Report: Mike Conley Picks Contract Option With Jazz
Nov 12, 2020, 10:56 AM | Updated: 11:14 am
Mike Conley #10 of the Utah Jazz sets up a play during second half action at AT&T Center on January 29, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio Spurs defeated the Utah Jazz 127-120. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Mike Conley will remain a Utah Jazzman. According to Yahoo Sports Chris Haynes, the veteran guard will not activate the Early Termination Option on his contract and will instead remain with the Jazz next season.
Conley could have declined the final year of his contract and entered unrestricted free agency, though, in light of the league’s recent financial losses and Conley generous deal, it made sense to let his contract out.
“Yahoo Sources: Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley Jr. will bypass free-agency next week by not exercising “early termination option” on his $34.5 million salary for the 2020-21 season,” Haynes tweeted.
Yahoo Sources: Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley Jr. will bypass free-agency next week by not exercising “early termination option” on his $34.5 million salary for the 2020-21 season.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) November 12, 2020
The Athletic’s John Hollinger had theorized that there was some logic for both Conley and the Jazz to restructure the guard’s deal, freeing up additional cap space for the team this season while guaranteeing long-term financial benefits for the guard, but that move never came to fruition.
Former NBA front office member and ESPN Analyst Bobby Marks predicted Conley could earn roughly $10-12 million on the open market this season, which would make it difficult for the guard to recoup the $34.5 million he’d lose this season by opting out and hoping to gain additional money back over a prolonged contract.
A complete list of 32 free agent targets for the @UtahJazz. #TakeNote https://t.co/vJRAqsBBUi
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 17, 2020
Conley will hit the unrestricted free-agency market next summer in what’s expected to be one of the deepest classes of stars in years. After a slow start with the Jazz, Conley had a strong finish to the season during the NBA restart in Orlando. The 33-year-old averaged 19.8 points, 5.2 assists, and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 48 percent from the floor and 53 percent from the field in the Jazz opening series loss to the Denver Nuggets.
NBA free agency opens on November 20, while deals can officially be signed on November 22. The NBA season is set to return on December 22 with training camps opening league-wide on December 1.
