th, 2019 at 9:13pm CST by Eric Spyropoulos

With the reports that the Grizzlies are willing to part ways with Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, Omari Sankofa II points out for The Athletic that the duo is cherishing the positive moments and victories they can get in the meantime.

Garrett Temple To Miss 1-2 Weeks

January 26th, 2019 at 5:10pm CST by Arthur Hill

Garrett Temple, one of the Grizzlies who is drawing interest on the trade market, will be sidelined for the next one to two weeks with a mild left shoulder sprain, according to a tweet from the team. The timing of the injury could complicate efforts to deal Temple with the trade deadline just 12 days away.

The 32-year-old is in his first season in Memphis after being acquired from the Kings in an offseason deal. He has started all 49 Grizzlies games, averaging 9.4 points and 3.1 assists per night. The release states that the injury happened last night when Temple collided with another player.

Teams have expressed interest in Temple because his $8MM expiring contract won’t require a huge financial commitment. Memphis made headlines this week with its decision to listen to trade offers for stars Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, but a report yesterday said more teams are calling about Temple and JaMychal Green.

Hawks Seeking Trades For Future Assets

January 25th, 2019 at 7:31pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Hawks are looking to make deals to acquire future assets with point guard Jeremy Lin and center Dewayne Dedmon the most likely to get traded, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports. Atlanta is one of the few clear-cut sellers heading toward next month’s trade deadline and GM Travis Schlenk wants to continue collecting draft picks and opening up cap space.

“We’re looking for future assets,” Schlenk told Kirchner. “We already have five picks in this draft and more than likely, two firsts and three seconds. Any of the deals we do will be future assets or a deal that maybe will increase our (cap) flexibility moving forward. We’re still on the same trajectory.”

Lin has an expiring $13.77MM contract but several contenders are looking for a quality point guard, Kirschner notes. Lin, who is averaging 10.9 PPG and 3.6 APG in 19.9 MPG, has been linked to the Kings, Sixers, Pelicans and Trail Blazers.

Dedmon, who has an expiring $7.2MM contract, has increased his value by adding the 3-point shot to his game. Dedmon is averaging 10.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG in 24.7 MPG.

Atlanta would also like to move swingman Kent Bazemore and center Miles Plumlee, Kirschner adds. Bazemore is making $18.1MM this season and holds a $19.27MM option for next season. Bazemore is leaning toward opting in and has been shopped for more than a year, according to Kirschner. Bazemore hasn’t played since December 29th due to an ankle injury, which isn’t helping the Hawks’ efforts to move him.

Plumlee has another year left on his contract paying him $12.5MM this season and next. He was playing sparingly before injuring his knee and hasn’t seen the court since New Year’s Eve. Atlanta has talked to Memphis about taking on Chandler Parsons‘ contract with Plumlee being part of the deal. Atlanta would want a future pick from the Grizzlies as an incentive.

Community Shootaround: Mike Conley

January 25th, 2019 at 5:20pm CST by Dana Gauruder

With the Grizzlies’ season fading to oblivion, reports surfaced this week that the front office is willing to deal point guard Mike Conley as well as center Marc Gasol.

Conley is one of the highest-paid floor leaders in the league. He’s making $30.5MM this season, another $32.5MM next season with a $34.5MM player option for the 2020/21 campaign.

It’s rare to find an All-Star caliber floor leader on the market, so Conley is certain to draw some interest. The Jazz have already been mentioned as a potential suitor, pairing Conley with Donovan Mitchell in a high-powered backcourt. Ricky Rubio‘s expiring contract would almost be certainly part of the package in any swap involving those teams.

Frank Urbina of HoopsHype speculated on three other teams that also might chase Conley. Veteran D.J. Augustin has played well for the Magic but Conley would be a huge upgrade feeding the ball to big men Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon. In return, Urbina opines that Jonathan Isaac is the type of young player that could facilitate Memphis’ rebuilding process.

The Mavericks might be another potential landing spot for Conley. Dennis Smith Jr. rejoined Dallas this week after a conversation with coach Rick Carlisle but it’s no secret Smith doesn’t feel comfortable sharing the ball with Luka Doncic. Smith would give Memphis a much younger option at the point with Wesley Matthews‘ expiring contract possibly thrown into the deal.

The Pacers were dealt a crushing blow in their quest to reach the NBA Finals when Victor Oladipo suffered a season-ending quad injury. A deal for Conley could revive their hopes. Some expiring contracts and multiple draft picks could get the job done.

We’ll throw in another team — the Pistons. They’re starved for improved point guard play with Reggie Jackson having a poor season. A package that includes some young players and a first-rounder or two would likely be required.

That leads us to our question of the day: If the Grizzlies deal Mike Conley, which team do you feel would be the best fit for him and why?

Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.