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Will the Utah Jazz finally pull off a trade for Mike Conley?

By Mitchell Hansen

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 30: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on in the fourth quarter during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 99-97 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 30: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on in the fourth quarter during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 99-97 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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With Mike Conley trade rumors heating up, the Utah Jazz are reportedly a frontrunner to land the star point guard.

The Utah Jazz have once again found themselves in the middle of NBA trade rumors.

Leading up to the 2019 NBA Draft on Thursday, Utah is back in trade rumors surrounding a familiar face once again.

On Monday, The Athletic‘s Shams Charania reported that the Memphis Grizzlies are “intensifying talks” to potentially move franchise point guard Mike Conley, and the Jazz are thought to be the frontrunner for his services.

As Charania reported, Utah and Memphis have been in conversations with each other regarding the point guard and could potentially agree to terms on a trade involving Conley during draft week.

With the Grizzlies holding the No. 2 overall pick and likely taking point guard Ja Morant out of Murray State, the organization could look to move on from Conley as soon as possible.

News broke earlier this month that Jazz point guard Ricky Rubio — who has served as the team’s floor general for the past few seasons — has been given indications from the Jazz that they will look to move on from him this offseason. Rubio is set to enter free agency after his contract expired following the 2018-19 campaign.

With Rubio likely on the way out, that opens the door for Conley to potentially move into the starting lineup and provide Utah with another player that can boost both the offense and the defense.

Conley, who will turn 32 years old in October, is set to make $32.5 million during the 2019-20 season, which makes this trade a little difficult but one that the Jazz can make happen with their current salary cap situation and the amount of flexibility it offers.

When it comes to who could be on the way out of Salt Lake City in a potential trade for Conley, you’d imagine that talks would be centered around forward Derrick Favors.

In order to try and make the math work in a trade, Favors’ $16.9 million contract for the 2019-20 year might be a good place to start.

As of Monday, however, The Athletic‘s Tony Jones reported on an ESPN radio segment that Favors was not currently involved in any trade discussions for Conley.

The other piece that would almost have to be involved in order to get Conley to Salt Lake City is Utah’s No. 23 overall pick for the upcoming draft. The fact that Memphis would be interested in Utah’s first round pick is likely why trade talks surrounding the Jazz and Conley have heated back up this week.

Over the past two years, Utah fans have heard rumors surrounding their team looking to add Conley via trade, only to be let down without a deal officially being made.

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This time around, Utah and Memphis could actually agree to terms to send Conley to the Jazz to pair up with Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert in the Western Conference. And if something does happen this time, we will likely find out more ahead of Thursday’s NBA Draft.

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