Report: Grizzlies 'intensifying' Conley trade talks, Jazz a front-runner
The Memphis Grizzlies are intensifying talks about trading franchise point guard Mike Conley, and the Utah Jazz are a front-runner if the deal happens the week of the NBA draft, league sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.
The Grizzlies own the No. 2 pick in Thursday's draft. They're expected to select Murray State point guard Ja Morant and will likely look to immediately feature him alongside Jaren Jackson Jr. next season.
Conley is among the best players in the NBA who's never made an All-Star Game. He's spent 12 years with Memphis in the guard-heavy Western Conference.
The Jazz already informed starting point guard Ricky Rubio that he will not be their No. 1 priority heading into the offseason. Utah will apparently attempt to retool after its first-round playoff elimination by the Houston Rockets in five games.
As the Grizzlies rebuild, they engaged in trade talks before February's deadline in an attempt to move Conley to a contender. His co-star Marc Gasol was traded to the Toronto Raptors in the final hours ahead of the deadline, and the Spanish center went on to secure his first career NBA championship.
Conley rebounded after missing 70 games in 2017-18, averaging 21.1 points and 6.4 assists this past season.