With the NBA trade deadline just a couple of hours away, the focus of the Utah Jazz shifts solely on acquiring Mike Conley of the Memphis Grizzlies and not Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors. The Memphis Grizzlies has named the price for their prized point guard, thus, giving the Jazz some time to re-evaluate their position.
According to CBS, the Utah Jazz has offered a package that included a number of draft picks and expiring contracts in exchange for Mike Conley. The expiring contracts turned out to be the Jazz starting point guard Ricky Rubio and Derrick Favors.
Utah's final offer to the Grizzlies for Mike Conley, per @Tjonesonthenba on the show: First-round pick, second-round pick, and expirings, dollar for dollar. Grizzlies asked for Exum and were told no. — John Martin (@JohnMartin929) February 6, 2019
In response, the Memphis Grizzlies has asked for Dante Exum, but the Jazz remained firm that Exum is off the table. Exum has only played in 39 games this season and has averaged 7.4 points and 2.7 assists for the Jazz. There has been no response from the Grizzlies as of press time.
This season, Rubio is averaging 12.9 points and 6.1 assists while Favors is averaging 10.9 points and 7.1 rebounds. Those numbers could effectively be replaced by Conley's. The 6'1 Conley is averaging 20.4 points, 6.4 assists against 1.9 turnovers, and 3.4 rebounds per game. The Ohio State product is also shooting 43 percent from the field and has a respectable 36 percent clip from behind the three-point line.
While Rubio is a solid playmaker and an able defender, his lack of shooting consistency remains a limiting factor for the Jazz offense. With Conley, the lane would open up for the other Jazz players because defenders wouldn't have to sag off him.
Meanwhile, Brian Windhorst of ESPN and Marc Stein of the New York Times reported that Conley's preference would be to play in the Eastern Conference if Conley gets traded. However, Conley is still under contract for the next two years, and if a deal between the Jazz and the Grizzlies is made, then Conley would have no choice but to suit up for the Jazz.
Have heard the same as Windy: There is reluctance on Conley's part to go to Utah. That said ... this is not the first time that the Jazz have heard that. Conley is owed $66 million over the next two seasons. If Utah and Memphis came to terms, Conley would have to go ... https://t.co/g4OVNcRkQ1 — Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 6, 2019
At 31 years-old, Conley still has a few good years left in his tank. And whether or not he realizes it, he is a good fit for the well-oiled, well-coached Jazz offense. Defensively, Conley would also seem to be an upgrade from Rubio.
The Jazz has always been a good team, a perennial playoff dark horse who just couldn't get over the hump. Instead of heading for the Eastern Conference, Conley might just be the perfect fit for Utah. And Conley might just be the missing piece the Jazz that would allow them to contend against the best in the West.
