Keeping Mike Conley is a top priority for the Jazz, writes Tony Jones of The Athletic in his off-season primer, but there are plenty of other questions beyond that facing this year’s No. 1 seed in the West.
One such question will be if the Jazz can hit on the 30th pick in the draft. While it’s not historically a wellspring for players who can help a team with championship ambitions, this is a deep draft and there are plenty of examples of success stories at that spot, such as Jimmy Butler, Kevin Porter Jr.., Kevon Looney, and Kyle Anderson, among others.
There’s also the question of their current young players on the roster. Though Donovan Mitchell is the only young player who is a member of the team’s core, the Jazz will have to decide which other youngsters they keep and try to develop, and which they let go.
We have more from around the Northwest Division:
- Will Barton of the Nuggets was cagey about the topic of his impending player option deadline and whether he’ll look to enter free agency, writes Mike Singer of The Denver Post. “Being appreciated,” Barton said of what he’s looking for in free agency. “Team knowing my value. Of course, an important role. Just the right situation. I want to win.” Barton will have to decide whether he picks up his $14.6MM player option by July 17.
- The Timberwolves have brought Anthony Edwards back to Minnesota for an injury evaluation, reports Christina Long of The Star Tribune. Edwards was among the players chosen to practice with Team USA as part of the Select Team, but was seen limping off the floor last week. A Star Tribune source reports that the injury is non-knee related, and is a sprain.
- The Nuggets held a workout for six draft prospects yesterday, tweets Mike Singer: Josh Christopher, Quentin Grimes, Jason Preston, Duane Washington, Jordan Goodman, and Matt Coleman. Of the six, Christopher and Grimes are the highest-ranked, and either one could potentially be in play when the Nuggets are on the board with the 26th pick.
People are really asking if Jazz can hit on the 30th pick? Lol. Maybe people on Hoopsrumors. Regular human beans fs dgaf
Human beans lol
Jazz willing to overpay and probably go into luxury for Conley is kinda funny.
Agreed, Conley is past his prime and injury prone. They would be better off going for a younger a little less experienced point guard
Conley is a little injury prone kinda like a certain 76er PG, but at least he can hit a jumper.
Jazz are pretty mediocre without Conley. He makes them go. Either they extend him or find a substitute, but given where they are in payroll that ain’t gonna happen short of a sign-and-trade.
I feel like the Jazz were better without Conley, and they could use some more depth, so why not sign two or three “lesser” players with that $30 mill?
Because the salary cap doesn’t work like that. They’re allowed to go over the cap (they already are) to re-sign Conley because they have his bird rights. They don’t have $30M in cap space to sign anyone else, only their $9.5M mid-level exception and $3.7M bi-annual exception.
They could also do a sign and trade with Conley and get one or more other players in return.
Then you didn’t watch the Jazz very much. They were much much better with Conley. In fact they kind of stunk without him.
Conley has been overpaid his whole career. He’s solid for them. But I wouldn’t spend on him. I give him market value or less.
Nobody volunteers a figure, but all agree it is too high. Higher than what?