So, come July 6, the Jazz’s trade with the Grizzlies will be official, Mike Conley will be the toast of the local fandom, and those players either sent to Memphis in exchange or allowed to leave in free agency as a result will be remembered fondly for their roles in ushering in this new era of on-court prosperity.
Ricky Rubio was a steady and beloved locker room presence. Jae Crowder’s fiery, passionate aggression gave the team a much-needed edginess. Kyle Korver’s second stint in the Beehive State revived latent loyalties to the sharpshooter. And while we hardly got to know Grayson Allen, his raw abilities earned him a faction of devoted die-hards.