NBA Trade Rumors: 7 deals that should happen at the deadline

Jazz trade away Mike Conley 

This deal would wave the white flag for the Mike Conley experiment in Utah. Although Conley can be expected to play better during the second half of the season, after shaking off some injury rust, there are many warning signs (particularly finishing at the rim) that indicate that he is now at a different point in his career.

You can chalk up Utah’s latest 14-4 streak to a number of factors like a creampuff schedule, Ingles/Gobert being reunited, hot shooting, and the Jordan Clarkson trade, but there is still something to the fact that they are playing their best basketball without Conley.

The Griffin contract may be an albatross (two more seasons at 36.8MM and 39.0 MM after this one), but Jazz is likely to be capped out anyway. Perhaps he finds a way to recapture his all-NBA form from 2018-19. Kennard should help the Jazz win right away as a shooter and secondary playmaker.

For Detroit, this deal is basically exchanging an older and worse player (when healthy) for one less year of bad salary. It would help them jumpstart a desperately needed rebuild. It is also possible that Conley could play well enough to rehabilitate his trade value for next summer. Parting with Kennard is tough, but he is one year away from hitting restricted free agency and will likely never be more than a solid shooting guard.