Mike Conley Trade Rumors: Celtics, Jazz, Pacers, Pistons Eyeing Grizzlies PG

Kyle Newport @@KyleNewportFeatured ColumnistJune 18, 2019

Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) handles the ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic Sunday, March 10, 2019, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Brandon Dill/Associated Press

The Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz are among the teams interested in Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, according to The Athletic's Jordan Brenner.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Monday that the Grizzlies are "intensifying talks" on Conley, with the Jazz viewed as a "front-runner."

929ESPN @929espn
Woj on what a potential Mike Conley to Utah deal may look like: “It would’ve been easier when Ricky Rubio was under contract during the season. I’m not sure it’s a player. I think picks would be key in a deal there. Utah’s got options. One of them is bringing Ricky Rubio back.”

Conley drew interest before the Feb. 7 trade deadline earlier this year. However, with Utah firmly in the mix at the time, ESPN's Brian Windhorst and the New York Times' Marc Stein reported that the veteran was not interested in playing in Salt Lake City:

Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Have heard the same as Windy: There is reluctance on Conley's part to go to Utah. That said ... this is not the first time that the Jazz have heard that. Conley is owed $66 million over the next two seasons. If Utah and Memphis came to terms, Conley would have to go ... https://t.co/g4OVNcRkQ1

That came after Conley said in January that he wants to retire with the Grizzlies, per David Cobb of the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

"When I signed back a couple years ago, that's a thought that goes through your head that, 'man, I could play in the same place for 14 or 15 years. That'd be awesome, and hopefully retire one day as a Grizzly. You also understand that in three, four years a lot can happen and a lot can change. Memphis is all I know. This is my home. I love everybody here and my teammates and the organization. I don't know any better. This is new grounds for me, so we'll just see how it plays out."

That said, the 31-year-old understands trades are in the NBA's nature.

"It's where we're at, I guess," he added, per Cobb. "It's part of the business."

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After a heel injury limited Conley to 12 games in 2017-18, he responded with one of his best performances. The 12-year veteran established a new career high in scoring (21.1 ppg) while adding 6.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He shot 36.4 percent from beyond the arc this past season and is a career 37.5-percent shooter from distance.

Conley is the Grizzlies' all-time leading scorer with 11,733 career points.

He is owed $32.5 million next season and has a $34.5 million option for 2020-21.