A Memphis Grizzlies executive says losing point guard Mike Conley was tough, but the return they got from the Utah Jazz was good for the future.

The Grizzlies traded Conley to the Jazz for Grayson Allen, Kyle Korver, Jae Crowder, the No. 23 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and a future first round pick. Memphis traded the 23rd pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the 21st pick and selected Brandon Clarke from Gonzaga.

The Grizzlies eventually sent Korver to the Phoenix Suns for Josh Jackson, De'Anthony Melton, a 2020 second round pick and a 2021 second round pick. Korver was then waived by Phoenix and signed with the Milwaukee Bucks.

“I want to say bittersweet, but it’s not really good enough,” the Grizzlies exec told Keith Smith of Real GM. “He was our franchise guy for as long as anyone. In recent years we’ve lost Mike, Marc (Gasol) Zach (Randolph) and Tony (Allen). For us, that’s like losing your franchise, but watching it happen one-by-one. We are thrilled with the return we got for Mike, and that he’s in such a great place with Utah, but boy are we going to miss him too.”

The Grizzlies drafted Mike Conley with the fourth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft out of Ohio State University. The veteran guard is Memphis’ all-time leader in games played, assists, steals and points.

Conley finished his Grizzlies career with averages of 14.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists while shooting 44.1 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from beyond the arc and 81.9 percent from the free-throw line. He will be missed in Memphis, but the team is looking forward to its future with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.