The biggest trade news NBA fans have been waiting on hit this weekend when the Lakers got a deal done with the Pelicans for Anthony Davis, finally getting LeBron James a star teammates.
While Davis was, undoubtedly, the biggest name on the trade market, he’s not alone in terms of players likely to be dealt this summer that can significantly impact next year’s playoff race. Memphis is in the midst of a tear down, have sent Marc Gasol to Toronto at the deadline, where he ultimately won a championship, and the expectation is that Mike Conley Jr. will be on the move this summer to completely rid the team of the last remnants of Grit N’ Grind.
Since last trade deadline, the Utah Jazz have been considered one of the most likely teams to trade for Conley, as they have a clear need for an upgrade at point guard and given their cap situation, need to acquire talent via trade rather than in free agency. With Ricky Rubio set to be a free agent and apparently not in Utah’s plans, talks have reportedly heated up with the Grizzlies in trying to make a Conley deal happen.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Monday that Utah was the “frontrunner” to get Conley, noting there’s buzz a deal could be done as soon as this week ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft.
The Grizzlies are intensifying talks to potentially move franchise cornerstone Mike Conley Jr., league sources told The Athletic. Memphis has been in conversations with the Jazz and Utah is a frontrunner to acquire Conley should the Grizzlies trade the point guard during draft week, league sources said.
There are others that have been floated as possible landing spots for Conley, including Phoenix and Indiana, but the Jazz have always seemed like the best fit. Conley would certainly be a welcome addition for the Jazz, and the big question is what they’ll have to give up to make a deal happen. The most likely player combination in a move from the Jazz would be Derrick Favors (on a non-guaranteed deal for next year) and Dante Exum plus the appropriate draft assets to make it work.
Draft night figures to feature plenty of teams looking to move up and down the board, but a veteran like Conley also could be on the move as well to shift the more immediate balance of power in the league.
