Utah Jazz: Emmanuel Mudiay gets mysterious ‘trade pending’ status

The Utah Jazz issued an injury report stating that Emmanuel Mudiay would be questionable for their next game due to an imminent trade.

Hey guys, remember that time when the Utah Jazz were supposedly trading Emmanuel Mudiay before he had even played a minute for the team? That seemed to be the situation if you were following the Jazz injury report on Sunday.

Mudiay, who has yet to play in the preseason due to a sore left hamstring, was initially upgraded to questionable on the first report. However, later that day, a new report was issued with Mudiay’s name in bold and the ‘trade pending’ status added in.

The change was instantly picked up on by the media, and the new status momentarily rocked Jazz Twitter —

If you’re out there in Jazzland fearing the worst for Mudiay, though, you can go ahead and rest easy. The former No. 7 overall pick, who just signed with the Jazz as a free agent over the summer, isn’t going anywhere.

The status change was most definitely made in error, perhaps as a result of a glitch in the league’s injury reporting system.

For starters, Mudiay cannot be traded at this time. When a free agent signs a new deal, the team he signs with can’t legally trade him until December 15 or three months after the deal was signed, whichever is sooner. In Mudiay’s case, that means the Jazz couldn’t move him until December 13 even if they wanted to.

Secondly, the former New York Knick and Denver Nugget is likely slated to be the Jazz’s back-up point guard, at least initially.

Since he entered the league, there have been questions about his shooting, finishing and defense. Last season, though, Mudiay made major strides. In 59 games with the Knicks, he averaged nearly 15 points per contest and shot a career best 44.6 percent from the floor.

If anything, Mudiay looks close to making his preseason debut for the Jazz. He was even spotted doing some work on the hardwood during shootaround. The Jazz play host to the Sacramento Kings on Monday night.

In any event, this one is much ado about nothing.