Conley says Grizzlies owner willing to trade him, Gasol:

The Memphis Grizzlies may be ready to start rebuilding, listening to trade offers for the NBA’s longest-tenured teammates. Guard Mike Conley said Grizzlies owner Robert Pera had told both he and center Marc Gasol on Tuesday that they will be mentioned in potential trade talks. Pera “called me just to make me aware that they were going to go about doing this,” Conley said after Wednesday’s shoot-around before their game against the Charlotte Hornets. “Outside of that, I haven’t really thought about it or heard much about it.” Gasol declined to share details of his conversations with the Grizzlies owner, saying he considers those private. Gasol, who can opt out of his contract this summer, says he had not asked to be traded. Conley and Gasol are the Grizzlies’ remaining cornerstone players having played their entire careers with Memphis. ESPN.com reported late Tuesday afternoon that the Grizzlies were open to trading the veterans. Asked if he was surprised by the reports, Gasol replied: “Uh. Irrelevant.” Trading Gasol, who has a player option on his contract this summer, has been a possibility for some time. Involving Conley is the biggest indication that Memphis is prepared to start rebuilding a franchise whose seven-season playoff streak ended with their last appearance in 2017 in a six-game loss to San Antonio in the first round. Conley missed much of last season with a heel injury, and Memphis drafted Jaren Jackson Jr. with the fourth pick overall last June. The Grizzlies started this season 12-5 but has gone 7-23 since then. They go into Wednesday night’s game having lost 12 of 13. “I don’t even understand why Mike is in those talks either,” Gasol said. “Mike is one heck of a player, and we’re going to need good players going forward.”