Keeping Conley, Gasol has merit
By Wednesday afternoon, a narrative emerged in national NBA circles suggesting the Grizzlies' asking price for franchise cornerstones Mike Conley and Marc Gasol might be too steep for most teams on the trade market.
While it might seem awkward to some for Conley, Gasol or both to remain with Memphis after the 2 p.m. CT Thursday trade deadline, there could be some logic in the Grizzlies retaining one or both players.
As the team departed for Thursday night's game at Oklahoma City, Conley traveled with the team while Gasol stayed behind.
Conveying the pick
If the Grizzlies do not trade either player – or trade only Gasol – it probably would be a sign that the franchise intends to be competitive for the rest of the season with the goal of finishing with a better record than eight other NBA teams. What would that accomplish? While it would be short of a return to the playoffs, finishing ahead of eight other teams probably would allow the Grizzlies to convey a first-round pick to Boston that they owe the Celtics at some point in the next three seasons.
The pick is top-eight protected this year, top-six protected next year and unprotected in 2021.
Completing that obligation now, instead of having it looming in the future, would be helpful in plotting the franchise's direction.
What do Grizzlies want in a trade?
Marc Stein of The New York Times reported Tuesday that Memphis is said to be seeking "multiple" first-round picks in exchange for Conley.
That explains why at least one team with interest in the 31-year-old point guard is reportedly dropping out of the race.
The Detroit Free Press of the USA TODAY Network reported that the Pistons have become sellers after they were widely believed to be among the top suitors for Conley.
That leaves the Utah Jazz as the top known suitor for Conley as of early Wednesday afternoon with about 24 hours remaining until Thursday's deadline.
Tony Jones, who covers the Jazz for The Athletic, told 92.9-FM in Memphis that the Jazz's final offer to the Grizzlies for Conley included a first-round pick and a second-round pick along with expiring contracts matching the value of Conley's contract.
But that reported offer would fall short of the Grizzlies' reported desires to acquire multiple first-round picks for Conley.
What else do the Grizzlies want?
Trading Gasol is more urgent for the Grizzlies because Gasol has a $25.6 million player option for next season. In short, Gasol could opt out of the final year of his contract and leave Memphis in free agency without the Grizzlies getting anything in return.
By trading him now, the Grizzlies could at least get a draft pick in return.
The Ringer reported a proposed deal between the Hornets and Grizzlies that would send Gasol to Charlotte for Bismack Biyombo, Michael Kidd-gilchrist and a protected first-round pick.
But according to the report, there was contention over the level of protection on the pick.
While receiving a first-round pick in exchange for Gasol would be a desirable outcome for Memphis, both Biyombo and Kidd-gilchrist have player options for next season worth a combined $30 million.
Would a protected first-round pick in a shaky draft be worth potentially having two middling players on the payroll at that rate next season?
It's likely the Grizzlies would prefer 21-year-old shooting guard Malik Monk in a deal with the Hornets, just as they reportedly have preferred to acquire young shooting guard Luke Kennard from the Pistons or 23-year-old shooting guard Dante Exum from the Jazz.
But those teams have been hesitant to include quality young talent and draft picks in proposals for Conley or Gasol, who are both over 30 and on large contracts.
Lessons from around the league
While public reports involving potential trade partners for the Grizzlies have centered on the Jazz, Pistons and Hornets, an early-morning trade between Philadelphia and the Clippers serves as a reminder that some negotiations are not made public until a deal is in place.
Similarly, news of last week's blockbuster trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis from the Knicks to the Mavericks emerged quickly without much speculation ahead of it.
Certainly, as the deadline nears, previously unreported proposals could gain traction with a Grizzlies front office that has remained tight-lipped over the weeks since news emerged that they would listen to offers for Conley and Gasol.
But if Conley or both remain after the deadline, it will be an indication the franchise desires to win enough games to convey the pick it owes to Boston.
Reach Grizzlies beat writer David Cobb at david.cobb@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @Davidwcobb.