The team finally moved on from Marc Gasol ahead of the trade deadline, and it appears that the Grizzlies will undergo a major rebuild this summer. Due to this, a number of the roster is likely to be traded, and here are three notable names who are expected to make way.
#3 Mike Conley
Mike Conley has spent his entire career with the Memphis Grizzlies, although all signs point to an impending exit. Memphis considered trading Conley ahead of the February trade deadline, and the team also showed their commitment to a rebuild by trading Marc Gasol - Conley’s teammate of more than a decade.
Conley also cast further doubt on his future during his interview, stating:
At 31, Conley still has a few years left to contend for a title, although Memphis is not in a position to win. Due to this, a trade looks to be in the best interests of both parties, and it is difficult to envision Conley wearing a Memphis jersey next season.
#2 Chandler Parsons
Chandler Parsons is currently signed to a four-year, $94 million deal that he was given by the Grizzlies back in 2016. However, persistent knee injuries have restricted him to less than fifty starts in his three seasons with the team, and during the 18/19 campaign, Parsons appeared in a career-low 25 games.
Due to his lack of value market, a trade appears unlikely this summer, although David Cobb of Memphis Commercial Appeal is reporting that a buyout remains a possibility:
Still aged just 30, Parsons could still find success in the NBA, although his current contract offers no value to the Grizzlies.
#1 Jonas Valanciunas
After spending nearly seven years with the Toronto Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas joined the Grizzlies in the trade that took Gasol to Toronto. The 27-year-old has a player option approaching $18 million for the 19/20 season – a sizeable figure that doesn’t fit in with the Grizzlies’ rebuild.
Due to this, The Daily Memphian’s Don Wade is suggesting that Valanciunas could be expendable this summer:
During his time in Memphis, Valanciunas averaged 27.7 minutes over 19 games, contributing 19.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks. These were the best numbers of his career, and his season-ending performances will make it a lot easier for the Grizzlies to offload the final year of his contract.
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