A year ago, the Memphis Grizzlies enlisted Craig Brewer -- who directed the Academy Award-winning film "Hustle & Flow" -- to create a promotional film to convince All-Star center Marc Gasol to re-sign with the team. Gasol ended up signing a five-year, $113 million deal to stay in Memphis.
So when it came time to make the pitch to Grizzlies point guard and free-agent-to-be Mike Conley, the team turned back to Brewer, with a little help from the team's front office -- in the form of Justin Timberlake, who introduces the "Our Conductor" mini-film, telling Conley, "This is for you from all of us with all our heart."
World Premiere. A film by Craig Brewer. Our Conductor. Watch > https://t.co/3F8aqd6sPO #Mike
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) June 27, 2016
GREAT athlete and a GREAT guy! This one is for you, @mconley11 ! @MyBrewTube @memgrizz https://t.co/5OeX3hppNO
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016
In addition to being a nine-time Grammy winner and four-time Emmy winner, Timberlake is a minority owner of the Grizzlies, having bought into his hometown team in 2012 when Robert Pera purchased the team from Michael Heisley.
Whether Timberlake's presence in the recruiting pitch will help retain Conley is yet to be seen. He has averaged 13.6 points per game and 5.6 assists per game in his nine-year career in Memphis, and he is expected to be a top target of the Dallas Mavericks when free agency opens on Friday.
