NBA: Grading the notable moves from the first day of free agency

Conley heads back to Utah for 3 years/$72.5M

Grade: B-

Bringing back Mike Conley was a move that had to be done for this year’s one-seed Utah Jazz. The contract value seems to be pretty good and it gives Utah the chance to run it back.

What’s the catch?

Utah is now a luxury tax-paying team in a small market. This may require some salary cap gymnastics if they plan to get beneath it and avoid the tax as a small-market franchise.

Utah already made a move to trade Derrick Favors in order to clear salary. The Jazz may lose parts of an already weak bench by trying to avoid the luxury tax after this signing. The moves to follow may hurt their competitiveness in a loaded West.