The NBA Trade Deadline is an important time for many teams around the NBA. In some cases, rebuilding teams make moves for more pieces towards their rebuild. Those pieces include young players, expiring contracts, and draft picks.
The Memphis Grizzlies are a rebuilding team and have found a young player to build around and establish a core for their future. The Grizzlies want to rebuild their team around Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jackson was the fourth pick of the 2018 NBA Draft. He was the Grizzlies’ first lottery pick since 2010 when the Grizzlies drafted Xavier Henry with the 12th pick. They also drafted Hasheem Thabeet the previous year. Unlike their previous lottery picks, Jackson is playing well for the Grizzlies. So, the Grizzlies have a player to build around and can make moves to continue their rebuild. These moves could involve their veterans Mike Conley and Marc Gasol.
Mike Conley and Marc Gasol have been with the Memphis Grizzlies for years. But, their time could be coming to an end (Image Courtesy of Joe Murphy/Getty Images)
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Grizzlies will listen to trade offers for both Conley and Gasol. However, the Grizzlies might keep one or both players if they do not receive desirable offers.
Both players met with Grizzlies owner Robert Pera, who made them aware that they are on the trading block. The players have not requested a trade, but the Grizzlies want to move in a different direction. During shootaround on Wednesday, Gasol discussed how he felt about the situation.
“My relationship with the Grizzlies might change, but my relationship with Memphis won’t,” He said. “What I feel inside and how I feel about Memphis and its people has nothing to do with a franchise or a temporary thing. It’s not going to change.”
He also spoke on Mike Conley being involved in trade talks.
“I don’t understand why Mike is in those talks either,” Gasol said. “Mike is one heck of a player, and we’re going to need good players moving forward. I don’t understand why Mike is in this.”
The Grizzlies are towards the bottom of the Western Conference sitting at 14th in the standings. The Phoenix Suns are the only West Conference team with a worse record. The Grizzlies are not playoff bound and must continue their rebuild by trading Conley and Gasol.
Both Conley and Gasol were pieces of the Grizzlies’ core. They helped the Grizzlies make the playoffs seven times and even made the Conference finals in 2013. But Conley (31) and Gasol (33) are no longer in the Grizzlies’ plans. In other words, both players did well for the franchise, but it is finally time to move on. Now, they can join playoff bound/contender teams, and the Grizzlies can build for their future. It is best for both parties.
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