NBA Rumors: Another Team Enters The Bidding For Utah's Mike Conley

The Utah Jazz got off to a surprisingly good start to the season, going 12-7 and sitting atop the Western Conference standings a full month in, on Nov. 21st. But regression to the mean has set in, and the Jazz have gone 9-17 since, barely clinging to a play-in spot by half a game. CEO Danny Ainge can likely go back to his 'Trader Danny' ways. 

This means that 16-year veteran point guard Mike Conley could be on his way out of town by the trade deadline February 9th. And according to NBA Insider Shams Charania, two teams have shown interest. 

The Timberwolves and Clippers are expressing interest in Jazz guard Mike Conley Jr., sources tell @ShamsCharania.

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The Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers are two teams that have been noted to be looking for upgrades in the backcourt, and Shams links both of them to Conley.  

We outlined the Clippers' case here yesterday. 

The T'Wolves must decide what to do with their current PG, D'Angelo Russell. He'll become a free agent at season's end, and there's no indication at all that Minnesota is looking to extend.  

"The team would lose his salary slot if he leaves as a free agent," explains Charania, "so Minnesota has been exploring trade possibilities for Russell while prioritizing another point guard, sources said." 

And that leads us to Conley. 

The 35-year-old veteran is in his 4th season with the Jazz, and obviously knows Rudy Gobert well, so there's a fit there. Conley is averaging 10.2 points and 7.5 assists, though his 3-point accuracy is down this year, to 34.9%, after two straight seasons over 40%. 

His leadership would plug in nicely for any playoff-bound team. 

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