Utah Jazz trade update: Grizzlies keep Conley, team stands pat

The Memphis Grizzlies moved multiple players ahead of the NBA trade deadline, but Utah Jazz target Mike Conley wasn’t one of them.

After several days filled with reported trade talks, rumors confirmed and refuted and a flurry of deals around the league, the NBA trade deadline has finally come and gone. The Utah Jazz, who had long been linked to Memphis Grizzlies point-man Mike Conley, will remain exactly as constituted before the fireworks.

In other words, Conley will stay in Memphis, where he’s reportedly valued as a mentor for young star Jaren Jackson, Jr. Meanwhile, Ricky Rubio and Derrick Favors will continue to take the court sporting Jazz blue.

Reports earlier this week indicated that the Grizzlies’ asking price for Conley was high. Specifically, they sought multiple first-round picks in potential deals. If that was the going rate, Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey ultimately deemed it too costly.

There were also rumblings that Conley preferred a move to an Eastern Conference team over one to Salt Lake City. However, the 31-year-old later dismissed those claims.

In the end, Conley was the only domino that didn’t fall in Memphis. Early on Thursday, the Grizzlies agreed to send multi-time All-Star big man Marc Gasol to the Toronto Raptors. In return, they’ll net Jonas Valanciunas, one-time University of Utah standout Delon Wright, former Jazzman C.J. Miles and a future second-round pick.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on the deal.

Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace also moved Garrett Temple and JaMychal Green to the LA Clippers in exchange for Avery Bradley. Green was a player the Jazz blogosphere liked as a potential trade target.

Elsewhere on the Grizzlies roster, former Jazz PG Shelvin Mack was also traded —

As for other rumored Jazz targets, my main man Otto Porter was traded to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday and Nikola Mirotic, who the Jazz have also been said to covet, was dealt by the New Orleans Pelicans to the Milwaukee Bucks ahead of the deadline.

Here’s more from Woj —

For his part, Rubio took the perpetual trade rumors in stride. Here was his bombshell report on teammate Joe Ingles just ahead of the deadline —

https://twitter.com/rickyrubio9/status/1093581320813334528

There’s no information currently available on which Starbucks was involved or what they received as compensation in the deal.

In any case, Rubio didn’t stop there, and Ingles got in on the action as well–

Rubio is either cool as they come with regards to the business side of the NBA, i.e. trade talks and social media noise, or he’s a man who knew he wasn’t going anywhere.

Now, with the trade deadline behind them, the Jazz turn will their attention back to the playoff race in the Wild West.