Mike Conley Done for the 17-18 NBA Season

Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Mike Conley will be shut down for the season do to lack of progress with his heel injury. Conley as well as the Grizzlies medical staff had hoped that continued treatments would allow him to get back on the court this season. However, progress has been somewhat inconsistent as the heel continued to have severe soreness after light scrimmages. This has left no other option but to schedule a surgical procedure that will correct the bone issues in Conley’s heel.

With Conley done for the season the currently 17-31 Grizzlies are pretty much guaranteed a lottery spot in the coming draft. Projected to be ready for the start of the 18-19 season. Mike Conley will be on the wrong side of 30 with 2 years and a player option on his contract for a total of $96 Mil remaining. If you pair that with the then 33-year-old Marc Gasol’s 1 year plus player option for a total of over $50mil and Chandler Parson’s 2 year $50Mil salary cap anchor. They will have to start making some decisions on if they do their version of “The Process” or attempt to remain competitive by making some deals that will allow them to supplement their current talent pool.

Free agency isn’t really an option for them (see Chandler Parsons) and they have actually done better historically via trade as opposed to drafting. But the NBA’s salary and draft system rewards teams for failure and the hope of picking the next hall of famer drives a lot of teams into the tank garage even though there is no guarantee that the player they pick will be worth the torture they put fans through by intentionally losing for sometimes seasons on end.

Hopefully Mike Conley will have a speedy recovery and be just as good as he was before the injury. Good luck Mike and to the Grizzlies organization and their fans.

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