Will The Jazz Make Any Significant Trades?

[Coach Ellis]

So you think DA has loaded up to go for a star and will go for a star.......... But not the league mvp

A.) I don’t think Embiid is available.

B.) The cost is going to be ridiculously high.

C.) Kessler is way above “functional starter” at the center position with team control for 5+ years.

D.) I think it would be a terrible waste of those resources to trade for any center not named Jokic.

 

[Hedda Gambler]

There only certainties now is that we have both all the assets required and all the time we need to make a major trade. If we do nothing for six months, we are very well set for the trade deadline, next off season or even the deadline after that. We don't have to win now and blowing a lot of assets on anything else than a close to perfect opportunity would to me be a much bigger risk than staying put.

 

[Coach Ellis]

What would you say if we couldn't get a different star? Would that change your opinion?

Jimmy Butler - traded 3 times (to Minnesota, Philadelphia and then in a S&T with Miami)

Paul George - traded twice (to OKC and then to the Clippers)

Kyrie Irving - traded twice (first to Boston and then later to the Mavs)

Kevin Durant - traded twice (to Brooklyn and then to Phoenix)

Anthony Davis - forced his way to the Lakers

James Harden - about to be traded for the third time (to Brooklyn, Philly and now the Clippers)

Chris Paul - traded 4/5 times (to the Clippers, then the Rockets, the Thunder, the Suns and now as a cap dump to Golden State)

Donovan Mitchell (traded to the Cavs last year and probably to a different team next year)

Other young All-Star players - Domantas Sabonis, Shai Gilgous-Alexander, Tyrese Halliburton, Lauri Markkanen and (maybe eventually) Mikal Bridges have all been traded at least once in their young careers.

Danny Ainge, Ryan Smith and Will Hardy are changing the narrative about Utah and I believe they will have a couple of opportunities to go get a star player in the next two years - they just need to keep building what they have been and be flexible and ready to strike when the opportunity comes. I’m pretty sure everyone in the NBA knows DA is trading for at least one star player with his haul of assets. The big questions are who and when?

 

[fishonjazz]

Jimmy Butler - traded 3 times (to Minnesota, Philadelphia and then in a S&T with Miami)

Paul George - traded twice (to OKC and then to the Clippers)

Kyrie Irving - traded twice (first to Boston and then later to the Mavs)

Kevin Durant - traded twice (to Brooklyn and then to Phoenix)

Anthony Davis - forced his way to the Lakers

James Harden - about to be traded for the third time (to Brooklyn, Philly and now the Clippers)

Chris Paul - traded 4/5 times (to the Clippers, then the Rockets, the Thunder, the Suns and now as a cap dump to Golden State)

Donovan Mitchell (traded to the Cavs last year and probably to a different team next year)

Other young All-Star players - Domantas Sabonis, Shai Gilgous-Alexander, Tyrese Halliburton, Lauri Markkanen and (maybe eventually) Mikal Bridges have all been traded at least once in their young careers.

Danny Ainge, Ryan Smith and Will Hardy are changing the narrative about Utah and I believe they will have a couple of opportunities to go get a star player in the next two years - they just need to keep building what they have been and be flexible and ready to strike when the opportunity comes. I’m pretty sure everyone in the NBA knows DA is trading for at least one star player with his haul of assets. The big questions are who and when?

Sure. but you just listed a lot of guys who got traded to not utah. Now do the utah list. I agree that I believe in ainge but until it happens it hasn't happened. I still dont think the jazz can be picky when choosing what league mvp they want to add.

 

[Coach Ellis]

Also, I think people are underestimating how effed this new CBA is making things this year. I’m expecting some wild stuff to happen over the next week that will shock people. There’s going to be some shakeups in the NBA over the next year, and DA is perfectly situated to take advantage of that.

 

[Coach Ellis]

Sure. but you just listed a lot of guys who got traded to not utah. Now do the utah list. I agree that I believe in ainge but until it happens it hasn't happened. I still dont think the jazz can be picky when choosing what league mvp they want to add.

I was just pointing out that stars get traded all the time. More than they ever leave in free agency. DL is no Danny Ainge. Considering what he did last year and in Boston during his tenure there. . . it’s pretty clear that he’ll make whatever deal he needs to in order to make the Jazz contenders.

 

[Coach Ellis]

Sure. but you just listed a lot of guys who got traded to not utah. Now do the utah list. I agree that I believe in ainge but until it happens it hasn't happened. I still dont think the jazz can be picky when choosing what league mvp they want to add.

I get where you’re coming from, but I think it would be a mistake to prioritize the assets and cap space it would take to get Joel Embiid. I feel like the Jazz can build a better team by keeping Kessler and trying to get other high level skill players to team up with Markkanen. Embiid, no matter how talented he is, is a huge risk to make that bet on. Thankfully, I’m pretty sure that DA would make the best deal he can if it comes to that.

 

[Hedda Gambler]

Sure. but you just listed a lot of guys who got traded to not utah. Now do the utah list. I agree that I believe in ainge but until it happens it hasn't happened. I still dont think the jazz can be picky when choosing what league mvp they want to add.

What is with this MVP-obsession? Embiid is a great player, but there are quite a few players I'd rather trade for than him.

 

[Elizah Huge]

He just won MVP.

I'm assuming the framework of a deal would be something like: Kessler, Agbaji, Hendricks, George and 4/5 FRPs.

What the ****? Lol no way and if that was the price we’d obviously pass.

One the appeals of adding Kessler would mean we attach less picks due to how valuable he is.

 

[fishonjazz]

I get where you’re coming from, but I think it would be a mistake to prioritize the assets and cap space it would take to get Joel Embiid. I feel like the Jazz can build a better team by keeping Kessler and trying to get other high level skill players to team up with Markkanen. Embiid, no matter how talented he is, is a huge risk to make that bet on. Thankfully, I’m pretty sure that DA would make the best deal he can if it comes to that.

And i see what you are saying but A: we dont know how costly embiid would be (we can only guess)
B: I love kessler but he had one really good season during a rookie tank year and has some of the same limitations that gobert had which isn't ideal in the playoffs. Kessler could be a bit of fools gold. Lauri too for that matter since he has only had one great year (though I buy both of them. I have been wrong before though and am not an expert)

 

[HermanG]

Tanking is out of the table with this roster so we have two paths to choose from.

1) Make a competitive push. That would require at least 1 more upgrade since we need a guy who can create on an elite level, be it for himself and/or others.

2) Build up patiently for one more year. Increase the value of our roster by developing the young guys (who we have boatloads of) and getting the most out of vets like Sexton and Collins. See where we can get, and adapt on the go.

Knowing DA he isnt locked into either path. He wont force #1 if the correct guy or value isnt there. But he wont abandon the idea either.

I still think we must consolidate our backcourt. If JC opted in to get traded that sort of resolves it, but if he wants to stay then at least one of Sexton/Dunn/THT/Ochai has to go.

Ochai can play 2nd unit SF but if we keep all 4 of those I dont know how George/Brice are seeing the court this season apart from injury replacement gigs.

 

[fishonjazz]

What is with this MVP-obsession? Embiid is a great player, but there are quite a few players I'd rather trade for than him.

Ah, so you think MVP's are easy to win and generally mvp's aren't all that good. Interesting theory. I think most folks are pretty obsessed with mvp's. Look up the list of nba mvp's and you will probably find that there are some pretty good players on that list. Which might be surprising to you.
By the way I agree that there are guys I would rather trade for. I would love to get Giannis, jokic, tatum, luka or curry for example. If you were to suggest the jazz trade for any of those dudes I would be down AF.