Detroit Pistons rumors: Team engaged in trade talks regarding Mike Conley Jr.

Vince Ellis of Detroit Free Press confirmed that the Detroit Pistons have engaged in talks with the Memphis Grizzlies for Mike Conley Jr.

The Detroit Pistons have had a rough season so far.

Sitting at 22-29 and in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons have been rumored to be interested in being active at the trade deadline.

Well, we can now confirm at least one rumor.

Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press confirmed in an article today that the Pistons have been engaged in talks with the Memphis Grizzlies for Mike Conley Jr.

Conley, 31, is averaging 20.3 points per game, 6.3 assists per game to only 1.9 turnovers. He is shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 36 percent from three.

The Pistons interest in Conley makes ton of sense.

The point guard position in Detroit has been an issue this year, and some may say it has been an issue for the past two years.

Reggie Jackson has dealt with injuries the last two years that crippled the Pistons season. This year, Jackson has been relatively healthy.

However, Jackson doesn’t seem to be the same player anymore and doesn’t fit what Dwane Casey is cooking up for this team. Jackson is a pick and roll player, who has had to adapt to being more of an off-ball player due to the addition of Blake Griffin.

Conley is a much better player than Jackson, and on it’s face, any team would love to upgrade to a player like Conley. He’s a great leader, and a calm and collected player; the dude has never even received a technical or a flagrant foul in his 11 year career.

The hesitancy is his massive contract.

Conley is due to be paid 30 million this year, 32 million next year, and 34 million the following year before his contract expires in 2020-2021.

He’ll be 32 years old.

This is very similar to the Griffin trade the Pistons made.

Griffin had dealt with injuries in recent seasons and was on a massive contract. The risk was better that a player built on athleticism, who is getting old with an injury history, would stay healthy and be on the court.

Griffin has done that and more, improving his game in every area while enjoying the best season of his career. He still likes to throw down some posters too, for all of you who say he cant jump anymore.

It would be a similar gamble for Conley. An often injured point guard, who is getting up there in age, on a massive contract for multiple years.

When Conley is on the court, he is no doubt a fantastic point guard. He has playoff experience, as he, Marc Gasol, and Zach Randolph led a grit and grind Memphis Grizzlies team to a Western Conference appearance and a long era of being a contender.

But, with having 57 million, 61 million, and 64 million tied up in just Andre Drummond and Griffin over the next three years, the question is…

Is Mike Conley good enough to warrant the Detroit Pistons paying 90 plus million in just three players?

The trade deadline is in three days, so we’ll find out soon.

Do you believe Conley is worth it?

Let us know in the comment section below!