Jazz's Conley: 'Seems like it's the time' to make title run

The Utah Jazz made a flurry of moves this offseason to establish themselves as contenders, with veteran guard Mike Conley perhaps the most notable addition.

Now, even before playing a minute for his new club, the 31-year-old believes the Jazz can make a title run because the league's top players are more dispersed than in recent years.

"Now it seems like it's the time - this year especially, there's not too many teams with three big-time, top-five, top-10 guys on a team," Conley told reporters on Monday, including ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

"It's kind of split up, so it's a great opportunity for the Jazz to just be ourselves, continue to improve as the season goes on, and we'll be there at the end of the year knocking at the door."

Utah added some significant pieces despite not signing any of the top-tier players available in free agency.

Sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic was the team's most expensive signing at four years and $73 million, and fellow newcomers Ed Davis, Jeff Green, and Emmanuel Mudiay should give the Jazz meaningful contributions alongside mainstays Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.

Conley sees similarities between the cast assembled in Utah and the reigning champion Toronto Raptors, and he's hopeful history will repeat itself.

"I think what Toronto accomplished this season is just confirmation that if you put together a good roster, a deep team, and guys improve as the year goes on, you can be sitting there right in arm's reach of a championship," Conley said.