Conley, Clarkson In Utah Despite Ongoing Trade Rumors
Sep 19, 2022, 2:12 PM | Updated: 2:13 pm
Utah Jazz guards Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
(Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Both Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson are in Utah as the Jazz prepare to open training camp next week.
Players from the roster have gathered in Utah for unofficial open gym practices, despite rampant speculation that both Conley and Clarkson would be traded this summer.
Conley was seen in the Jazz practice facility in a tweet from the team’s account last week, while a video of Clarkson was shared on Monday.
Sixx in the 801 ☮️#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/z9ePUmeZC4
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) September 19, 2022
While the Zions Bank Basketball Campus is open for players-only practice sessions, the Jazz coaching staff isn’t able to interact with the players until training camp opens on September 27.
The Jazz are in the midst of a total rebuild after sending Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves in July while Donovan Mitchell was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this month.
Clarkson and Conley, along with veterans Bojan Bogdanovic and recently acquired Malik Beasley have also been common names in trade rumors, though all four players are still members of the Jazz.
Most recently Clarkson, Bogdanovic, and Beasley have had their names mentioned in trade talks with the Los Angeles Lakers who may be looking to unload the contract of guard Russell Westbrook.
The Jazz and Lakers completed one trade already this summer swapping Patrick Beverley for guard Talen Horton-Tucker, and could once again partner for a blockbuster deal.
𝟑𝟎 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 away from Jazz basketball‼️#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/77kIC4r3Aj
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) September 19, 2022
The Lakers would benefit from the talent upgrade the Jazz could send in a Westbrook trade, while the Jazz would welcome additional draft capital.
Furthermore, the Jazz find themselves needing to trim the roster down before opening night on October 19.
While NBA teams can carry 20 players on their rosters during the offseason, that number needs to be trimmed down to 15 players to begin the regular season.
The Jazz currently have 17 players on guaranteed contracts and need to drop that number by the end of training camp. The team can waive players on guaranteed contracts but will be responsible for the full price of their salaries if the two parties don’t agree to a buyout.
The Jazz will host media day on September 26 and begin the preseason on October 2 in Edmonton against the Toronto Raptors.
