How Utah Jazz Can Get Jimmer at NBA Draft
By Josh Haslam
Mar 19, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings point guard Jimmer Fredette (7) reacts after a called foul during the second quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Power Balance Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Two years ago many Jazz fans were praying that the Jazz move up and draft Jimmer or that he happened to fall to them at 12. Neither of those happened and the Jazz ended up drafting Alec Burks, which I think is a great thing. Now two years later it’s time to bring Jimmer to the Jazz where he can get the chance he deserves in an atmosphere he can excel in. It’s no secret that Keith Smart was an awful coach and that’s why the Kings didn’t keep him around. Now it’s rumored that the Kings are gonna draft a point guard which means they don’t see Jimmer as a piece of their future.
Enter the Jazz who currently have zero point guards with a contract for this next season. Jimmer isn’t happy in Sacramento and no one blames him as he watches Curry kill it and they have very similar games (not saying Jimmer will be as good as Curry, just that he has similar skills). Add in the effect that the Jazz need to sell tickets, as they are most likely going young and not a ton of people renewed their season tickets (of course I did!). And voila you have a win-win situation.
Obviously there are many Jazz fans that wouldn’t like this as he gets booed when he comes to the ESA, but they will come along once he starts nailing threes from everywhere. So how can the Jazz make a move for Jimmer without sending one of the “core four”? It’s rumored that Sacramento is interested in drafting Tim Hardaway Jr and Tony Snell. Both are projected in the 15-30 range and it just so happens the Jazz have two picks in that area. If they really do want those two players the Jazz and Kings can make this agreement:
Jazz Draft: Tim Hardaway Jr at 14 and Tony Snell at 21 and trade their rights to the Kings along with Jeremy Evans.
Kings Draft: One of the three point guards the Jazz want the most (Trey Burke, Michael Carter-Williams, CJ McCollum) and send Jimmer to the Jazz.
Not sure if the Kings do this but if they are higher on Snell and Hardaway Jr than someone they can only get at 7 then they do it. Or if Jeremy Evans isn’t enticing to them then the Jazz can offer Burks but then at that point I don’t think the Jazz do it unless they get something more. Either way Jimmer in a Jazz uniform isn’t completely out of the realm, slim chance but you never know what teams are thinking. Especially with a new coach in Sacramento he could be asking that they trade Jimmer or that Jimmer gets a chance. Should make for an interesting side story if something like this does happen. All I know is if Jazz draft Snell or Hardaway Jr at 14 don’t be surprised if we flip them moments later with the Kings.
Just for fun if they do something in the offseason a trade could look like this:
Jazz get: Tyreke Evans in sign and trade and Jimmer
Kings get: Alec Burks and Paul Millsap in sign and trade
***After I wrote this article ESPN reported this at roughly 11:47 PM Eastern time
"The Sacramento Kings are looking to acquire a second first-round pick and are using guard Jimmer Fredette as bait. Sources say the Kings have reached out to a number of teams in the mid-to-late first round in an attempt to secure another pick. Both the Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz are potential destinations for Jimmer. Kings coach Mike Malone is enamored with both Tim Hardaway Jr. and Tony Snell, but the Kings feel that they can get them much lower in the draft. ESPN.com"