Boston Celtics: 3 Utah Jazz players Cs could pursue this offseason

Another member of the Jazz the Boston Celtics could pursue: Mike Conley

The rumors aside, Joe Ingles and Bogdanovic should not be the only two players catching Boston’s eyes. The Jazz have plenty of talented pieces that the Celtics lack and could move anyone of them.

After losing Kemba Walker, the Celtics are down a star point guard and are in the market to improve their passing. With Robert Williams and Al Horford, the Boston Celtics could use a guard that can manipulate defenses and bring out the best in both big men while also being able to coexist beside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Meet Mike Conley, Utah’s starting point guard who just missed a critical portion of the playoffs and just finished the last year of his deal. The 13-year veteran who made his name in Memphis just had a fantastic bounce-back season with the Jazz, making his first All-Star appearance.

Conley had success in the margins for the Utah Jazz, playing off-ball next to Donovan Mitchell while also orchestrating some of the best pick and roll play league-wide with Gobert and Favors. His decision-making, vision, shooting, and reliable scoring were exceptional in Quinn Snyder’s system, and they missed him big time in the playoffs.

At 33 years old, the market for Conley is ripe. The Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Chicago Bulls, and the Utah Jazz themselves all have their eyes on Conley as he enters free agency and fields offers. It has been reported that he is likely to return to the Jazz.

Still, with their perimeter defense a problem that Conley does not solve, there’s a chance the Boston Celtics could put themselves in the running for Conley. If Marcus Smart demands more than the Celtics think he’s worth in extension talks, Boston could put themselves in a position to sign and trade him for Conley.

Boston would have to be smart about this procedure with the NBA’s complex cap rules regarding sign-and-trades. For one, if Conley is demanding longer-term security, they may want to stick with Smart, who is younger, healthier, and cheaper.

Secondly, if Conley agrees to take a one-year deal with Boston, they have to make sure they have space to take on his contract. That means not only moving Smart but also Tristan Thompson.

In a best-case scenario, Conley takes a one-year deal with Boston to maximize his chances at a ring, then walks the following year to make as much money as he can before he retires. Boston gets an All-Star caliber point guard to help them contend while staying financially healthy when Beal comes around next summer.

Best-case scenarios are a rarity in the NBA, but it’s something to think about as the Boston Celtics move throughout this summer with the hopes of bouncing back after a horrible 2020-21 season.