NBA Rumors: Mike Conley Leaving Memphis Grizzlies For San Antonio Spurs


NBA rumors are swirling around Mike Conley. With the Memphis Grizzlies seemingly going backwards as a franchise, there are those that believe that the talented point guard is eyeing a new team in the National Basketball Association. According to the Bleacher Report, the San Antonio Spurs will most likely be pursuing Conley this summer. Having just lost a very disappointing playoffs series to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Spurs know that they need to make some changes to the roster.

Age was eventually going to catch up to the San Antonio Spurs. No one wins that battle forever. Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Tim Duncan were eventually going to get to the point in their NBA careers where they’re just not nearly as dominating as they used to be. There were points in the playoffs series where the Spurs looked too old to be on the same court as the Oklahoma City Thunder.

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker
Tony Parker [Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images]
While he is still effective at times, Tony Parker is no longer one of the best point guards in the NBA. An upgrade in the back court would enable the San Antonio Spurs to better compete with the elite point guards in the National Basketball Association. Just in the Western Conference alone, the Spurs have to go up against Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, and Damian Lillard. Parker is going to need some help.

To their credit, the San Antonio Spurs have done a great job of restocking their roster with younger stars. Kawhi Leonard was developed by Gregg Popovich and his staff. He’s now one of the best two-way perimeter players in the NBA. Last summer, Popovich was able to acquire LaMarcus Aldridge to become their new All-Star big man. The two of them have taken the mantle from Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, so it is now time to find someone to replace Tony Parker.

San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard [Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images]
For a very long time, the Memphis Grizzlies were one of the toughest teams to play against in the NBA, but those days appear to be numbered now. The team surprised fans by firing head coach Dave Joerger after the season. He’s been wanting to leave for the Sacramento Kings for quite some time now because he doesn’t feel that the Grizzlies are building a team that can compete in the National Basketball Association.

Now would seem to be a very good time for Mike Conley to leave the Memphis Grizzlies. That way, he can avoid a rebuilding period. The Grizzlies might even need to trade away Marc Gasol. He’s getting up there in age and has a pretty big contract. Sending him away would enable Gasol to compete for an NBA Championship. He doesn’t really have much of a place in a rebuilding phase.

San Antonio Spurs center LaMarcus Aldridge
LaMarcus Aldridge [Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images]
If Mike Conley opts to leave the Memphis Grizzlies, he’ll find plenty of suitors during free agency. Lots of teams in the NBA have already expressed interest in signing Conley. Both the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets view him as an upgrade over their current point guards. The Houston Rockets would love to have Conley as an upgrade over Patrick Beverly. You can expect to see Mike traveling quite a bit during the free agency period to check out all of these teams.

With Mike Conley, Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge, the San Antonio Spurs could build themselves quite a new dynasty. If Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan decide to play in the NBA for another season, then the Spurs can bridge the gap between their two trios of building blocks. A championship would make that one of the best stories for a franchise that has already seen plenty of good stories.

[Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images]

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