Los Angeles Lakers: How LA can get Mike Conley this offseason
By Jason Reed
Both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz are out of the NBA Playoffs earlier than either team expected. The Lakers were bested in the first round of the playoffs by the Phoenix Suns after Anthony Davis went down with a groin injury in Game 4. Chances are the Lakers would still be playing if they could have stayed healthy.
The Jazz were eliminated in six games against the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of the playoffs despite going up two games to none and Kawhi Leonard not playing in Game 5 or 6. The Lakers, as the defending champions and the Jazz, as the best regular-season team in the league, have to feel disappointed.
One player that is undoubtedly disappointed is Mike Conley. Conley was hurt for the Jazz in the playoffs and his time is running out in the league. While still productive, Conley is getting up there in age and he does not have many more chances to win an NBA Championship.
Conley even told reporters that his number one priority down the stretch of his career is to win a championship.
The Los Angeles Lakers present the perfect team for Mike Conley to win a championship.
Conley is a free agent this offseason and while the Los Angeles Lakers do not have much cap space, they can acquire Conley this offseason if the cards fall a certain way. And based on Conley’s comments, Laker fans should feel optimistic about the potential of acquiring the former all-star.
It would require a sign-and-trade and some salary-cap savviness, but it certainly is possible. This article will break down what the trade would have to look like for this to happen and why both teams would say yes to the deal.
Let’s get into the trade.