The New York Knicks are in dire need of an upgrade at the point guard position. It just so happens that Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley Jr. will be an unrestricted free agent next summer. According to most of the faithful Knicks fans, it seems as a foregone conclusion that Conley Jr. will be wearing the blue and orange next season. The only question is whether it is by making a trade for him this season then signing him to a contract or waiting for the offseason to bring him aboard. Unfortunately for those fans and the Knicks themselves, it is not going to be as easy as just handing him a contract and him signing it. The reality is that it may not even happen at all.
The first option for the Knicks to acquire Mike Conley Jr. is through a trade before the February deadline. This option seemed much more realistic back in December than it does at this point. Back then, the Grizzlies were in disarray and the world was crumbling around them. Coach Dave Joerger was on the “hot seat” and was most certainly going to be let go. There were even rumblings of them blowing up the roster starting with putting Conley Jr. and Jeff Green on the trade block.
If the Knicks were ever really going to try and execute a trade, that was the time to do it. Fast forward to today. Coach Joerger is still running the huddle and roster is still in tact. Memphis is sitting fifth in the western conference with a record of 26-20. After going 7-3 in their last 10 games, they are only three games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the fourth seed and home court in the first round of the playoffs. Thoughts of blowing up the roster and starting a rebuild are a thing of the past. The downside of a mid-season trade is parting with the assets that it would take to even get Mike Conley Jr. to the Big Apple. Some fans have never forgiven the Knicks front office for basically gutting the roster to get Carmelo Anthony back in 2011 when they could have just waited and signed him in the off season. What would be even worse is to make a move like that just to rent him for part of the season only to sign with a new team during free agency. Looks like it is time for “plan b” Knicks fans.
The other option for New York is to sign the then nine-year veteran during free agency. The problem is that he might have a price tag to him that is more expensive than the Knicks President of Basketball Operations Phil Jackson can or would even want to spend on a point guard to run his triangle offense. According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, “If the cap hits $90 million then a max deal for Conley Jr. should start at $25.5 million. The Knicks are currently sitting at around $20.7 million to spend next summer. That is with Arron Afflalo and Derrick Williams opting in to their player options next season.
By waiting until free agency to pursue Mike Conley Jr., the Knicks are putting themselves in competition against 29 other teams including his current team Memphis. They have a clear advantage when it comes to resigning him. The Grizzlies can offer the all important fifth year that other clubs just cannot. Also, a team can go over the salary cap to re-sign their own free agents. Conley Jr. likes it in Memphis. He has laid down roots in the city. It’s the only franchise he has ever played for since being drafted with the fourth pick in the 2007 NBA draft. It also does not hurt that they have already locked up Marc Gasol until at least 2018-19.
I am not saying that it is definite that Conley Jr. to New York will not happen. It is just not as guaranteed as some fans would like to believe. The Knicks without a doubt need an upgrade at the point guard position. At $25.5 million per year, is Mike Conley Jr the answer when a year after that 2017 they could have, I do not know….Russell Westbrook?
