Conley has been linked to some NBA contenders, with the Los Angeles Lakers being the most recent team linked to him. Even at 34 years old, he can be a solid contributor for a team looking to contend for a title. While not the defender that he once was, Conley can still hold his own on that end of the court.
Offensively, he is a very good 3-point shooter and a great playmaker. He would be a great fit alongside some stars as a complementary player willing to fill in the gaps and as a leader on the court.
The same reasons that he would be excellent for a contender are why one NBA scout believes Conley would make a lot of sense for the Houston Rockets. His leadership is exactly what a young Houston team could use, in the scout’s opinion.
“It would help Jalen Green and KPJ to have a veteran like Conley to help run the offense. He’s been initiating offense for over a decade and is really effective at attacking off the catch. The Rockets’ young guys could gain a lot of valuable knowledge by playing alongside Conley for the next few years while improving their spacing.”
Dennis Schroder filled a similar role for the team last season after he was acquired in a trade from the Boston Celtics. A franchise wants to put its young players in the best position to succeed and putting the ball in their hands as much as possible is certainly one way to achieve that
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Mike Conley, Utah Jazz & Houston Rockets Updates
However, having a veteran showing them how to do it can only help, and Conley would fill that need. Along with Eric Gordon, the Rockets would have two consummate professionals helping their young guys learn how to carry themselves in the NBA.
The only hold-up in a deal like this would be if Conley wants to play for another rebuilding team. While he doesn’t have a no-trade clause and Utah can send him where they please, the Jazz need to think a little about their reputation around the league.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Mike Conley, Utah Jazz & Houston Rockets Updates
With some negative things being said about how they handled the Mitchell trade negotiations, they could use some good publicity when it comes to player relations. Sending a veteran such as Conley, who would likely prefer to play on a team vying for a title, to a rebuilding team certainly wouldn’t help change their perception.
