Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley is linked to a potential move to New York this midseason in a trade package that involves teammates Courtney Lee and Russ Smith for the Knicks' Jose Calderon, Derrick Williams, Kyle O'Quinn, and Langston Galloway as new NBA trade rumors have emerged.

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Grizzly Bear Blues proposed the trade scenario, which also included the Grizzlies' 2022 second round pick and the Knicks' 2018 first round selection.

The 28-year-old Conley, who is in the final year of his five-year, $40 million deal with Memphis, is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Due to the league's expected rise in salary cap next year and Conley's outstanding performance with the Grizzlies throughout the years, there is a high probability that another team would offer him something that Memphis will not be able to match and afford.

And so instead of risking to lose him without gaining anything in return, the Grizz might look to trade him right now.

However, it is not easy to find a willing trade partner that will accept Conley and his expiring contract, much more a team that can offer Memphis the assets they want in return.

The Knicks is the best team that could take advantage of the Grizzlies' situation and letting go of Calderon and the rest of the squad's unused castaways would give them much salary relief as well.

Trading anyone of Memphis' Big Three of Conley, Marc Gasol, and Zach Randolph is not really that surprising anymore as rumors of an impending blow up are in the horizon.

SB Nation's Tom Ziller noted that "the Grizzlies as we know them are dying" and the core of the squad - Conley, Gasol, Randolph, and Tony Allen - is "fourth worst in the NBA" right now in terms of defensive efficiency, forcing head coach David Joerger to replace Randolph and Allen with Lee and Matt Barnes as starters.

Conley would no doubt be the exact starting point guard Phil Jackson is looking for, old enough to be experienced and young enough to still be able to compete at a high level.

In related news, Allen is rumored to be headed to the Los Angeles Lakers for small forward Nick Young as the Grizzlies looks to acquire a scoring bench player.

TagsNBA Trade Rumors, NBA trade rumors 2015, NBA News & Rumors, NBA News & Rumors 2015, NBA rumors, NBA Rumors 2015, Memphis Grizzlies rumors, Memphis Grizzlies trade rumors, Mike Conley