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Contract talks didn't heat up until last weekend. By Monday, Conley's agent and father, Mike Conley Sr., and the Griz were exchanging proposals. They reached an agreement just before the 11 p.m. CST deadline. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley 

Even though the Grizzlies have been 28th or worse four straight seasons in attendance, Heisley rarely has felt as good about a Memphis outfit as this one. He believes the Grizzlies, who went a surprising 40-42 last season and are 2-1 this season, have a team that will bring more fans into the 18,119 FedExForum than the average of 13,485 that showed up in 2009-10. "I got all five of my guys back,'' Heisley said of starters Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley. "I got a much stronger second team. I made a commitment to the people of Memphis that I think we've got a good chance of getting in the playoffs. That's our goal this year. And I've said this is one of, if not the best team, we've had since I've been in Memphis. ... I think it's our job to make our franchise and our basketball team attractive to the fans, not the fans' responsibility to come to the game to keep the team there. FanHouse.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, Michael Heisley, Mike Conley 

Heisley didn't want to speak about Conley's contract, saying, "I'm not going to justify or listen to criticisms and so on of what we did. It's a negotiation and we made the negotiation and it is what it is.'' However, Heisley was willing to speak about the improvement the fourth-year point guard has made on the court. "If you go back and look at Mike Conley the last month of last year, he really came alive,'' Heisley said. "When we drafted him, he was a very, very good defensive point guard in the league putting pressure on the guy with the ball. And I think he's been much more cautious. I think he's finally coming into his own. I think we now have the player we drafted. I would have liked to have had him two years ago, but we didn't. FanHouse.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, Michael Heisley, Mike Conley 

Some key points about the deal: 1. The contract kicks in for the 2011-12 season, starting at roughly $6.5 million. With the maximum 10.5-percent raises allowed, the increases will look something like $7.18 (year 2), $7.9 (year 3), $8.76 (year 4) and $9.68 (year 5). There is no doubt (even with a new CBA) that Conley would have received an offer starting at least $6 million. 2. The only way Conley can exceed $40 million (i.e. the $45 million that national media was given by Conley's agent) is for him to produce what was described to me as "elite level PG statistics" AND the Griz must be winning 50-plus regular-season games AND having success in the playoffs. That means the bonus package is tied to individual and team greatness. 3. Another win/win is that there is deferred money in the deal. That'll help the Grizzlies' cash flow when their payroll is enormous. Zach Randolph came to Memphis with deferred money, which made it a little easier to absorb his contract. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley 

Conley will receive his market value on the front end. And the Grizzlies got a little creative with this early signing realizing they'll have important business with Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and O.J. Mayo. I do think someone will be sacrificed in the long run. Unless the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement reduces length of guaranteed contracts /player salaries and includes better revenue sharing, then I tend to believe Mayo will be the odd man out because of sheer timing for his payday. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley 

The Memphis Grizzlies signed point guard Mike Conley to a contract extension late Monday night, according to his agent and father, Mike Conley Sr. Conley Sr., who along with Bill Duffy represents his son, would not specify the terms of the contract. But other sources with knowledge of the situation said the deal is worth $45 million over five years. The Grizzlies' decision to lock up Conley as their point guard of the future was sparked by his excellent play in the preseason and over the regular season's first three games. Conley, the fourth pick of the 2007 draft, has averaged 15 points, 8.3 assists and a league-high 3.67 steals in leading Memphis to a 2-1 start. "Did I envision that Mike would play like this? Yes," Conley Sr. said in a telephone interview on Monday. "But I did not have confidence that the Grizzlies would embrace him like they have with this contract. The first thing I told them when we began negotiating was that I didn't want to go further with these discussions unless Mike was their guy. They said he's their guy." ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley 

Mike Conley is enjoying a career year after three games, and he has been rewarded. The fourth-year point guard reached an agreement with the Grizzlies on a five-year contract extension guaranteed at $40 million, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations. Conley’s deal could be worth more if he meets certain incentives. The agreement was reached just before an 11 p.m. CDT deadline Monday. Conley, the fourth overall pick in 2007, joined Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant (No. 2 overall pick), Atlanta’s Al Horford (No. 3) and Chicago’s Joakim Noah (No. 9) as the only players drafted in 2007 who received deals. Notable players such as Oklahoma City’s Jeff Green, Portland’s Greg Oden and Houston’s Aaron Brooks were denied. Conley, 23, is off to a strong start to the season. He appears to be blossoming into the player the Griz envisioned. He’s attacking the paint, finishing strong at the rim and shooting the ball with confidence. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley 

"I'm always trying to brush some people off, brush some opinions off, all the time," Conley tells HOOPSWORLD. "You know what? My teammates trust me, my coaching staff trusts me, and I'm just playing as hard as I can this year. I think I'm there, both mentally and physically, where I need to be to be the starting point guard for this team." HoopsWorld

Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley 

Conley's son Mike, who teamed with Oden to win three consecutive state championships, also has contract questions. The younger Conley, the No. 4 pick in the 2007 draft who is represented by his father, is coming off his best season but hasn't signed an extension with Memphis. If he doesn't, he'll also be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. His salary is $4.9 million. Conley Sr. said the chances of his son re-signing before the deadline were "50-50." Indianapolis Star

Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley 

"The team has to decide if he's the point guard they want for the future," said Conley Sr., who attended the Grizzlies season opener Wednesday. "If they make that commitment that he's their guy, he'll sign. But Mike's not interested in signing an extension just to sign an extension. "He had a great preseason. He led the team in scoring, had some big games in limited minutes. He's shown what he can do if left alone to do it." Indianapolis Star

Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley 

"Owners really don't want to give them out because they believe there will be a collective bargaining agreement in place next summer that is more favorable to them,'' said the agent about the belief there will be a CBA that lowers salaries after the current one expires June 30, 2011. There have been reports, though, that Phoenix forward Jared Dudley, drafted No. 22, and New York forward Wilson Chandler, taken No. 23, could get extensions. Duffy confirmed two of his other clients from the 2007 draft, No. 4 pick Mike Conley Jr. of Memphis and No. 14 selection Al Horford of Washington also will not sign extensions by Monday. "We think both of them are going to have breakout seasons,'' Duffy said of the two. FanHouse.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Al Horford, Mike Conley, Greg Oden 

The Griz have not entered negotiations for a contract extension with Conley and have no imminent plans to do so. Conley, 22, was the fourth overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft, and he reacted with indifference. "My focus is me coming out with a chip on my shoulder regardless of whether I'm signed or not," Conley said. "I'm going to play as if I was somebody working to get a contract and help make this a winning team. If we win and I do my job, then I'll get signed eventually, from whomever." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley 

In 2009, the Griz rescinded a qualifying offer to Hakim Warrick and allowed him to walk without compensation. But Memphis signed forward Rudy Gay to a five-year deal worth $84 million this summer after failing to reach an agreement on an extension last fall. "These things all take on a life of their own," Griz general manager Chris Wallace said. "As was the case with Rudy last year, it doesn't mean that if we fail to reach an agreement with Mike this fall that it won't get done in the summer." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley 

This year, the message couldn't be clearer. It's unequivocally Conley's show and put-up-or-shut-up time, given that the point guard is eligible to negotiate a contract extension this fall. If Conley doesn't utilize all of his tools and consistently play in attack mode this season, it could very well be his last in Memphis. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley 

It doesn't seem Vasquez will get a fair shot at earning 15 minutes a game in 70 appearances or make the rookie/sophomore game or all-rookie team. Griz general manager Chris Wallace's response to this is Vasquez has the incentive to compete and beat out the competition. That sounds good. But starting point guard Mike Conley has a long leash and Law signed with the Griz because he likely was promised playing time. Vasquez starts as the third-string PG and that's where he'll finish the season barring injury. This incentive package just isn't fair bargaining for the situation Vasquez is in. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley, Chris Wallace 

Also, there have been no talks for Michael Conley of the Grizzlies. News-Herald

Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, Trade, Mike Conley