[festar35Participant]

There is a large chance that Memphis goes for Ja Morant & decide to trade Mik Conley, what do you see as Conley’s asking price?

Memphis appeared to want a starter quality young asset, 1st round pick & cap. Conley is 31yrs old & owed $66mil over the next 2 years, I think that is too high of a price. If Memphis got a 1st round pick or young prospect & cap-room I think they are doing well.

[Arc12345Participant]

Agreed, if the asking price is high I don’t see many takers.

I think he’d be a great fit with the Lakers and Lebron due to his underrated shooting, but there’s no way they use the 4th pick to get Mike Conley.

Can easily see Boston sacrificing one of their first round picks and a player like Yabusele. Especially since Kyrie and Rozier are most certainly walking out the door. Would be a great presence in the lockeroom and excellent fit with the young guys.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Teams are gonna lowball Memphis on a Conley deal unless they draft Barrett.

Most of the teams that will be interested in Conley will either be middle of the pack teams with established players locked up for a few years like Detroit and Utah or teams in free agency that strike out and miss on the bigger names like New York or either LA.

Memphis has very little leverage on a Conley deal and should have moved him last year if they intend to move him at all. Like stated above Boston is probably the best candidate as its looking like they may lose Irving and Rozier this year.

[The GoatParticipant]

Apparently Utah is the team with interest, as they were late in the season. They let be known again after Memphis got #2. They are probably dangling something like their pick plus Exum or Crowder, hoping Griz taking Exum but giving Crowder if they have to. I expect him to be there.

It makes it interesting as to where Rubio goes. He has taken a lot of flak for his shooting in his career, but it has improved a lot. He can play, he is a pass first point guard and can defend reasonably. It wouldn’t surprise me if he ended up on the Lakers to be honest, perhaps Charlotte if Kemba goes.

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

When the Knicks whiff on everyone they will trade for him.  

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

I remember Rozier saying he will leave only if Celtics don’t make any changes. If Kyrie leaves then they certainly made some changes and the team is different therefore he would stay. So I only see one leaving. If Kyrie stays then Rozier leaves, if Kyrie leaves, Rozier stays. So no, regardless I don’t think Celtics will go after Conley. He wants to go East, that’s why the deal with the Jazz folded. So Charlotte has a good chance to get him since Kemba is likely to leave, so will Lamb. They will have a huge hole at guard yet not much is available at 12. Yes, the asking price will be lowered but that doesn’t mean Utah has a chance to get him, fact is he still wants to go East, so Memphis will honor that. They owe him that. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 But does Boston really want to hand their team over to Rozier after using the media to create leverage? I would look elsewhere, he clearly failed to do his job and is part of the reason Boston had no role definition. 

Theres also the question of, is he even good enough?

[BleedGreen808Participant]

Nah Terry burned those bridges with those comments after the season.  His comments were incredibly delusional and proved he never bought into playing a role for the better of the team.  If I was Danny I’m letting him walk for sure.  

[celtics1982Participant]

 I think Rozier is the only one to actually speak the truth. Irving divided that team into Veterans vs young guys. Irving killed team chemistry and team play. While telling us a 100 plus times he knew how Boston had to play and went on to play Iso ball and litterally shoot us out of the playoffs. He wouldn’t even pass when they guarded him with four guys.

Last year Irving goes down Horford, Tatum, Brown, and Rozier all get a lot better, awesome playoff run. Add Irving they all get worse, every single one of them. Yet they go 12-2 in games Irving missed. Irving is like Melo, a great scorer, but hurts the players around him with his all about me style and lack of team ball. Nevermind he never takes the blame, it’s always someone else fault.

So I don’t blame Rozier one bit, it was over the top for sure. Yet that was the point, he wants to be gone if Irving is back and that is a smart move. He needs the ball in his hands, he sucks as a SG. 

Really like at Rozier stats vs Bucks last year and Irving’s this year. Is he really delusional?

[BleedGreen808Participant]

Did you watch his First Take interview?  He complained about not getting enough touches and how much usage Hayward got.  When in reality he was 3rd in touches and had a higher usage than Hayward even though Hayward is a better playmaker even in his reduced form.  If we’re talking about Kyrie jacking up shots in the playoffs, Rozier spent the whole season jacking up bad shots and looking off open teammates.  

I’m not going to defend Kyrie’s poor playoffs because he did play really poorly.  However, it’s such a tired narrative that getting to the Eastern Conference finals game 7 in a much weaker East proved that the team was better without Irving.  We played a much worse Bucks team, a Sixers team we matched up great against, and Lebron’s worst supporting cast in years.  Rozier was incredibly inconsistent even in those playoffs where many times he wouldn’t hit a shot on the road when we needed him to.  The guys that lead that playoff run were Horford, Jaylen, and Jayson.  

The season was a disaster and a huge disappointment but if this team wants to compete for a championship in the next few years Danny can’t let Kyrie walk this offseason.  However, he absolutely needs to be a better leader, taking more responsibility and not pushing blame on teammates.  It’s so easy to turn Kyrie into the scapegoat instead of looking at the failures of the entire team and the coaches.

[celtics1982Participant]

 What did he say that wasn’t 100% truthful? His usage comment was about Hayward playing PG and getting plays called for him. Hayward played more minutes and took more shots. They basically turned Rozier into a SG.  Which is horrible. He’s not great at PG, but given starter minutes he’s more than good enough scoring.  At SG you take away many of his best traits. He’s not a great PG, but he’s better than some people think. Yet he runs Stevens system exactly how he wants it run. He does exactly what is drawn up. He plays team Basketball. He runs the Celtics offense better than Irving, because he exactly runs the offense and doesn’t free style like Irving. He’s a much better defender, much better rebounder, which really helps us get out and be more of a fast break team with him compared to Irving. By far the biggest difference is chemistry, he fits perfectly with Horford, Tatum, and Brown.

You can’t overlook every player getting better with Rozier playing and all four getting worse with Irving back. That’s Irving being a ball dominant guard, it kills team play.  You can say it was everyone else, but boxscore plus minus had Rozier as our second best player last postseason and that’s about right watching the games. Yet all four were very close and that’s the point. They played as a team, it wasn’t just one guy and everyone watching him.

Are they a better team without Irving? Yes and no. Talent wise no, but Irving doesn’t match up well with a team full of slashers and doesn’t play team ball. I could care less about his shooting in the playoffs if he played team ball, he didn’t. Goes 6-22, asked what he should do differently, should have taken 30 shots. Your the PG Irving, when a team sends four guys at you, you pass! Said all year the offense should flow through Tatum, Brown and Horford like last year’s playoffs and then back out to Irving.  That rarely happened! Heck like 75% of Irving’s assists were jumpers. He rarely helped get players easy shots, even though he easily could. Like did Irving forget this thing called the pick and roll? We aren’t a better team with Irving unless he changes how he plays or we get different players. I want no part of trading Tatum or Brown either!

That Bucks team was largely the same team! You had Lopez and a few different bench players. Against the Raptors who played good team ball and D they looked exactly the same. No quick Irving shots leading to easy fast break points. Yet we had Irving. If any team had way more talent it was the Celtics and we got crushed. The best talent isn’t always the best option in the NBA, it’s a team sport and you need to play team ball. Just ask LeBron he’s lost three finals when he clearly had more talent, but didn’t play team ball. Irving is like a worst version of LeBron. Either he changed his style or he’s like a Melo player. Great stats, great scorer, but makes people around him worse by not playing team ball. 

So I have zero issue with Rozier’s comments they were 100% the truth! Hayward should have been benched in the playoffs and the ball should have been taken out of Irving’s hands a lot more than it was. Yet we want to resign poor little Irving so no one would get on him. Like Irving needs a Doc Rivers to coach him, someone that will tell him the truth and set him straight. How to be a PG, otherwise make him a SG or he’s a Lou Williams guy in my book. He just makes team play impossible.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 "You can’t overlook every player getting better with Rozier playing and all four getting worse with Irving back."

The problem is that wasnt part of the teams vision. The team was built around Irving. Those players didnt play well around Irving. Rozier openly admitted that he was influencing the teams culture to oppose Irving. Thats not good.

Now lets say Irvings gone and Rozier is resigned, is he better than Brown and Tatum? Will he be upset if he doesnt get plays called up for him? Does he have a skewed perception of his own market value?

Now he takes straight to the media to make his claim for a better contract and for more minutes. He has some valid facts but he is also exposing himself? Why do you think he is exposing himself? Obviously because when teams call up Danny Ainge there is probably something he will tell them about Rozier’s behaviour and Rozier is trying to make his claim early of denial. 

If he wasnt part of the issue there would be no need for the First Take show because the stats support that.

[celtics1982Participant]

 The team wasn’t built around Irving, he was added to the team and that’s part of the problem. Like look who was added after Irving, almost no one. To build around Irving you need pure shooters, not slashers. Guys that don’t need the ball, not guys that do. Think instead of Brown, you take a guy like Murray. Instead of Rozier you target a shooter, a guy that fits with Irving. This team wasn’t built to play Iso ball, but team play. Only way you maximize a ton of talent. Irving is the piece that doesn’t fit. Not that he can’t, but he needs to change how he plays.

No Rozier said he shut his mouth and that’s why this happened. A year of keeping quiet and not saying anything all came out. Baynes just came out saying the team didn’t play team ball all year and wasn’t playing Stevens system. He’s basically saying what Rozier was, just not naming names.

I don’t think Rozier is an issue. He wants to play and get paid. He’s just making sure the Celtics don’t bring back Irving and think of keeping him to trade later. Which given how he doesn’t fit makes sense. Not sure I would have went so extreme, but that’s Rozier he speaks his mind. Yet I’ve never heard anything but good things about him being a teammate.

The thing about Rozier is that he believes in himself. I don’t really care how he values himself, it’s how does the market value him? I’d give him a Smart type contract, yet he turned that down already, but things have now changed. If some team goes crazy, I’m not matching it.

I have zero issue how Tatum, Brown, and Rozier fit, because they have great chemistry. It just works and is very enjoyable to watch. They run Stevens system and the plays he calls. Big part of Rozier’s issues was Irving not doing that, just doing whatever he wanted. Which limits what other players can do.

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Okay you win.

[weballin.netParticipant]

needs a solid PG. Conley is a Midwest guy. Maybe Chicago and Memphis could trade Porter Jr and Conley so that Chicago can draft one of the SF available (Hunter, Reddish, Little) and Memphis will fill its PG and SF spots.

 

[barbabodomParticipant]

 Conley for Hayward + Memphis pick back.

Memphis erases pick debt, Conley becomes an all-star and Bostons get rid of Hayward + get a real leader and a better fit than Kyrie.

[festar35Participant]

Memphis are starting a rebuild, why would they want a 29yr old who is hitting his prime & in no way fits their timeline. Also I like Hayward way more than Parsons, but they recently took a risk on a SF who was working his way back from injury & failed miserably in doing so, why take another risk?

[celtics1982Participant]

 If they really rebuild and frankly I’m not sure they will for another year. The reason they owe Boston a first round pick, top 6 next year, unprotected the year after. Kinda stupid to rebuild only to give away a high pick.

Yet I don’t think Danny would want to pay that high of a price.

I also don’t buy anything the Grizz are saying because it makes zero sense. Why say you are taking Morant and then try and trade Conley? Talk about killing any leverage you might have. Unless you really want Barrett and you’re creating leverage for a team like the Knicks to pay to move up to get Morant.

[HitsterParticipant]

 With some quality frontcourt guys like Kemba and even Rubio hitting FA then why would teams give up a good asset to take on Conley?

He is a fine player and I’ve been a fan since I tipped him to go to Memphis on another draft site way back in 2007. He is a good character guy and he his best scoring season last year but he is pushing 32 and has had injury issues over recent years. Would a team rather try for 4 years of Kemba or two years of Conley for a ballpark similar price per year?

I do like Weballin’s idea of Porter for Conley, if Chicago threw in Dunn then salaries match well. Chicago get an excellent leader for their young core and can draft Reddish, Rui etc. Memphis get a younger guy in Porter who gives them depth at SF and can then give Morant the keys to the franchise.

As a Phoenix fan I’d be happy with Conley but I’d not want to give up our 6th pick for him.

[kerrstParticipant]

 Detroit has the vets like Griffin on the same timeline as Conley and a out of the lotto pick to offer. Could easily package salaries like reggie Jackson and fleur as well.

[festar35Participant]

Detroit makes the most sense to me because of exactly what you said about Blake Griffin & his career timeline.

Utah & Indiana the other 2 teams heavily linked to Conley are built to contend more so in another 2-3 years. (Mitchell 23 – Gobert 27) (Oladipo 27 – Turner 23 – Sabonis 23)

[HitsterParticipant]

 Detroit is a good call with Jackson and say Leuer going the other way. Memphis would probably waive or buyout Leuer but Jackson with a year left on his deal would be a good guy to have around to guide Morant through his first year. He could easily start initially to allow Morant time to settle in and if Morant comes nicely then they have the option of even buying him out next spring so he could jump onto a contender’s roster.

Memphis can save a lot of salary on this deal and if Pistons threw in 15th pick then it gives them an extra asset too. 

The Pistons would have a lot of salaries on Drummond, Griffin and Conley. But with the money they are playing Griffin, it makes sense to give him the best support they can and Conley’s scoring, creativity and leadership would be great for Drummond. With Conley and Griffin on court, it would really spread the play and give Drummond more openings.

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

 Do they want cap relief, picks or having him just gone off the books?

A deal that may work:

Suns: Personally hope the Suns get Lonzo Ball as he would be a nice fit with Booker…But This may work Tyler J and something else + 6th pick for Mike C and a future protected pick..Reasons both sides do this:

Grizzlies get some cap relief and a pick to pair with Ja(assuming they take him) and Jaren Jackson.. Suns take on a little more salary but they get a PG that they can pair with Booker who is very steady and can Help elevate team and space the floor for Ayton.Suns also do this if they believe this is a very weak draft… See Simmons draft where outside of top 7 was average and this draft is apparently really top heavy so maybe 3-5 really good players and a whole lot of meh players after that..

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 As a Suns fan I’d be tempted to take Garland at 6th but if his workouts didn’t impress then dealing for Conley could be an option. I rate Conley highly as I said in previous posts but taking on big salary for two years on a still rebuilding team is my issue and Conley deserves to be on a contender.

Taking on salary and giving up 6th pick is my concern. We can package Tyler Johnson and a pick certainly. Memphis’s 2020 pick is only top 6 protected otherwise it goes to Danny Ainge and Boston. We could offer them the protected Bucks pick we’ll likely get next year or put some protection on our own pick then say top 10. What he depth of next year’s draft to this year’s is, I don’t know.

[celtics1982Participant]

 Conley is a good fit, but he’s old. So it’s horrible. You want your players to grow together. Right when your ready to compete, Conley will be toast. He won’t want that either and your not close to a playoff team even with him for a few more years.

You guys have to find a young PG.

[NYK2010Participant]

Teams will definitely low ball memphis for him.

Future lotto protected 1st and a 2nd or 3rd tier prospect.

No team with young players wants him unless they are a playoff team already.

[r377Participant]

 Is an aging PG with a $33mill per season an asset or a liability ?

The league is full with good PG, you don’t need to overpay to get one.

Salaries are going up so not many teams would have space for him.  Memphis would be lucky to get a late first rounder or second rounder for him without taking back bad contracts.  

Orlando made the playoffs and have some cap space, they could make an offer on Mike Conley.

[Author]

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