Brooklyn Nets – Trevor Booker
Brook Lopez is the Nets player that has been tossed around more frequently than dough at a pizzeria, but given the fact that the Jazz have a borderline All-Star and defensive master in Rudy Gobert at the center, it doesn’t make sense to pair (or pay for) both of those two players together.
But with the Nets hoping to make some sort of improvement and hopefully garner some pieces for the future, it’s pretty safe to bet that nearly everyone on the team is tradable. If Lopez, their best player, is on the block, it’s safe to say that they’re ready to blow things up.
With that being the case, the Jazz could actually benefit from bringing home a familiar face in Trevor Booker. Purple & Blues’ very own Hayden Van de Maat recently commented on the void left by Booker and in many ways I agree with his thoughts.
Power forward has not been a strong suit for the Jazz as Derrick Favors has been unable to find his groove due to injury, veteran Boris Diaw has been inconsistent and Trey Lyles has yet to reach his expected potential. Therefore, adding Booker, who was an exceptional fit on and off the court for the Jazz last season could be very beneficial to give Utah more depth and much more energy off the bench.
The spark that Booker would bring night in and night out with his nonstop hustle and effort could work wonders for a Jazz front line that has often looked timid and inconsistent whenever Rudy Gobert is on the bench. Booker is putting up career highs in points (10.2), rebounds (8.5) and assists (2.2), showing his ability to contribute in multiple ways.
His versatility and willingness to fill whatever role is asked of him was and still would make him an important asset to this Jazz team. Aside from Booker, Brooklyn’s Sean Kilpatrick has been a pleasant surprise for them this season and could be an interesting fit, but he’s still a bit too unproven and I’m not sure how he’d fit on the Jazz roster.
Honorable Mention – Sean Kilpatrick