Knicks Rumors: Grizzlies Concerned Mike Conley Will Walk

One of the New York Knicks’ primary offseason targets is expected to be free agent point guard Mike Conley. The Memphis Grizzlies are reportedly concerned that Conley will walk via free agency.

Per usual, the New York Knicks are rumored to be interested in just about every high-profile free agent on the open market. That’s also called due diligence on an executive’s behalf, but pessimism says New York shouldn’t be open-minded.

Few, if any, pending free agents have made as many appearances on the Knicks’ rumor mill than point guard Mike Conley.

Conley has been starting for the Memphis Grizzlies since he was drafted in 2007. He’s helped the Grizzlies make the playoffs in six consecutive seasons, and has earned a reputation as one of the better point guards in the NBA.

According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, the Grizzlies are reportedly concerned that Conley will walk via free agency.

"Here’s a bit of potentially good news for those Knicks fans interested in free agent Mike Conley: some members of the Grizzlies front office are growing a bit concerned about the possibility of Conley leaving in free agency, per a source with knowledge of the situation."

That’s a major change in tune from late April, when general manager Chris Wallace unequivocally stated that the Grizzlies would re-sign Conley.

It’d be premature to state that Conley will walk, but it’s an undeniable possibility.

As the starting point guard for a team that’s made six consecutive postseason appearances in the Western Conference, it’s safe to say Conley can play. He lives for big moments and has a Conference Finals appearance on his resume.

Over the past three seasons, Conley has accumulated averages of 16.2 points, 5.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 3-point field goals in 32.3 minutes of action.

For fans of advanced metrics, those numbers translate to averages of 18.0 points, 6.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.6 3-point field goals made per 36 minutes.

While he may not be a perennial All-Star, Conley’s something more valuable: a perennial postseason player with a strong track record in the playoffs. He knows what it takes to win close games, and that’s why he’s been on the Knicks’ radar for most of 2016.

Although he was speaking with a comedic tone, it’s worth noting that one of his teammates, Tony Allen, pointed directly to the Knicks when discussing the possibility of Conley leaving Memphis.

Whether it’s reading between the lines or reading too far into harmless comments, it seems as though Conley has New York on his radar.

Conley, currently 28, will turn 29 years old before the start of the 2016-17 NBA season. He’s coming off of a 2015-16 campaign during which he averaged 15.3 points and 6.1 assists to just 1.5 turnovers—good for a league-best assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.07.

Memphis, meanwhile, posted a net rating of +1.6 with Conley on the floor and -6.4 without him—a difference of 8.0 points per 100 possessions.

Unfortunately, Conley also missed the final 17 regular season games, as well as the entire postseason, due to tendinitis in his achilles tendon.

That’s a very concerning sign, but the Knicks’ interest has persisted. Phil Jackson and Jeff Hornacek will likely meet with Conley, and the team doctors will help determine if he’s healthy enough to sign.

If he is, Conley could be the point guard who helps Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis pull the Knicks out from the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

must read: What are the pros and cons of potentially signing Mike Conley?

There’s no guaranteeing that Conley and the Knicks share mutual interest, but incessant reports are certainly pointing in such a direction.