NBA Trade Deal Proposals for the Utah Jazz

Kosta Koufos to the Utah Jazz

Finally, here is Dan’s target for the Jazz to pursue before the deadline:

"The Jazz almost earned the “No One” label and for good reason. They have the net rating (plus-6.7) of a 55-win squad, and their depth chart is overrun with guys who need to play: PG SG SF PF C George Hill Rodney Hood Gordon Hayward Derrick Favors Rudy Gobert Shelvin Mack Dante Exum Joe Johnson Trey Lyles Jeff Withey Raul Neto Alec Burks Joe Ingles Boris Diaw Joel Bolomboy Name the players who wouldn’t see burn on any other roster. (If you come up with more than one, it’s time to reassess your life choices.) Utah can justify leaving its roster untouched, but there is value in chasing extra depth at center. Diaw can soak up minutes at the 5, but he is 34, has already missed some time and doesn’t have a guaranteed salary for next year. Favors is nursing a bone contusion in his left knee and will be a free agent in 2018. Lyles won’t work long at center on defense. Most importantly, Withey is slated for free agency in July. Another team will steal him; that’s a fact. He is better than most realize, and the Jazz cannot match his eventual market value with max(ish) money devoted to Rudy Gobert and the prospect of paying Exum (extension-eligible), Hayward, Hill, Hood (extension eligible) and Favors. Kosta Koufos is owed a reasonable $25.2 million over the next three years (player option in 2018-19)—backup money in the new cap climate. Sacramento has too many bigs, so Utah might be able to get him for this year’s Golden State first-round pick and a player of its own choosing—Mack, Neto, maybe even the injured Burks."

I agree more with the sentiment that Utah should stand pat, as we’ve seen too many times that the pursuit of the missing small piece could lead to chemistry issues to the whole down the road. Dan has identified a legit need for the future of the Utah roster.

Jeff Withey has been better than most people realize, mainly filling in for Gobert. With the emphasis on rim protection in most defensive schemes this year it’s easy to imagine a team throwing substantial money at Withey banking on his development with added opportunity.

The other potential back up center is the long awaited Ante Tomic who was drafted back in 2008 by Kevin O’Connor. As Tomic is currently under contract until the end of the 2018 season I don’t imagine him being willing to change his mind and try his hand in the NBA.

Utah is very familiar with its former draft pick, and for that reason I don’t see them willing to move any of its current PG depth in exchange for future depth at the center position. Koufus is a solid backup center, and would be an asset behind Gobert. But I would venture a guess that Utah will be far more willing to try out Joel Bolomboy and see what shakes out in free agency should Withey get pulled away by a Brinks truck.