The J-Notes
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J-Notes Roundtable: Top Utah Jazz trade target

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 22: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket around Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 22, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 22: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket around Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 22, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 3: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles up court against the New York Knicks on February 3, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 3: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles up court against the New York Knicks on February 3, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

James Buckley’s pick – Mike Conley

J-Noter James Buckley likes Mike Conley in a swap for Derrick Favors and Ricky Rubio.

My dream scenario for the trade deadline is the Jazz finding a way to bring in Mike Conley from the Memphis Grizzlies. A backcourt of Conley and Donovan Mitchell would be tantalizing on both ends and the type of risk the Jazz will need to take in order to reach the next level in the loaded Western Conference. Due to Conley’s high salary, the Jazz would need to trade away some key pieces, but I believe it would be worth the risk.

The general framework of the deal could be centered around a swap of Conley for Ricky Rubio and Derrick Favors. The contracts match up almost perfectly, and Marc Stein recently reported that there were exploratory trade talks involving Rubio and Conley specifically. The math doesn’t work for a Conley-for-Rubio straight swap, which is what leads me to believe Favors will be involved as well if a deal happens.

The Grizzlies may look to begin rebuilding if they move on from Conley and other franchise star Marc Gasol, so there most likely will need to be draft compensation on the move as well.

Conley may not jump off the screen at you, but he would be a key upgrade over Rubio. He is one of the best pure floor generals in the league, and could provide the stability on the floor that Rubio has given while also being a major threat shooting the ball (which Rubio isn’t). I believe a trade for Conley would put the Jazz on the second tier of Western Conference teams just underneath the Golden State Warriors.

Follow @JamesBuckley31

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