Utah Jazz trade rumors: Pistons could stymie team’s pursuit of Mike Conley

Mike Conley may be the Utah Jazz’s top trade target, but they have competition in acquiring his services. Most notably, the Detroit Pistons.

The countdown toward the 2019 NBA trade deadline is quickly approaching the 0:00 mark and chatter about Memphis Grizzlies point-man Mike Conley continues to dominate the Utah Jazz’s corner of the hoops blogosphere.

However, Conley’s potential move to Salt Lake City is anything but a sure bet. The Detroit Pistons have reportedly interjected with their own competitive offer for the former All-Defensive Team selection.

The Detroit Free Press‘ best guess is that the Pistons have offered a package including combo guard Reggie Jackson and a first-round pick. Depending on pick protections, it’s the latter asset that could see the Jazz missing out on Conley.

Detroit currently finds itself outside the Eastern Conference’s top eight, so their 2019 pick could potentially land in the lottery. Whether they advance to postseason play or not, though, the pick should be better than what the Jazz can offer in the upcoming draft.

As it stands now, the Pistons would select at No. 9 overall, unless they move up in the NBA Draft lottery. Meanwhile, Utah’s 2019 first-round pick is slated to land in the back half of the first round.

Nevertheless, the Free Press’ Vince Ellis says that the Grizzlies are asking for more.

Whether the Jazz can make their own offer more appealing than Detroit’s in the eyes of Grizzlies brass remains to be seen. They could include additional picks — like their 2021 first-rounder to go with a pick this summer, for example — but you have to wonder when the cost becomes too great.

Are you willing to throw Grayson Allen into the mix as well after just a half-season in Jazz blue? How about Dante Exum, a former No. 5 overall pick whom the organization is still very high on?

In any case, the Jazz do have at least one thing going for them. Ricky Rubio is said to be part of Utah’s current offer for Conley, and he likely moves the needle more for Grizz GM Chris Wallace than Jackson.

After all, he’s arguably the better player of the two and, more importantly, his deal will come off the books at the end of the season. Jackson, meanwhile, has an additional year on his deal at more than $18 million.

If accruing assets to build for the future is Memphis’ top goal, financial flexibility is likely a close second. Having Jackson on the books beyond this season doesn’t really jibe with that goal.

Here’s another factor for the Grizz to consider — the Pistons’ impetus in acquiring Conley would be to pair him with Blake Griffin and make them more competitive. In the East, the move would likely push them back into the playoff picture, which could eliminate the lottery pick possibility.

Finally, other teams are likely pitching the Pistons on potential trades as well.

Clearly, the Conley talks are a complex issue, which is why the Grizzlies are taking their sweet time. According to The Athletic’s Tony Jones, the Jazz are waiting for a decision at this point.

That decision may not come until the waning moments before the deadline hits.