Utah Jazz news and notes to tip-off your weekend, including Kyle Korver’s commencement address and the Jazz front office’s feelings about Mike Conley.
Utah Jazz sharpshooter Kyle Korver will be back on the big stage on Saturday. However, this particular occasion will be one of the rare ones where no nets are ripped in the process.
Instead of making it rain on the hardwood, Korver will be in Omaha, Nebraska to give two commencement addresses at his alma mater Creighton University. He’ll also receive an honorary Doctor of Human Letters degree from the school.
Dr. Kyle Korver — has a nice ring to it, eh?
The 38-year-old Jazzman replaces former Nebraska governor and senator Bob Kerrey, who was originally slated for the job, but pulled out because some opposed his views on abortion rights. Kerrey didn’t want to be a distraction at the ceremonies and also noted that he has “never been able to hit a three-pointer,” in an interview with the Omaha World-Herald.
https://twitter.com/JazzDoingGood/status/1129404003576475648
Korver graduated from Creighton in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in visual communications. Over four years with the Bluejays’ basketball team, he put up 14.1 points per game and knocked down 45 percent of his 819 3-point attempts.
Earlier this year, Korver made headlines with an op-ed piece for The Players’ Tribune entitled “Privileged,” in which put race relations in basketball and the world at large under the microscope.
His future in Jazz blue is currently up in the air; the team has until July 7 to decide whether to guarantee his $7.5 million salary for next season. There’s also been chatter about his potential retirement. In any case, if he doesn’t play another game with Utah, he’ll undoubtedly be missed by Jazz fans.
Not just for his penchant for knocking down jump-shots like few before him, but for his demeanor and thoughtfulness on and off the court.
Jazz got the hots for Conley?
Utah’s pursuit of Memphis Grizzlies point-man Mike Conley at the 2019 trade deadline was apparently no small thing. According to one Jazz insider, and in spite of their failure to acquire him in February, the team remains enamored with the idea of bringing Conley to the 801.
Here’s what The Athletic’s Tony Jones wrote on the subject in response to a fan question on Twitter: “The front office loves Conley so if the right trade is there they aren’t going to hesitate to make it.”
The front office loves Conley so if the right trade is there they aren’t going to hesitate to make it https://t.co/Mf57UxAbrK
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) May 17, 2019
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It would seem that continued rumblings about Jazz brass re-engaging the Grizz in trade talks this summer aren’t wholly unfounded.
Unfortunately — for those of you who have Conley’s Upper Deck card in your hope chest — putting together a compensation package in a potential deal will likely be more problematic for the Jazz than it was at the deadline.
Ricky Rubio is set to hit free agency, as are Thabo Sefolosha and Ekpe Udoh. Meanwhile, Derrick Favors‘ deal for next season is currently non-guaranteed and Dante Exum‘s value has definitely taken a hit with his most recent injury.
Still, where there’s smoke, fire often follows. Stay tuned, Jazz fans.