After losing to the Mavericks in the 1st round of the playoffs, the Utah Jazz must face reality: they are not a Tier 1 team and they are not going to get better with time. They must make a big change.
And they only have four options:
Option 1: Fix their biggest problems while keeping Rudy Gobert & Donovan Mitchell (if possible). READ HERE
Option 2: Trade Rudy Gobert & do a mini-rebuild around Donovan Mitchell (this article).
Option 3: Trade Donovan Mitchell for an aging superstar for ~2 year championship window (if possible). READ HERE
Option 4: Tank next year. READ HERE
Option 2: "Mini Rebuild" Trade Rudy Gobert.
Comp: 2004 Los Angeles Lakers.
In 2003, the Lakers lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs. In 2004, although they made it to the finals, they got crushed by the Pistons. Kobe Bryant had a particularly horrible series; shooting 17% from three. After two disappointing playoffs in a row, an aging roster, and two All-Stars that didn't get along, the Lakers chose to trade 31-year-old center Shaquille O'Neal for younger players and picks; including 24-year-old Lamar Odom. Veterans Derrick Fisher, Rick Fox, Karl Malone, Gary Payton, and Bryon Russell also left the team one way or another. The Lakers chose to rebuild a new foundation with 26-year-old Kobe Bryant.
In 2021, the Jazz lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs. In 2022, they got crushed by the Mavericks. Donovan Mitchell was not great in that series; shooting 21% from three. After two disappointing playoffs in a row, an aging roster, and two All-Stars that don't seem to get along, what will the Jazz do? Will the Utah Jazz trade their 30-year-old center Rudy Gobert for younger players and picks? Will the Jazz choose rebuild a new foundation with 26-year-old Donovan Mitchell?
Back to the Lakers. Remember, this can be a long process. Remember, after trading Shaq, Kobe Byrant went on to miss the playoffs for the first time in his career in 2005. And then lost in the first round two years in a row in 2006 & 2007. It was not until the 4th season after the Shaq trade did Kobe win a playoff series. And Kobe was very frustrated during those first 3 seasons without Shaq. However, staying through the mini rebuild ended up in the Lakers making three straight finals and winning two of them between 2008-2010.
Does Donovan Mitchell have enough Kobe Bryant mentality get through a tough 1-3 year rebuild?
value straight up for Gobert. If the Jazz trade Gobert, it will be for undeveloped players & 1st round draft picks. The Jazz would be taking a (good?) step back going into next season.
You aren't getting equal current value for equal current value. That's how trades are in the NBA. A win-now team trades their youth/picks to non win-now teams for win-now players. You never see two equally talented All-Stars get traded for each other.
Here are 12 possible trade partners and their respective potential trade package that I've seen on various sights including Bleacher Report, the Athletic, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, etc.
- Atlanta Hawks (all over the place)
- Some combination of Capella, Collins, Hunger, Okongwu, first rounders, and second rounders (LINK), (LINK), (The Athletic LINK)
- Boston Celtics (Sports Illustrated)
- Something around Jaylen Brown (LINK).
- Brooklyn Nets (Bleacher Report and Yahoo)
- Charlotte Hornets (The Athletic)
- Something like Hayward+Washington+3 or 4 first rounders+take Rudy Gay's contract in "a James Harden-type package for Gobert" (LINK) & (LINK)
- Chicago Bulls (Yahoo Sports)
- Something like Vucevic+Patrick Williams+2 first rounders (LINK)
- Golden State Warriors (Bleacher Report)
- Something like Wiggins+Wiseman+Moody or Kuminga+future draft compensation (LINK), (LINK) and (LINK Bleacher Report)
- Memphis Grizzlies (several places)
- Something like Adams+Brooks+2 first rounders.
- Adams+Melton+Tillman+Konchar+maybe Ziaire Williams+up to 3 1st rounders (The Athletic LINK)
- New York Knicks
- Rumored to be "extremely interested" in Gobert (LINK) and are "willing to include Julius Randle and Multiple 1st-round picks in exchange for an all-star" (LINK).
- Or, something like Fournier+Reddish+Noel+11st overall pick+2 future first rounders (The Athletic LINK)
- Portland Trailblazers (Yahoo Sports & Bleacher Report)
- Something like Bledsoe+Anfernee Simons+1 first rounder (LINK)
- Or something like Bledsoe+Keon Johnson+Justise Winslow+2 first rounders+1 2nd rounder (LINK)
- Sacramento Kings
- Something around the 4th overall pick (LINK).
- Toronto Raptors (several places)
- Something like OG Anunoby+Gary Trent Jr+Draft Compensation (Bleacher Report LINK) & (Bleacher Report LINK)
- Washington Wizards (Yahoo Sports)
- Something like Kristaps+Deni Avdija+2 first rounders (LINK)
- The three way trade between Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings, & Utah Jazz:
- Kings receive Ben Simmons
- Nets receive Rudy Gobert
- Jazz receive #4 overall, #23 overall, and two future first rounders. Match salaries however the Kings want. (showing Gobert for Ben Simmons+2 first rounders).
- Another potential 3rd team that might be interested in Ben Simmons is the Indiana Pacers. Maybe something like:
If the Jazz go this route, I would also expect them to also trade their other veterans to. Here are some trades I've seen on other sights.
- Mike Conley to the Clippers (Bleacher Report) (LINK)
- Jazz receive Brandon Boston Jr., Terance Mann, and Marcus Morris Sr. (Jazz would likely look to move Morris later on as well.)
- Mike Conley to the Wizards (NBC Sports LINK)
- Jazz receive Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Gary Payton II, & 2 second round picks (LINK)
- Jordan Clarkson to the Lakers (LINK)
- Jazz receive Laker's 2027 1st round draft pick, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Mac McClung.
- Bojan Bogdanovic to the Mavericks (LINK)
- Jazz receive Finney-Smith, Josh Green, and Marquese Chris
- or Jazz receive Davis Bertans, and 2025 First-Round Pick
- Bojan Bogdanovic to the Grizzlies
- Jazz received Steven Adams and the #16 pick this year.
What a successful "Option 2" Offseason might look like:
Added: 4+ future 1st round picks & several 2nd rounders
SG Donovan Mitchell
SF Marcus Morris (Looking to flip to a contender by the trade deadline)
PF Davis Betrans (Looking to flip to a contender by the trade deadline)
C Myles Turner
BN Royce O'Neale (Looking to flip to a contender by the trade deadline)
BN Talen Horton-Tucker
BN Brandon Boston
BN Terrance Mann
BN Eric Paschall
BN Udoka Azunuike
BN Jared Butler
BN Nickeil Anlexander-Walker
BN Trent Forrest
BN Nickeil Anlexander-Walker
BN Trent Forrest
or
Added: #4 overall, #16 overall, #23 overall, 2-3 more future 1st rounders
PG Trent Forrest / Jared ButlerSG Donovan Mitchell
SF Marcus Morris
PF Harrison Barnes
C Steven Adams
BN Richaun Holmes
BN Royce O'Neale
BN Talen Horton-Tucker
BN Brandon Boston
BN Terrance Mann
BN Eric Paschall
BN Udoka Azunuike
BN Nickeil Anlexander-Walker
Options 1, 2, & 4
If the Jazz don't want to do a mini-rebuild around Donovan Mitchell, here are the other three options:
No comments:
Post a Comment