Hey there, Jazz fans.
With the NBA trade deadline a month away, we asked you to put on your general manager hats and send us your trade ideas.
And you delivered.
Here’s my take on three of your hypothetical swaps. Make sure to sign up for the How ’Bout This Jazz newsletter to get another batch later this week from Salt Lake Tribune reporter Andy Larsen.
Jazz trade: John Collins
Pistons trade: Joe Harris
Submitted by: Colby
Analysis: Why would Danny Ainge trade one of his team’s starting big men for a guy who’s averaging 2.3 ppg in just 12 appearances for a pitiful Detroit team while making $19.9 million? Well, just look at the years left on their deals. Collins hasn’t really rehabbed his value the way the Jazz had hoped. Offensively, he’s probably best-suited now as a 5, but defensively, he provides near-zero there. If a Detroit team stocked with big men who can’t shoot casts a wandering eye at Collins’ 37% from 3, it might be worth it for the Jazz to do it (even though it’d be selling very low) just to get off the next two years of his salary. The 32-year-old Harris is now a long way removed from his heyday of averaging 14.5 ppg and shooting a league-leading 47%-plus from 3, but he’s also in the final year of his deal. Utah’s record might suffer in the short term, but it’d also open up additional minutes for Walker Kessler and Taylor Hendricks.
Jazz trade: John Collins plus salary filler
Warriors trade: Chris Paul, Moses Moody
Submitted by: Jesse
Analysis: As Utah would need to include a minimum of $1.8 million on top of Collins to make the deal work, they could have a lot of options. Collins and Luka Samanic’s $2.0M? That works. Omer Yurtseven’s $2.8M? Same. If they could get GSW to take on Talen Horton-Tucker’s expiring $11.0M, that works, too. The Jazz once again get off Collins and the Warriors get a big who can shoot better than Draymond Green and Kevon Looney. Utah would get the guy they passed over in favor of Deron Williams way back when and a young, intriguing wing. Paul’s best days are long over, but next season’s $30.0M salary is nonguaranteed if he’s cut before June 28. And he could be a solid temporary PG and a mentor for Keyonte George in the meantime. Meanwhile, the Jazz would get a look at Moody, a 6-foot-6, still-21-year-old former lottery pick who’s just never been able to consistently crack Steve Kerr’s vet-heavy rotation.
Jazz trade: Jordan Clarkson
Rockets trade: Jae’Sean Tate, two second-round picks
Submitted by: Houston
Analysis: Well, for starters, because Tate is making $6.5M this season and Clarkson is making a front-loaded $23.4M, the math just doesn’t work. Houston would need to include roughly $10M more to make it work. Even just adding Victor Oladipo in doesn’t fly; you’d have to throw in, say, Boban Marjanovic or Reggie Bullock to make it work. Anyway, why do it? Well, the Rockets would love the deal, as they’re finally playoff-competitive after years of being a bottom-feeder. JC would elevate them more. As for the Jazz? It makes less sense. OK, you’re freeing up minutes for other backcourt guys, sure, but Clarkson’s remaining two years are very team-friendly, and Tate is a 6-4 forward whose 34.7% from 3 this season is by far a career-high. So the main asset in return is two second-rounders? To free up some salary and minutes? Utah could do better.
