NBA Teams That Must Blow It Up This Trade Season
Alex Goodlett/Getty ImagesCurrent Record/Standing: 16-19, 12th in the West
The Jazz have been much better as of late, going 10-4 since their Dec. 13 win over New York, which broke a five-loss-in-six-games skid.
However, despite this recent success, there are roster construction problems with no clear answers at point guard, and newly acquired big man John Collins is reportedly already on the trade block.
While it will likely continue to be a talking point…no, the Jazz shouldn’t be looking to trade Lauri Markkanen. At just 26 years old and with another 1.5 seasons remaining on his contract, there’s no reason to send the All-Star forward anywhere, especially since he’s embraced being the new face of the franchise.
With that being said, there should continue to be a youth movement around him, one that began with the three first-round picks last summer.
Utah only gets to keep its 2024 first-round pick should it fall in the top-10 selections overall (anything else goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder). The Jazz are right on the borderline now, with their pick currently projected to fall at No. 11 overall, thus going to OKC.
Saying good-bye to Jordan Clarkson will be tough, although he’s easily worth a first-rounder given his production and contract moving forward (two years, $28.3 million). Players like Kelly Olynyk and Talen Horton-Tucker, free agents this summer, should be shopped as well if the Jazz have no plans to re-sign either.
Utah missed out on a top pick in the 2023 draft by being too good for too long to begin the season.
There’s still time to tank now, but only if players like Clarkson, Collins, Olynyk and others are traded away.
