The Utah Jazz overhauled their roster this offseason, and as a result are better positioned than any time since the late 2000s to compete for the Western Conference crown. But with the additions of impact players like Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic come the departures of longtime stalwart Derrick Favors and several other players who have helped the Jazz to three consecutive playoff berths.
Owner Gail Miller ensured on Wednesday that the contributions of Favors, Ricky Rubio, Jae Crowder, Thabo Sefolosha, Raul Neto, Kyle Korver, Ekpe Udoh, and Grayson Allen wouldn't go overlooked, taking out a full page ad in The Salt Lake Tribune thanking them for their time with Utah.
Here is an ad in today’s paper from Gail Miller thanking Derrick Favors and other players from last year’s team. @dfavors14 pic.twitter.com/EtaYetXC7e
— Mike Menssen (@mikemenssen) July 10, 2019
The Jazz made their first big move of the summer in late June by trading Allen, Crowder, Korver, and a protected future first-round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Conley. Though they maintained the ability to hold onto Favors in free agency, general manager Dennis Lindsey ultimately decided to part ways with the eight-year veteran when it became apparent Bogdanovic, who enjoyed a career season with the Indiana Pacers in 2018-19, wanted to sign in Utah. The team subsequently traded Favors to the New Orleans Pelicans, netting future draft compensation in return. Rubio, Neto, Udoh, and Sefolosha had their free-agency rights renounced to facilitate the acquisition of Conley.
The Jazz also brought in forward Jeff Green and backup guard Emmanuel Mudiay in free agency, two players who help address the team's relative lack of athletic dynamism compared to other Western Conference contenders.
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