Mike Conley, who agreed to a two-year, $21MM contract extension to remain with the Timberwolves, likely could have gotten a more lucrative deal in the open market, but he’s happy to be the floor leader of a prime contender, he told Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
“This organization is headed in the right direction,” said Conley, who is still seeking his first championship. “It’s got good people leading the way, people with great intentions and are trying to build a team that can compete for years to come. Give fans something to be excited about. So, organizations like this you don’t want to pass up on.”
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- A phone call between Karl-Anthony Towns and Chris Finch just after Finch was hired during the 2020/21 season established a bond that had fostered the Timberwolves‘ resurgence, as both Hine and The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski write. “That was not lost on me at the moment, and it’s never been lost on me,” Finch said. “It’s been everything for the relationship. It points to really what a great person he is in terms of — he’s referred to himself as a servant leader. That’s what servant leadership is about. It’s what can you do to make those people around you, their experiences, better or easier? He paved the way for me in that regard.”
- Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups is thrilled that Duop Reath was promoted from a two-way deal to a standard three-year contract. “I just love to see people get what they deserve,” Billups told Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report. “That was maybe the most happy thing that happened over the break, was being able to talk to him. He’s just so grateful and so thankful. That’s what this thing is really all about—to be able to bring somebody in who’s trying to make the league, bring him into Summer League and have him grow to a level where he’s getting an actual NBA contract is unbelievable.” Reath has a $4MM guarantee through next season and could make as much as $6.22MM through the life of the contract, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets.
- The Jazz came close to trading for an impact player, The Athletic’s Tony Jones said on the Jackpotting Around Jazz Podcast (Twitter link). Jones didn’t name the “really good player” Utah was pursuing, but did say it wasn’t Dejounte Murray.
Perhaps that player was Miles Bridges? Funny how Tony mentioned it right after they just played Charlotte. Miles Bridges had a 26p 14r 4a game, too.
Could be him or maybe Grant Williams? Although, he doesn’t scream “really good” to most people. Still, he had 24 points.
Is Bruce Brown considered at that level?
Maybe someone else entirely?
More Jazz FO BS. Instead of gutting the team, this time Ainge came oh “so close” to almost trade for the imaginary “impact player”. One that can’t be named, naturally. Otherwise your cheap propaganda stunt wouldn’t work.
Btw., Ainge pulled that same “almost” nonsense in Boston every time he tried to buy himself some time.
On the other hand, what does this tell us about Ainge’s ability to close the deal on future trades for star players? Outside of very few exceptions, stars refuse to spend their careers with perennially mediocre small-market franchises like the Jazz. Ainge won’t be able to get Markkanen the promised help of another All-Star caliber player. He knows that and therefore keeps pushing the rebuild further and further away, while owner Ryan Smith nets the profits.
Every GM has lots of trades that come close but there’s always some sticking point. Look at how long it took to trade Spida. It took at least 2 years to finally land Collins. Then they got him for super cheap.
Markannen is an all-star player. I guess he doesn’t count either, right? Sexton has some star power, especially this year.
Maybe they know what they’re doing more than you give them credit for. It’s only been 2 years with Ainge and Zanik. Give it a rest.
Markkanen came to Utah as anything but an All-Star. He therefore doesn’t fall into the category of the acquisition of an accomplished star.
The only time a FO “leaks” commonly confidential nebulous negotiation details to their media stooges, is for the pursuit of deceptive propaganda purposes, aimed at the gullible part of the fanbase. I guess Danny Boy found at least one believer.
Get over yourself. You’re so blinded by negativity you can look at the Sun and say it’s dark.
My point is the Jazz look at things differently than naysayers like you. They see potential stars and traded for them. Sexton was a star for Cleveland before he got hurt, BTW. They clearly saw Star potential in Markkanen so they added him to the requested trade deal.
Oh the Gobert trade, they tested players and kept what they liked and then punted on the rest. Same goes for Ochai and KO. They got the first they initially wanted for Bogey.
Shows they’re still clearly in the developmental and acquire assets phase. Takes two teams to make deals so it’s taken an extra season to get it down to what they want. Still need to trim down or trade some more this off-season.
I bet the player that the Jazz almost got was Miles Bridges of Charlotte
So a little more info suggests it isn’t anyone that was mentioned in rumors. Miles was lightly mentioned so I guess that counts, and he’s out.
Based on what what said, it’s someone on the level of Bogey, but likely closer to Markkanen’s age? It’s a player that’s better than a starter but not quite a star.
Regardless, the reporter, Tony Jones, is a pretty level-headed, chill guy. He’s had solid info in the past. He did say the Jazz weren’t going after Dejounte, and that panned out, so far. Doesn’t mean they don’t change their mind.