Mike Conley “excited” at Utah move

Mike Conley says he is excited to be joining Utah Jazz after confirmation he is to leave the Memphis Grizzlies.

The deal will become official next month and will bring to an end Conley’s 12-year spell in Memphis. The 31-year-old played a full part in the last NBA season after an injury-affected 2017-18.

He played 70 games last campaign averaging 21.1 points together with 6.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game. The Grizzlies won 33 and lost 49 last season while his new club qualified from the Northwest Division, losing 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs to the Houston Rockets.

Though it is yet to be made official, Conley said he was excited at the impending move, saying on Twitter: “What more can I say about my city! You guys made me the man I am today! Memphis is home.

“Time for another chapter! Excited to give all I have to The Jazz and Salt Lake City!” Conley has been the Grizzlies all-time leader in games, points, assists and steals.

His departure, together with Marc Gasol, who helped the Toronto Raptors to their first ever NBA title, means that Chandler Parsons, who has been with the Grizzlies for three seasons, will be their longest-serving player.

With Jazz looking for a better run in the playoffs next season, they will be hoping that adding Conley to star guard Donovan Mitchell will make them a leading threat in the Western Conference.

Utah were last in the conference finals in 2006-07 when they lost 4-1 to the San Antonio Spurs. They last reached the NBA finals in 1997-8, losing 4-2 to the Chicago Bulls.

The Jazz are at 29.00 to win the NBA title next season with defending champions the Toronto Raptors 8.00 and the Golden State Warriors 10.00.