Raptors offer trade for Conley, Gasol, per report
As trade talk intensified Tuesday with the Grizzlies sitting center Marc Gasol for a game against Minnesota, one report surfaced revealing an ironic trade proposal the team fielded for Gasol and point guard Mike Conley.
The Toronto Raptors offered Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas for Conley and Gasol, according to Sports Illustrated’s Jake Fischer.
Lowry, 32, played in Memphis from 2006 to 2009 before the Grizzlies traded him, which cleared the way for Conley to become the franchise’s point guard.
Since then, Lowry has made five Allstar games. He is averaging 14.1 points and 9.2 assists per game for the Raptors this season. Conley is averaging 20.3 points and 6.3 assists per game.
The two are making similar salaries this season ($30.5 million for Conley and $31 million for Lowry), but Conley’s contract lasts until 2021 while Lowry’s deal ends in 2020.
Valanciunas, 26, is the Raptors’ starting center. He is averaging 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in his seventh season. He is making $16.5 million this season and is under contract through the end of next season.
Gasol, 34, is averaging 15.7 points and 8.6 rebounds this year. He is making $24.1 million this year with a player option for next year at $25.6 million.
As Thursday’s 2 p.m. CT trade deadline approaches, the Grizzlies are listening to offers for Conley and Gasol, their veteran cornerstones.
The Jazz and Pistons also reportedly have made offers for Conley centered around first-round picks and their own current point guards.
Reach Grizzlies beat writer David Cobb at david.cobb@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @Davidwcobb.