The Jazz had a busy week on the rumor mill, despite a quiet week on the floor.
The Jazz beat the Minnesota Timberwolves Sunday night on the road, sweeping a two game home and home series, before getting crushed on the road at Portland. The Blazers have cruised past the Jazz twice now in the last two weeks, once in Salt Lake, once in Portland.
The Jazz then beat the Atlanta Hawks Friday night again in Utah. Atlanta hung with the Jazz through the first half, before the Jazz took over in the second half behind a huge performance from Rudy Gobert.
Gobert made national headlines after getting snubbed by coaches to make the Western Conference All-Star team. Gobert was pushed to tears at the following morning’s shoot-around, which made news across the country.
Rudy grew increasingly emotional speaking with the media about his All-Star snub. Said his mom called him crying. Said he wrote and deleted several messages on social media. Finally, he grew too emotional to speak, and walked off, wiping away tears. pic.twitter.com/UkFX2nUrt8
— Eric Walden (@tribjazz) February 1, 2019
With the NBA trade deadline coming up this Thursday, the Jazz have found their names involved in several rumored trades. It began with the Jazz looking at Otto Porter, who they were interested in after Gordon Hayward left for Boston.
While those talks appeared to have cooled, the Jazz appear to be in the middle of the Grizzlies trade discussions for Mike Conley. At 31 years old, Conley is later in his career than the Jazz might feel ideally fits for their current build, but he’s a significant upgrade over Ricky Rubio, and may be available at a cost lower than what his asking price would usually be. Conley is one of the 10 best point guards in the league, would add shooting and scoring to the Jazz roster that desperately needs it, and Rubio hasn’t provided consistently.
Mike Conley has 5 games this season scoring 30+. That’s 4 more than every Jazz player not named Donovan Mitchell.
He has 29 games of 20+. Non Mitchell Jazzmen have just 30 combined.
His individual scoring would be a game changer.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 1, 2019
Additionally, the Jazz are once again rumored to be looking at the New Orleans Hornets Nikola Mirotic.
A Friday night trade deadline preview/round-up: random thoughts, buyers, sellers, buzz, nuggets, trends, more. https://t.co/GoOjw07UOV
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) February 2, 2019
This week, the Jazz will have to decide whether they are willing to part with pieces like Rubio, Derrick Favors, and future first round picks to upgrade the roster, or risk holding into their cap space this summer to chase a free agent.
The Jazz have a quiet week otherwise.
They will play the Phoenix Suns Wednesday night in Salt Lake, and the San Antonio Spurs Saturday night at home.
