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UPDATE 9:51AM
It looks like we know now what’s holding up the deal. Utah’s willing to send their 1st rounder, but unwilling to send a 2021 1st rounder. Memphis is asking for 2(!!!) 1st round draft picks. Which seems incredibly steep. Memphis knows Utah is desperate to add third piece, it’s testing if Utah is that desperate to mortgage their future for a better present.
Little bit more on this... Sources say Jazz are pretty pessimistic about this year’s draft, so pretty willing to add the 2019 1st to conversations. But thought is that Memphis can probably get a better selection than Utah’s for Conley, so question is whether they add 2021 #1 too. https://t.co/R2V6iZXdGv
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) February 1, 2019
Original Story
It looks like the Utah Jazz don’t want to be left out of the excitement. Marc Stein of the New York Times is reporting that the Utah Jazz have undeniable interest in the Grizzlies Mike Conley. It appears the deal right now may only be held up by what additional compensation Utah can provide Memphis. Memphis currently would like prime draft compensation for the 31 year old point guard.
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
For those talks to progress all the way to a deal, though, would require additional pieces as well as Utah absorbing the two years and $66 million remaining on Conley's contract -- which is obviously steep
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 1, 2019
The Jazz have undeniable interest in Conley as the deadline approaches, league sources say, but it is a big step up financially from Rubio's $15 million expiring deal. Memphis is believed to covet prime draft compensation in a trade involving either Conley or Marc Gasol
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 1, 2019
Considering how quickly the New York to Dallas deal came to fruition after reports similar to these, this might be in the late stages of being finalized with both teams dotting their i’s and crossing their t’s.
Should Utah even trade for Conley this late in his career? Our own Jason Walker went into that.
What would a Mike Conley trade look like? Our own Andy Bailey took a look at some different scenarios.