Conley trade fell through due to reluctance to deal Exum
There’s certainly some speculation involved with this final moment that would have preferably been a prank, but it still may very well be the most painful of them all. At this February’s NBA trade deadline, there were serious talks between the Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies for a trade involving Mike Conley. Conley is an incredible player and could have worked wonders for the Jazz at the point guard spot, but unfortunately the deal fell through.
And what was the supposed road block that prevented it from coming together? Well, if reports are to be believed, it was the Jazz’s unwillingness to deal Dante Exum.
Yes, the Dante Exum that I just mentioned is out indefinitely. The Dante Exum that played in only 42 games this season and just 14 the year before. The Dante Exum that is owed nearly $22 million over the course of the next two years.
Mike Conley could have very well made a huge impact in the postseason and elevated the Jazz to another level on both ends of the court. Instead, the Jazz opted to keep Dante, who will have no impact on either end of the court this postseason.
Perhaps, due to a bounce-back from Exum, a decline from Conley, or an extremely successful offseason by the Jazz in some other fashion, we’ll ultimately not rue the day that this trade fell through. But for the time being, there’s no denying that it would be better if it had instead been an April Fools joke and Conley indeed was donning a Jazz uniform.
Hopefully all the Utah Jazz fans out there survived the goofy holiday and any fake news associated with it and enjoyed the Jazz win. Ideally their playoff success in a couple weeks will outweigh any of these or other discouraging moments that took place throughout the course of the 2018-19 regular season that we all wish could have turned out differently.