7. Mike Conley, Utah Jazz
2018-19 stats: 21.1 ppg, 6.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds
Mike Conley was the franchise point guard in Memphis for more than a decade, but they decided to head in a different direction by drafting Ja Morant and sending Conley to Utah. There is no question that Conley was a vital piece of the Grizzlies success over the last 12 years though.
Last season was actually his career-best from a scoring standpoint, averaging 21.1 points a game at the age of 31. He may be undersized at just 6-foot-1, but he’s a fierce competitor who can shoot the ball well (44.1 career FG %), and gets his teammates involved with creative passes. One benefit of his smaller stature is that he has become a wizard at finding his way through the tight spaces and lanes to the hoop over the years.
The partnership he formed with Marc Gasol in Memphis led to numerous playoff appearances, but it should be just as exciting to watch Conley pair with Donovan Mitchell in Utah. Both players are extremely athletic and selfless, so it will definitely be fun to watch them play together.
Conley hopes that he will have one more shot at winning big in Utah, as he joins one of the better teams in the Western Conference. And if the Jazz does take the next step as a team, a bit part of it and their success will be due to the effectiveness of Conley in the backcourt.