NBA Rumors: Celtics Could Fill In Irving Void With Grizzlies Veteran Guard

Mike Conley, who is currently with the Memphis Grizzlies, is expected to be dealt somewhere this summer and the 31-year-old guard is expected to draw in a lot of suitors. So far, at least three teams have been linked to the fourth round pick of the 2007 NBA Draft – all of which are in dire need of a seasoned playmaker for next season.

The Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, and Utah Jazz were mentioned as teams likely to pursue Conley, ESPN reported. However, there are precedents that need to happen and much of this is expected to kick off at the 2019 NBA Draft. It all starts with the Memphis Grizzlies who own the rights to the second overall pick. The consensus is that they will select Ja Morant – further boosting belief that Conley is on his way out.

If so, this could make Conley one of the coveted guards this summer. The Boston Celtics are likely to make an aggressive push with word that Kyrie Irving will be opting out of his contract. That potential move is expected to rock the Celtics backcourt thrust, although team president Danny Ainge will likely consider getting Conley because he is one of the proven and tested guards in the NBA today. Boston does have young and promising guards on its end but there are murmurs that they may end up as casualties as well with a shakeup expected to be done after falling short in the 2018-19 NBA playoffs.

Conley has two years remaining on the five-year deal worth $153 million that he signed back in 2016. He holds career averages of 21.1 points and 6.4 assists and undeniably has the hops to keep in step with other popular NBA guards today. With the Grizzlies undergoing a major facelift, attention is now on infusing young blood into the Memphis core. This was the apparent intent when the Grizzlies dealt off Marc Gasol to the Toronto Raptors last February. In fact, Conley was also in trade talks involving the Utah Jazz but nothing materialized. Much of this was covered in a previous post.

Speaking of the Jazz, they too have been mentioned as one of the teams likely to make an aggressive push to acquire the 31-year-old guard. With Ricky Rubio no longer their priority, the Jazz could [possibly revisit that trade involving Conley as they fill in the point guard hole with a seasoned veteran to help guide the young crew for the coming 2019-20 NBA wars.