Bojan Bogdanovic

Ryan Kostecka

After two exhilarating victories over one of the top teams in the NBA, the Jazz head back on the road for a three-game swing.&nbsp;

It'll be one of the more difficult road trips of the season, beginning with Milwaukee on Saturday and ending with back-to-back games against Cleveland and Detroit. The Bucks and Cavs are among the best teams in the league, while the Pistons came to Salt Lake City just under a month ago and walked away with a victory.&nbsp;

While the competition will be challenging, there's another underlying theme for the Jazz during this trip.&nbsp;

Utah will be facing former Jazzman Joe Ingles (Milwaukee), Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland), and Bojan Bogdanovic (Detroit) during the trip. While Ingles isn't expected to play while recovering from ACL surgery, Mitchell and Bogdanovic have been among the better players in the league.&nbsp;

Mitchell is a darkhorse MVP candidate, looking rejuvenated playing for an upstart Cleveland team that is 18-11 and in third place in the East.&nbsp;

He's averaging 29.2 points (42.9% from three), 4.7 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game. He's also found a penchant for defense again, rising to the occasion and becoming one of the league's most difficult players to defend and play against.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Bogdanovic is enjoying a career season with the Pistons. He's averaging career-highs of 21.1 points on 43.2% shooting from deep, serving as a sensational mentor for a young Pistons squad. Although Detroit is in 14th place in the East, they're a team that is capable of beating any team in the league on any given night — as the Jazz already know.&nbsp;

"We had some good years and still keep in contact. ... It's going to be fun to compete against them," Mike Conley said. "I haven't gotten to play against them so they're going to be fun games."

The good news for Utah is that despite losing four of five starters from last season, now incorporating 10 new players and a new head coach, the Jazz have proven to be as resilient a team as there is in the league.&nbsp;

Leading Utah's resurgence has been the play of Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson, who combined for 70 points in Thursday's victory over New Orleans. They've emerged as one of the better duos in the game, a pair of scorers who accomplish their goals in different manners but pair ideally together.&nbsp;

"The end of the game is representative of our team. … This team just keeps finding ways to stay attached and stay in games," head coach Will Hardy said Thursday. "It's not one guy making the plays. … It's a variety of guys making a variety of plays. This is who those guys are, and they proved it once again tonight."

But the real leader for the Jazz is their 16-year veteran point guard, Mike Conley. He's by far Utah's most important player, capable of putting his stamp on a game and controlling the tempo without having to score.&nbsp;

Trailing by five with just over 3 minutes to play in regulation, Conley finished with three assists and a pair of free throws to lead the Jazz. He would've had a fourth assist if not for a foul, which added another pair of free throws.

There's no undervaluing what Conley brings to this team from a mental and physical standpoint — The Jazz are 13-6 when Conley starts with 11 of those wins coming against teams above .500.

"Mike manipulated a lot of that stuff on the court, getting me in situations where I had the advantage," Clarkson said. "He's a true point guard, a guy that gets everybody shots, a guy that can really slow the game down when he sees there's a moment where we kind of just out of control and doing wild stuff like I always do. … When it comes to a point guard like, it's rare that you get those kind of guys."

While the Jazz will be looking to improve upon their 17-14 record throughout the three-game road trip, Clarkson and Conley admitted that the upcoming games will be about more than just competition. It's a chance to see old friends and collect on old debts.&nbsp;

"Hopefully Joe has some good restaurants for us. … He's paying," Clarkson said with a laugh. "And Don, he's paying too. Detroit, Bogey, he owes me. … So he's paying as well."

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"Road Trip Reunion" | Resilient Jazz To See Former Teammates Throughout Three-Game Swing

Thank you for the countless memories, Bogey.&nbsp;

A key free-agent signing before the 19/20 season, the Clutch Croatian was immediately embraced by the Jazz fanbase with his strong work ethic, obvious love of the game, and ability to hit a memorable game-winning shot.&nbsp;

Bogey averaged 18.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists throughout his career in Utah, shooting 49.6 percent from the floor and 39.7 percent beyond the arc. The fan-favorite was one of the greatest shooters to put on a Jazz jersey, ranking in the top-10 of multiple shooting categories.

He’s ranked No. 5 (189, 2019-20) and 10 (181, 2021-22) in most three-pointers made in a single-season, and No. 3 in free throw percentage (90.3%, 2019-20). He leaves Utah ranked thid in free throw percentage (88.0 percent), fifth in made three-pointers (550), and No. 10 in points per game (18.4).

Throughout his three seasons in Utah, Bogey played in 204 regular season games and 17 playoff games, starting every one of them. Since he joined the team, the Jazz compiled a 145-81 record (.642 winning percentage) and advanced to the playoffs every season.

His first season in the mountains was a special year after he averaged a career-high 20.2 points per game while shooting 41.4% from beyond the arc and 90.3% from the free-throw line. Unfortunately, he didn’t join the team in the NBA bubble for the playoffs due to wrist surgery, ending his season.

Coming off surgery, Bogey’s 20/21 season started out slow, but finished strong. He averaged 17.0 points on 39% shooting from deep, and helped lead Utah to the best regular season record in the NBA and the number one seed in the Western Conference.

Finally healthy, Bogdanovic rebounded with a phenomenal showing last season. He averaged 18.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, shooting 45.5% from the floor and 38.7% from three-point territory. The chants of “BOGEY, BOGEY, BOGEY” from the 21/22 playoffs still resonate throughout Vivint Arena.&nbsp;

Included in his highlights are a career-high 48 points against Denver on May 5, 2021, and a playoff career-high 32 points against the Clippers later that postseason.&nbsp;

With one of the best moments of last season, Bogey smashed the Jazz record for most three-pointers made in a game with 11 on March 6 at Oklahoma City.&nbsp;

While his time in Utah is best known for his basketball acumen, Bogey was admired for many other reasons.

Normally stoic on the court, it was well-known that he was one of the funniest guys in the locker room. His quips and one-liners were the stuff of legends and rarely seen by the outside world.&nbsp;

But the underrated part of his game: his walk-in fits.

The "Croatian Assassin" rocked the sleek tracksuits and velour with precision, making him one of the sharpest dressers on the team, and in the league. 

Bogey, you’ll be missed. Always a Jazzman.&nbsp;

In exchange for Bogdanovic, the Jazz acquired center/forward Kelly Olynyk, guard Saben Lee, and cash considerations from the Detroit Pistons.

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Thank You For The Countless Memories, Bogey

Angie Treasure

Team sends forward Bojan Bogdanović to Detroit Pistons

The Utah Jazz have acquired center/forward Kelly Olynyk, guard Saben Lee and cash considerations from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for forward Bojan Bogdanović.

Olynyk (6-11, 240, Gonzaga) is entering his 10th NBA season, having appeared in 610 games (166 starts) with Boston (2013-17), Miami (2017-21), Houston (2020-21), and Detroit (2021-22), owning career averages of 10.1 points on 47.6 percent from the field, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 22.0 minutes per contest. A native of Kamloops, British Columbia, spent last season with the Pistons, playing in 40 games (one start), averaging 9.1 points, 4.4 boards, and 2.8 assists in 19.1 minutes. Following his first professional season in 2013-14, Olynyk was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

The 31-year-old was a three-year collegiate player at Gonzaga (2009-13), where during his senior season, he averaged 17.8 points on 62.9 percent shooting, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 26.4 minutes per contest, garnering 2012-13 Consensus All-America First Team, All-WCC First Team, and WCC Player of the Year honors. He has represented the Canadian Men’s National Team in multiple events since 2010.&nbsp;

Lee (6-2, 183, Vanderbilt) is entering his third NBA season, having spent two seasons with Detroit, owning career averages of 5.6 points, 3.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 85 games (seven starts). Originally drafted with the 38th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Jazz, he was traded to Detroit on Draft Night. In 2021-22 he appeared in 19 games with the Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League, averaging 24.0 points, 7.2 assists, 4.8 boards, and 2.3 steals in 36.8 minutes per game, earning 2021-22 All-NBA G League Second Team honors.

Bogdanović (6-8, 226, Croatia) saw action in 204 games (all starts) with Utah over three seasons, owning averages of 18.4 points on 39.7 percent from three, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 31.5 minutes per contest as a Jazzman. He leaves Utah ranked fifth in all-time franchise three-pointers made (550).

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Utah Jazz Acquire Kelly Olynyk, Saben Lee, and Cash Considerations

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