Mike Conley is expected to miss three to four weeks of action due to Achilles tendinitis, the Grizzlies announced today. The point guard has missed the team’s last two contests with left foot soreness, and a followup examination Friday revealed the tendinitis, according to the team’s official statement.
Memphis has been slammed with injuries this season and this latest news certainly won’t improve the team’s roster situation. The Grizzlies are already without Marc Gasol for the rest of the year, and backup center Brandan Wright is liable to miss another seven weeks, which would finish him for the season. Fellow big man Chris Andersen is dealing with a shoulder issue, Zach Randolph has missed the last three games with a knee injury, and Jordan Adams is out indefinitely with a knee injury of his own. Vince Carter left Friday’s win against the Pelicans with a left calf strain and is questionable for tonight’s game. The team had an update on Andersen, noting that an MRI revealed he suffered a left shoulder subluxation during a contest against the Suns on March 6th. He remains out indefinitely.
Beyond the effect it may have on the remainder of Memphis’ season and the playoffs, Conley’s injury certainly comes at an inopportune time for the 28-year-old who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Achilles injuries are some of the most difficult for players to recover from, especially for guards who rely on making quick cuts and moves to the basket. It’s unclear how this would affect the market for Conley if the injury were to linger into the summer. I’d speculate that it increases the chances Conley would re-sign with Memphis, though there will likely be suitors lining up regardless, given the additional cap space teams will have to work with this offseason.
Conley has appeared in 56 games this season and is averaging 15.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.2 steals in 31.4 minutes of action per contest. The point guard’s career numbers since entering the league in 2007 are 13.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game to accompany a slash line of .440/.373/.806.