The Memphis Grizzlies made it known that they are listening to offers on Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. That alone should tempt several teams into considering both superstars and the Utah Jazz may have done just that.
According to the Athletic, the Jazz have inquired about Mike Conley but an offer has yet to be made. At 31, Conley could add needed depth and veteran leadership to lead and mentor the young rising players over in Utah. One name that comes to mind is Donovan Mitchell who could learn a thing or two from Conley.
Should a deal for Conley fall through, it could be the missing piece for head coach Quin Snyder. The Jazz has been up there although they have fallen short in the late stages of games and the playoffs, something that may be attributed to the lack of maturity the team carries. All that could be addressed with the addition of Conley who is averaging 20.0 points, 6.0 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game, Fansided said.
Of course, the Jazz need more than Conley to fill up holes in Snyder's rotation. Another player reportedly on the radar is Otto Porter Jr. of the Washington Wizards.
The Wizards made it know that they plan to keep Bradley Beal and that Porter is the player more likely to be dealt at the right price. The Jazz could use the 25-year-old on both ends of the floor, someone who can defend and add a dash of offense when fielded in.
The Jazz are currently relying on Ricky Rubio to man the playmaking chores but the Spaniard has not exactly delivered for Utah. He lacks shooting, one potential reason why the Jazz are trying to find players who can help on the offensive end. Also, the28-year-old guard seems to be struggling with the system set by Snyder.
A deal for Conley could see Rubio being included in the trade package. However, more assets may need to be added since the latter's salary ($14.8 million) is practically half of what the Grizzlies guard makes ($30.5 million).
Among the names mentioned by the Bleacher Report include Derrick Favors or Grayson Allen, all depending on whether the Grizzlies are interested in either player. A future pick could be added as well.
The Jazz are currently running 7th in the NBA Western Conference with a 27-22 mark while the Grizzlies find themselves way below with a 19-29 record. With Memphis seemingly out of it, dealing off some of their superstars and start a rebuilding process seems to be the logical way to go at this point.
