Mike Conley has several teams after him in free agency
Memphis Grizzlies unrestricted free agent Mike Conley will have up to five suitors preparing maximum-salary contracts, an NBA source confirmed to The Commercial Appeal.
Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Lakers are pursuing Conley in free agency that begins at midnight ET. Teams can negotiate with players at that time but are prohibited from singing contracts until July 7.
The Grizzlies are expected to immediately contact Conley. ESPN.com first reported that Conley will hear the Dallas Mavericks' pitch Friday afternoon.
"Mike is an enormous priority for us," Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said.
Conley is seeking a five-year deal with the Grizzlies. Other teams can sign Conley to four years at a maximum $113 million. Conley's decision could hinge on whether the Grizzlies offer a fifth year.
A maximum contract would start at $26.2 million for Conley in Memphis. Conley could ink a deal worth more than $150 million over five years if the Grizzlies paid him the most they could.
It is likely that Conley and the Grizzlies could officially sign a deal after the franchise finishes other business. The Grizzlies can go over the salary cap to complete a Conley deal.
Signing Conley later than sooner would preserve the Grizzlies' cap space, which could be between $25 million and $30 million.
Memphis is also expected to pursue Dallas small forward Chandler Parsons. The 27-year-old is a versatile wing player with deft shooting ability. The Mavericks free agent checks many boxes for the Griz. At 6-10, Parsons can shoot from long range, get to the rim, facilitate and plays good team defense. Parsons has had two knee surgeries, but he's a career 47-percent shooter.
Kent Bazemore, a 26-year-old shooting guard from the Atlanta Hawks, is another player of interest for the Griz. He is an athletic and competent shooter. Reportedly, Bazemore will command a contract valued at $70 million over four years. The 6-5 guard averaged 11.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists this season. He'll be coveted as a "3 and D'' guy.
Don't be surprised to hear of the Grizzlies' interest in Nicolas Batum. The 27-year-old small forward is one of the top wings on the market outside of LeBron James.
Batum can play shooting guard and small forward and was an extremely valuable member of the Charlotte Hornets last season. The Hornets were four-points-per-100-possessions better with him on the court. Batum is a career 36-percent 3-point shooter and averaged a career-high 5.8 assists per game last season.
"Free agency is obviously totally need-based," Wallace said. "The position that has the most proven players are at the four and the five. But since we're in the era of small ball, we really don't need a true four or five in free agency. The biggest need is fortifying ourselves at small forward and off guard. We need multiple players who can make plays."