Per The Vertical, Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley will miss significant time after suffering a fracture in the vertebrae. With their star point guard out, the Grizzlies find themselves remarkably thin at the point guard position; the only point guard left on the roster is rookie Wade Baldwin IV. Andrew Harrison can run some point as well, but he too is young and unproven. The Grizzlies are eyeing free agent point guard Norris Cole to fill the void, reports Mike A. Scotto of Basketball Insiders:
Grizzlies have expressed interest in Norris Cole to fill the void of injured starter Mike Conley, a league source told Basketball Insiders.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) November 29, 2016
Cole, who is currently playing in China, has an NBA opt-out clause in his contract. Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale coached Norris Cole as an assistant in Miami for 3.5 years.
Conley was having the finest season of his career prior to this injury, and even if the Grizzlies can sign Cole (a quality backup at best), this will not be the same team without Conley. In 17 games this season, Conley has averaged career highs in points per game (19.2), three-point percentage (46.7%), and free throw percentage (89.7%).
Beyond Cole, Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical reports that the Grizzlies will bring in the following point guards for tryouts: Kendall Marshall, Toney Douglas and Will Bynum.
Update: David Pick reports that Cole is injured:
Re: Grizzlies – Norris Cole is injured in China, no official timetable for return, according to source.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) November 29, 2016
Cole’s unavailability could explain Memphis’s desire to bring in Marshall, Douglas, and Bynum
