The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Lyles for Mitchell and the Top 7 trades in team history

By Ryan Aston

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: Donovan Mitchell walks to stage after being drafted 13th overall by the Denver Nuggetsduring the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: Donovan Mitchell walks to stage after being drafted 13th overall by the Denver Nuggetsduring the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Utah Jazz Adrian Dantley jersey retirement
SALT LAKE CITY – APRIL 11: Adrian Dantley poses during his jersey retirement luncheon on April 11, 2007 at the EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City , Utah. Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1) Jazz Get ‘AD’ from the LA Lakers; September 13, 1979

The Jazz send Spencer Haywood to the Los Angeles Lakers for in exchange for some guy called Adrian Dantley.

Following years of futility in New Orleans, the Jazz moved to Salt Lake City in 1979. The futility would continue until the 1983-84 season when the Jazz won the Midwest Division and qualified for the playoffs for the first time. ’79 was also the year the Jazz acquired the player who led that playoff charge — Adrian Dantley.

The cost was steep, but AD paid off in a huge way.

After coming to Utah via trade to finish the 1978-79 campaign, Spencer Haywood was awesome. In 34 games with the Jazz, he averaged 24 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. He was married to Iman as well, so this is a happening guy we’re talking about.

However, he was also nearing the end of his career. Dantley, meanwhile, was just about to take off as one of the greatest scorers in the history of the game. So, when the two were dealt for one another, it quickly became clear that the Jazz had struck gold.

Right off the bat, Dantley was the focal point for Jazz offense, averaging 28 points per game in his first season in Utah. He would lead the team in scoring for seven straight years, finishing No. 1 in the NBA twice during that time. Both came during a stretch of four consecutive seasons in which AD averaged 30-plus PPG.

He also represented the Jazz in six All-Star games and was twice named to the All-NBA second team.

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He changed everything for the franchise. Long before Stockton, Malone and Jerry Sloan made the Jazz elite, it was Dantley, Rickey Green, Mark Eaton and Frank Layden that gave the team relevancy.

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