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Conley Officially a Jazzman

Tidbits from Tony Jones's new article on The Athletic

The Utah Jazz changed the course of their franchise on January 30, 2019.

They were in Portland that night, trounced 132-105 by the Trail Blazers, surrendering 66 total points each to the backcourt duo of Damian Lillard (36) and CJ McCollum (30). It wasn’t so much the loss as the manner of the defeat, and what it meant for a team that sought to find its level in the Western Conference.
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As such, that ghastly Portland loss in January gave the franchise a sense of urgency. Talks ramped up before the February trade deadline. League sources tell The Athletic that the Jazz offered a package that included two first-round picks, incumbent starting point guard Ricky Rubio and dollar-for-dollar expiring contracts designed to supply cap relief for the Grizzlies.
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So, the Jazz went out and got the player they believed would make them great. Utah had an interest in upcoming free-agent point guards Kemba Walker and D’Angelo Russell. The Jazz also liked Tobias Harris, who projected as a playmaking power forward in Quin Snyder’s system.

But Conley was the guy they wanted all along. Snyder runs a pick-and-roll-centric offense. The Jazz believe Conley is one of the best pick-and-roll point guards in the league. The Jazz wanted a guy who they believe is ready to win at the highest level. Conley has long been known as a terrific playoff performer and along with Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol led some fantastic Memphis teams.

The Jazz strongly believe in locker room fit. Conley is widely regarded as one of the best locker room guys around. Most important, the Jazz knew they needed to pair a dynamic playmaking presence with the talent of Mitchell. And, just as important, more than Walker and Russell, Conley fits with Mitchell because of his ability to be just as effective off the ball as he is with it in his hands.

Conley has never played with another backcourt guy capable of averaging 25 points a night. Mitchell can do that. Mitchell has never played with a point guard capable of carrying the offense. Conley can do that. Conley is coming off a season in which he averaged over 21 points and over six assists per game. Rubio — who will leave the Jazz this summer in free agency — was a very good influence on Mitchell. He ran the offense well. He defended. He turned into a great mentor for Mitchell in his first two NBA years. But the Jazz ran into a ceiling with Rubio as their point guard. So, for all the good Rubio did on and off the court in Salt Lake City, a parting of ways was obvious and necessary.
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Crowder and Korver proved to be valuable veteran role players. But, sources say, Allen became a key to the deal when he showed maturity, development and scoring chops by the end of the season. His improvement satisfied Memphis’ need for a young player with upside.
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According to sources, the Jazz front office was set on pursuing a deal for Conley again in the offseason for a few reasons:

  1. He was their guy.
  2. A trade was a lot more in their control than taking their chances in free agency.
  3. Conley simply checked more boxes than the other significant players who interested the Jazz.
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Privately, however, the Jazz were worried about their trade viability once the offseason hit. The contracts they offered at the trade deadline were no longer available because of pending free agency. The Jazz wanted to accomplish the deal without putting starting power forward Derrick Favors on the table, which they were ultimately able to do. The Jazz also wanted to hold on to Dante Exum.

Utah also worried about competition from other teams seeking an upgrade at point guard. The Indiana Pacers are seemingly more interested in Russell, who will probably leave the Brooklyn Nets if Kyrie Irving signs there in free agency. The Boston Celtics, Irving’s current team for another few weeks, lurked, but the Grizzlies and Jazz were too far down the road to trade completion.
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What does Conley give the Jazz? An elite backcourt with an elite defense. He gives Snyder the ability to have Conley, Mitchell or Rudy Gobert on the floor for 48 minutes a night, similar to what Houston does with James Harden and Chris Paul. And that’s significant, because the Jazz had too many nights in the past few seasons when they wondered how baskets would be generated when Mitchell sat.
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The Jazz are now over the cap, so by and large, this is their team. If they are going to contend for a title, this is the core they will have to do it with. The Jazz will rely on internal improvement from the likes of Mitchell, Exum and Royce O’Neale.
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In money terms, the Jazz operated as a team under the salary cap to complete the deal. That means they forfeit their biannual exception of $3.6 million. Additional roster improvements will come from the taxpayers’ mid-level exception of $4.7 million. Also, the Jazz have the No. 53 pick in Thursday’s draft, although sources say they will make an effort to move up.
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zyzz said:
Tidbits from Tony Jones's new article on The Athletic
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In money terms, the Jazz operated as a team under the salary cap to complete the deal. That means they forfeit their biannual exception of $3.6 million. Additional roster improvements will come from the taxpayers’ mid-level exception of $4.7 million. Also, the Jazz have the No. 53 pick in Thursday’s draft, although sources say they will make an effort to move up.
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Hmm, they can get the BAE if they spend up to the salary cap I thought.

Also feel like the Jazz could really maneuver well and make a trade before FA to get us over the salary cap to get the full MLE. If we are sitting right below the salary cap to make the trade go through we could make one more trade using the 125% trade rule to push us over the cap. Hence letting us get the full MLE. But that might not be allowed since the trade doesnt officially goes through until FA begins?
 
zyzz said:
Tidbits from Tony Jones's new article on The Athletic
Click to expand...

In money terms, the Jazz operated as a team under the salary cap to complete the deal. That means they forfeit their biannual exception of $3.6 million.
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Is that correct? The salary cap just says this: "BI-ANNUAL EXCEPTION -- This exception is available only when a team is below the "Apron" (see question number 20). This determination is made after the exception is used, so a team below the Apron cannot use this exception if doing so takes it above the Apron. It cannot be used by a team that has already used its Taxpayer Mid-Level or Room Mid-Level exception." http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q25

which implies that as long as they use the BAE first, before the Room exception, they would be OK.
 
That Jones article reads like a road map of Lindseys fails. No worries, I'm sure this time it will work out.
 
I don’t think we are done. I think that now is the time. GS is injured. Houston is a mess. Lakers are not deep enough. Teams like Portland, Denver, Clippers need one or two more stars. And so do we. If it takes losing Favors so be it. And if I’m a FA playing with DM, Rudy and Conley sounds a whole lot better than playing with just DM and Rudy.
 
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