The J-Notes
Fansided

Evaluating the “tradability” of each Utah Jazz player

By Jared Woodcox

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 7: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz makes his entrance before the game against the Miami Heat on January 7, 2017 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 7: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz makes his entrance before the game against the Miami Heat on January 7, 2017 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 23: Joe Johnson #6 of the Utah Jazz brings the ball up court during their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 23, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 23: Joe Johnson #6 of the Utah Jazz brings the ball up court during their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 23, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Joe Johnson

Man, putting this list together is making me realize more and more just how sad 2017-18 has been. Last year, Joe Johnson was an absolute stud for the Jazz. He was an awesome presence on the court and in the locker room, came up clutch on a number of occasions and even willed the Jazz to several victories including in the playoffs.

Fans were ready to sing his praises and construct a statue outside of Vivint Smart Home Arena due to his exhilarating play. Unfortunately, so far this season, saying he’s had a disappointing year doesn’t even do it justice.

Johnson missed a big portion of the season with a wrist injury, but even before that he looked off. He’s had a couple nice outings since returning, but for the most part he’s been absolutely unable to get a rhythm and, quite frankly, has looked disengaged and uninterested, particularly on the defensive end.

That’s led to him shooting an abysmal 40.7 percent from the field and 23.4 percent from deep while posting a team-low plus/minus of -5.5. That’s a bad combo for the Jazz not only for their on-court success but also for their chances of moving a guy who appears to finally be either damaged goods or falling victim to Father Time.

Considering that Iso Joe is 36 years old, it’s probably safe to say that he doesn’t figure in to Utah’s long-term plans. Combine that with the fact that he’ll be an unrestricted free agent after this year and it’s an almost guarantee that he won’t be back with the Jazz next season. Therefore, much like with Favors, the Jazz would be wise to cut their losses with Johnson and trade him away at the deadline rather than lose him for nothing.

Once again, a team looking for a savvy and experienced vet to help with a playoff run or a team that could make use of an expiring contract could very well enjoy having Johnson around for a brief stint. In those regards he’s quite tradable. Although he hasn’t played that well this season and that could certainly hurt his value, he’s also a seven-time All-Star with an excellent reputation across the league, which could make him considerably more attractive in spite of recent woes that could be attributed to injury recovery.

Therefore, while he’s not the cream of the crop on the trade market, Johnson does have some pretty desirable traits for opposing teams, so look for the Jazz to be quite willing to part ways with him before the season’s end if the opportunity arises.

Verdict: Expendable, relatively valuable – relatively likely to be traded