Utah Jazz trade rumors: Porter, Conley on team’s wish list

Ask any reasonable Utah Jazz fan and they’ll likely tell you the team needs one more foundational piece to become true contenders. Will they get their No. 3 at the trade deadline?

The 2019 NBA Trade Deadline is just two weeks away and, right on cue, rumors on which pieces the Utah Jazz could covet in support of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert have begun to swirl. In the last few days, two big names have surfaced as potential trade targets. If you’ve been following along, they probably won’t surprise you.

In separate reports over at The Athletic, Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter and Memphis Grizzlies point-man Mike Conley have been name checked as players the Jazz have shown interest in.

On Wednesday, it was Shams Charania who reported on Utah’s possible exploration into acquiring Porter. He wrote the following —

"Depending on how the next week to two weeks shape up, the Wizards could look more aggressively toward moving Otto Porter. The Utah Jazz have been an interested suitor for Porter, league sources said."

One day later, Jazz beat writer Tony Jones confirmed the interest with his own sources, and also added Conley’s name to the mix. Said Jones —

"According to sources, the Jazz have expressed interest in Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley and Wizards small forward Otto Porter Jr., both of whom have been out on the trade block by their respective teams."

I’ll leave the Conley breakdown to fellow J-Noter Jared Woodcox. Earlier this week, he opined that the Grizzlies floor general would be a high-risk, high-reward play for Utah, and I’m inclined to agree. Go read Jared’s piece as soon as you’re done here.

For my part, I see the Conley scenario as follows: he’s a potentially great basketball and organizational fit, and if he were 27 or 28, I’d be all over that scene in spite of his humongous contract (he’s still owed an average of $33 million per annum for two years beyond the current season).

That said, he’s 31 years old and hasn’t played a full campaign in a while. I feel like that’s an incredible amount of money to invest in a risky bet, but there’s still a lot to love about Conley in Jazz blue.

Now, about Otto Porter…

Two summers ago, when Gordon Hayward ditched the Jazz in favor of the Boston Celtics, Porter was reportedly at or near the top of their list as a potential replacement. For the record, he topped my list, too. However, he was quickly inked to a max offer sheet by the Brooklyn Nets, which was subsequently matched by the Wiz.

Now, though, Washington could become sellers at the deadline with point guard John Wall out for the year with a heel injury and the team currently outside the East’s top eight. They may not be in tank mode, but they’re in a tricky financial situation with a huge payroll and an under-performing roster.

Something has to give there.

As with Conley, the major bugbear on Porter is his deal — worth $82 million over the next three years, with 2020-21 being a player option. To be willing to take on such a massive salary, you’d really have to believe in Porter’s potential as a player. I, for one, am a believer.

Although his numbers are down a hair this season, he’s still performing at a high level, averaging 13 points, six boards and 1.5 steals per contest. He’s also boasts a nice 48-40-77 shooting line, which is right on his career line. Also — he’s yet to turn 26 and could still grow and improve as a player.

While his defensive performance has suffered with his team’s this season, Porter remains solid on that side of the floor as well. When Porter is the closest defender, opponents have shot nearly six percent worse from the field when compared to their average. His incredible 7-1 wingspan is key here and would fit right in with Utah’s ultra-long roster.

It may also allow him to move over to the power forward spot, which would make for some tantalizing combinations in Utah.

Porter is one of just a handful of positive players on the Wizards, a team that’s negative on the year, with a net rating of 2.1 and a positive net swing of over eight points per 100 possessions when comparing his on/off splits.

If I’m running the show for the Jazz, I’m making a strong pitch to Wiz prez Ernie Grunfeld. But what do you think — can Porter be the Jazz’s No. 3? Could he ever be worth the money he’s making? Hit me up in the comments and let me know!