Good news for our BRK swap next year, too, since you know the Nets would LOVE to add Conley.
I can't imagine why he would want to leave Memphis to sign with Nets. I also can't imagine why he wouldn't pick many other situations before the Nets. Playing with Brook Lopez and Thad Young and no young talent or shooters? Brutal...
The Knicks at least can offer a mix of a legit star (Carmelo) a rising young talent and a competent starting center (Lopez) with playing at MSG. Brooklyn has nothing.
Is there much difference between Brooklyn and Memphis minus Conley?
Brook Lopez + Thad Young (both 27yo) vs Marc Gasol + Z-Bo (31 and 34)
RHJ (21yo) vs TA (34yo)
Jeff Green and Courtney Lee were traded away. They are a big loss to Memphis' superior depth in quality. Now all they have is -- Matt Barnes who is a 35yo bench player. Vince Carter who is a 39yo bench player. Lance Stephenson is completely unreliable. Mario Chalmers is probably the Grizzlies next best player. Brooklyn don't have much either. Only notables are Bogdanovic and Jarrett Jack.
Is there really that big of a difference?
Brooklyn did a terrible job of filling their supporting cast last year. With a capable GM filling out those spots (and without injuries to Jack + RHJ) that team could have easily been a 35-40 win team. Is Memphis any better than that without Conley? I don't think so but even if they were it wouldn't be by much.
Throw Mike Conley on top of that -- Nets core + quality bench players -- and they should be a plus .500 team and a playoff team in the East.