The Jazz are expected to be aggressive on the trade market this offseason, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, who hears from sources that the club has no plans to pivot to a rebuild following Quin Snyder‘s departure and continues to view itself as a perennial playoff team working toward title contention.
Marc Berman of The New York Post cites league sources who believe that Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell will eventually request a trade, but Berman acknowledges those sources don’t necessarily expect it to happen this offseason. Multiple teams have called Utah to inquire about Mitchell’s availability, sources tell Jones, but the Jazz have responded with a “firm no” and have made it clear they intend to build around the three-time All-Star.
[RELATED: Donovan Mitchell Reportedly “Unsettled” Following Snyder’s Departure]
While the Jazz apparently have no intention of moving Mitchell, virtually anyone else on the roster could probably be had in the right deal, Jones writes. Sources tell The Athletic that All-Star center Rudy Gobert and forward Bojan Bogdanovic are two players who have drawn “significant” interest from potential suitors.
Here’s more on the Jazz:
- Utah wants its next head coach to “command buy-in and respect” from the players, including Mitchell, according to Jones. Most of the candidates on the Jazz’s preliminary list are highly regarded for their player development skills and defensive acumen, Jones adds.
- In Jones’ view, Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin is one head coaching candidate to keep an eye on, since he was a finalist in Utah’s previous coaching search that led to the hiring of Snyder. Former Jazz assistant and current Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant is also worth watching due to his close relationship with Mitchell and his ability to develop talent, says Jones.
- Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune takes a deeper dive into ESPN’s report on Mitchell being “unsettled” and “unnerved” by Snyder’s exit, explaining why he believes the Jazz star is trying to send a message to the organization with the leak.
I said previously that I wasnt sure about moving Bogdanovic, even though they added House and Hernangonez, but they played really well for them at the 4, so that might make it more doable to potentially move him in the right deal. I mainly think they should move Clarkson, but I said that these last couple of years.
Replacing Ingles on the wing, getting more help at the small ball 5, preferably someone that can space the floor (even though Paschall was good for them in the regular season, they didnt use him in the playoffs), and getting help scoring in the half court are their biggest needs, in my opinion (Rudy Gay is helpful defensively at the 4, and they used him as a small ball 5 at times last year well, but not sure he can give them the half court scoring they need nowadays)
Utah has had injuries to key pieces at unfortunate times the last few seasons. I think most of this break up Utah stuff is all narrative and stuff being thrown out by the media or other teams that want Mitchell, Gobert, or Bogdanovic…even if they were to move Mitchell, I dont think that necessarily totally kills their current team, depending on what they would get, but I dont see real reason to do so right now. They just need to stay healthy
Would like to see Dan Craig get considered for this job. I feel like he fits the description of what they’re looking for
Rudy Gobert is the hottest product this off-season
Idea
Raptors get Rudy
Suns get OG and Gary Trent
Jazz get Ayton and Payne
This must be one of your best trade ideas.
And then
Suns send OG to the Kings for 4th pick
Kings can use TPE or clear up a bit of salary
Suns would be luxury tax free
Really light return for Suns, but maybe best they can do if Ayton wants out and there’s a team willing to sign him to a max offer sheet. They’d be left SO small, and no great way to fix that.
Suns biggest return is
Luxury tax free (60% of value)
4th pick (30%, you can trade this pick again)
Gary Trent (10%)
If Gobert and Mitchell are the long term pieces – then everyone else is obviously on the table.
Hornets Get: Conley, Hernan, NAW (35M in expiring contracts), Furkan Korkmaz
Jazz Get: Tobias, Matisse, Hayward, Rozier
Sixers Get: Bojan, Clarkson, O’Neale
Fits each teams needs. No one has to give up any picks. Sixers get depth, scoring, and shooting. Hornets get salary relief, and they could use the smaller pieces in a future deal (unlike Westbrick). Jazz get an upgrade at PF, upgrade scoring at SF, bench perimeter defender, and an equal to better value at PG. Trade works money wise.
Embiid
O’Neale
Bojan
Harden – Clarkson
Maxey
Gobert
Tobias
Hayward
Mitchell / Tisse
Rozier
Hornets still have decisions to make to determine their depth, but Conley starts with Melo and Bridges.
I think it’s a bad sign Snyder left. Something is up in Utah. They could soon blow it up. They can redo whole team with trades. Plenty of young players and draft picks.