Earlier this week, NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN dropped a WOJ bomb and it’s all about the Memphis Grizzlies finally opening the lines of communication for potential trade talks involving franchise’s centerpieces Mike Conley and Marc Gasol.

The Grizzlies had never considered moving either Conley or Gasol despite interest for both players on the trade market. However, with their playoff chances becoming more unlikely midpoint this season, the organization may have already realized that it’s time to blow up the core and start the youth revolution in Memphis.

Here’s Wojnarowski providing in-depth information about Conley’s and Gasol’s situation in Memphis:

As Woj stated, no trade is imminent at the moment but the Grizzlies are willing to listen to trade offers from any team between now and the February 7 trade deadline.

He identified the Dallas Mavericks as a potential landing spot -- particularly for Gasol, though the financial side of the transaction presents the biggest obstacle in any potential trade talks.

Gasol is scheduled to earn $25.6 million for 2019-20 but can opt out of the final year and become a free agent this summer. As for Conley, he’s signed through the 2020-21 NBA season and is guaranteed $67 million for the remaining year of his contract.

In a crowded Western Conference playoff race, adding a player the caliber of Gasol or Conley would certainly make a lot of difference.

The same can be said for several contenders in the Eastern Conference. Some of these teams are one or two good players away from making serious noise in this year’s postseason. Many analysts even believe it’s more likely that a team from the East will land Conley and/or Gasol.

Let’s take a look at these Eastern Conference teams.

Detroit Pistons

Potential Package: Reggie Jackson ($17M), Jon Leuer ($10M) and a future first-round pick for Conley.

Reason for trade: The Pistons terribly need a better guard play to rise up in the Eastern Conference standings. Detroit gave Reggie Jackson all the opportunities in the world to succeed at point guard.

Unfortunately, he just can’t stabilize the backcourt.

Conley, on the other hand, has proven to be one of the better passers in the league. Having talented big men in Blake Griffin and Andray Drummond would only make things easier for Conley on the floor. And with a career-high from the 3-point range this season (40 percent), Conley provides Detroit with another floor spacer for the two big men.

Charlotte Hornets

Potential Package: Cody Zeller ($13.5M), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist ($13M) and a future first-round pick for JaMychal Green ($7M) and Gasol.

Reason for trade: The Hornets are fighting for a playoff spot right now and they need a steady big man to keep them in the thick of things. Charlotte has two overpaid big men in Zeller and Biyombo ($17M).

While Biyombo is the lesser talented center, they need him more than Zeller because of his rebounding and defense. Zeller, meanwhile, is an underachiever for a former fourth overall pick. He’s averaging 9.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game this season. His career averages are 8 points and 5 rebounds a game – which doesn’t make sense for a guy who earns an eight-figure paycheck a year.

On the other hand, Gasol has been an All-Star and is still a pretty productive player (15.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg and 1.3 bpg) at age 34. Trading for him would be an understandable gamble for Charlotte even it costs a pick and another underachieving lottery pick in Kidd-Gilchrist.

Brooklyn Nets

Potential Package: Allen Crabbe ($18.5M exp.), Jared Dudley ($9.5 exp) and a future first-round pick (protected 1-10) for Marc Gasol.

Reason for Trade: At this point, Memphis needs to clear off the books and begin accepting expiring deals. Sure, Gasol can also leave $24M in cap space this summer, but salvaging a future first-round pick (protected or not) is still a win over losing him for nothing. As for the Nets, Gasol would solve their lack of interior presence on the offensive side of the floor. Jarrett Allen is a shot-blocking machine (1.5 bpg) and his energy is contagious. However, the young center can’t provide the type of production a Marc Gasol can put up on a consistent basis. This could be a low-risk, high-reward deal for Nets since Gasol’s contract won’t affect their long term payroll flexibility anyway.

Miami Heat

Potential Package: Hassan Whiteside ($25.4M), Goran Dragic ($18.1M), Rodney McGruder ($1.5M) and a future first-round pick for Conley and Gasol.

Reason for trade: If Miami wants to give Dwyane Wade a memorable playoff run before their favorite son hangs up his sneakers for good, then this would be the trade to make. Conley and Gasol would instantly transform Miami into a darkhorse in the Eastern Conference playoff. Sure, the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks have better talents on their rosters but Miami, with Conley and Gasol, has a shot at upsetting any of these teams.

Toronto Raptors

Potential Package: Kyle Lowry ($31.2M), Jonas Valanciunas ($16.5M) and a first-round pick for Conley and Gasol.

Reason for trade: Perhaps the craziest trade scenario in this list, this Raptors-Grizzlies blockbuster deal would surely be a landscape-changing, especially for the Raptors. Lowry is putting up solid numbers again (14.1 ppg and 9.4 apg), but his nonchalant approach on the offensive end (11.4 FG attempts per game) has cost the Raptors several wins this year. Valanciunas, on the other hand, was having an efficient year (12.8 ppg and 7.2 rpg in 18 minutes) despite sharing the center position with Serge Ibaka.

Analysts got a sense that the Raptors might still be a level or two below the Golden State Warriors, Bucks or the Celtics. There’s a necessity to add another game-changer in order to close that gap.

Washington’s Bradley Beal would be a nice pickup yet his burdensome contract would be detrimental to the Raptors long-term payroll flexibility. As for Conley and Gasol, their deals expire in the next two years, giving Toronto a lot of cap room by the summer of 2021. Keep in mind, locking up Kawhi Leonard long term this summer is the team’s No.1 priority so going all-in wouldn’t be a bad idea.
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