Memphis Grizzlies: 3 potential Mike Conley trade packages
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz have long been after Mike Conley and it seemed they were very close to getting him back in February at the NBA Trade Deadline, but the two sides could not come to an agreement on a package.
The New York Times‘ Marc Stein reported that the Jazz were offering Ricky Rubio as the headline of the offer and that Memphis was looking for draft compensation as well.
Utah has had exploratory discussions with Memphis on a potential swap headlined by Mike Conley and Ricky Rubio in advance of next week's trade deadline, according to league sources.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 1, 2019
Rubio was the most common name brought up in trades, as well as Derrick Favors. Memphis obviously wanted decent draft compensation to aid its rebuild, but Utah only owns its own picks and was set to be a playoff team. Those picks didn’t move the needle much and Rubio was an expiring contract, so the Grizzlies correctly decided to wait and see what Conley’s value would be this offseason.
Utah could possibly have the cap space to absorb Conley without having to match salaries, but that would entail them moving or cutting players like Favors that don’t have fully guaranteed deals next season. This also removes several trade pieces that Memphis might be interested in. But if Utah wants Conley, as The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports they do as the frontrunners for his services, then this is the best route to make it happen.
Memphis will be looking for one or more draft picks, as well as a solid player to add to its rebuilding roster. As was reported at last year’s deadline, Memphis covets point guard Dante Exum if a deal is to be made with Utah. It’s unclear if Memphis would still be interested in Exum with the addition of Delon Wright and likely Ja Morant.
This would deplete an already thin Utah roster and take two of its youngest and most hopeful pieces, along with its pick this year. I don’t believe Utah will be willing to give up all of this and risk filling out its roster with the free agency leftovers in mid-July.
Utah will most likely balk at including both Exum and Grayson Allen along with this year’s first-rounder and force Memphis to choose only one of the players to go with the pick. This just isn’t enough value for Mike Conley and other offers should easily trump this from Utah.