A look at what could happen — good or bad — should the Utah Jazz pull off a trade for any of eight potential targets that could be on the market.
The NBA trade deadline is now just three weeks away; as such, it’s go-time for the league’s general managers.
For his part, Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey should be right in the thick of the deadline activity. Not only do the Jazz have multiple expiring deals on the books, but they’re sitting at just 18-26 on the year and, Wednesday’s win over the Sacramento Kings notwithstanding, are just days removed from one of their most uninspired efforts in recent years.
In other words, the time is nigh for a roster shake-up.
Earlier this month, my J-Notes partner-in-crime Jared Woodcox identified and evaluated eight potential Jazz trade targets. In the piece, he does a bang-up job of assessing how realistic each trade possibility is for the Jazz. Today, I’m taking another angle on those same eight players.
In the hypothetical situation where each is acquired by the Jazz, what are the best and worst-case scenarios for their partnerships with the team? That’s the question I’ll look to answer as we go down the list player-by-player.
Because, in the end, there are potential risks and rewards with any deal. And those things need to be considered when playing around with the trade machine.
As you’ll soon see, this lot runs the gamut…if my tea leaves are to be believed.
Next: Evan Fournier
Evan Fournier
Best Case: Every year he’s been in the league, Evan Fournier has increased his scoring. He’s also done so efficiently (his 1.28 points per shot is a top 20 mark among the league’s twos and threes). Fournier comes to Utah and the trend continues. He’s an 18-20 point scorer, a consistent performer and occasionally guards somebody too.
Put simply, he’s the player we’d hoped Rodney Hood would become. His 3-point shooting and playmaking ability helps open things up down low for fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert in a big, bad way. As a result, the Jazz offense reaches another level when he’s on the floor.
Worst Case: The progress halts and the Jazz have Hood 2.0 on their hands; a really solid hand, but not a player that moves the needle a ton on his own. His contract, which still has three years and $51 million left after this season, limits the team from really making a big splash in free agency.
After all is said and done, the Jazz are forced to settle for good or just OK when they could have done something special.
Next: Jordan Clarkson
Jordan Clarkson
Best Case: Three years ago, Jordan Clarkson went head to head with Utah’s Dante Exum and destroyed him. He scored 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting in the game, while Ex was held to three points. At the time, some wondered whether the Lakers had the better rookie guard.
Clarkson joins the Jazz and looks like that player once again. He continues to score the ball and does so more efficiently in Quin Snyder’s offense. Clarkson, Donovan Mitchell and Exum form one of the best and most athletic three-guard rotations in the league. They’re good for 50-55 points, 12 boards and better than 10 assists per game.
The Jazz become a team that wins the backcourt battle on a near-nightly basis.
Worst Case: He is who he’s always been — a relatively inefficient, high-usage player that leaves something to be desired on the defensive end. His addition takes precious minutes away from Exum, who appeared on the verge of a breakout before his preseason injury.
Next: Julius Randle
Julius Randle
Best Case: Over the summer, Julius Randle worked like a madman to transform his body to great effect. After the trade, he continues to work and evolve, eventually solidifying himself as Utah’s starting power forward for the next decade.
It’s like turning the clock back on Derrick Favors by three or four years, except Randle’s ability to make plays with the ball far exceeds what Faves could do. He’s that 15-10 guy the Jazz have sorely missed for the least two seasons.
He’s not a rim protector, but continues to build upon the defensive improvement he’s shown this season.
Worst Case: It feels like a move just for the sake of making one with results to match. Randle does exactly what Favors did before him, only worse. The Jazz can make him a restricted free agent heading into the summer, but he gets a crazy offer from some team still banking on his potential and, just like that, the Jazz are forced to pay more than they want to or let him walk.
That’s not a great spot to be in.
Next: Mario Hezonja
Mario Hezonja
Best Case: Super Mario re-emerges in Jazzland. As a teen in Barcelona, Hezonja had scouts drooling, but his NBA career has been underwhelming. Upon landing in the 801, he rededicates himself and quickly reminds the basketball world why he was drafted No. 5 overall back in 2015.
He starts to hit the 3-pointer at the clip we want him to and his incredible athleticism really begins to show itself on both ends of the floor with more minutes. He’s an unrestricted free agent, but he likes the situation with the Jazz and they’re able to retain him with relative ease.
Worst Case: He’s truly a bust. Despite the hype, Hezonja just isn’t the guy we thought he was three years ago. Eventually, he finds himself in the same place he spent the brunt of his tenure in Orlando — on the bench. After a short-term deal to remain in the NBA reaches its end, Hezonja heads for greener pastures in Europe.
In other words, he’s a poor man’s Rudy Fernandez.
Next: George Hill
George Hill
Best Case: George Hill is humbled by his Sacramento experience and re-doubles his efforts in a Jazz return. As a result, he picks up right where he left off after getting traded back to the team he took to the second-round last season. He’s a 15-5 guy, a threat to knock down threes, a plus defender and a massive upgrade over Ricky Rubio in the Snyder system.
The Hill-Gobert screen-roll once again showcases the Stifle Tower’s oft-overlooked offensive skills and Utah’s offense starts to click again.
As he gets older, he transitions seamlessly to a mentor role and becomes one of the league’s best back-up point guards.
Worst Case: As he’s struggled playing second fiddle to De’Aaron Fox, Hill really doesn’t feel a spot that’s secondary to Mitchell and/or Exum. Or he’s awesome with it and puts up numbers, but he’s perpetually injured gain.
As an added bonus, the $19 million Hill adds to the team’s books really limits what Dennis Lindsey can do in free agency this summer.
Next: Dario Saric
Dario Saric
Best Case: Dario Saric comes to Utah and, right off the bat, the Jazz realize they have something special. He’s an incredible complement to the Stifle Tower on both ends of the floor. While he managed to do good things for the Philadelphia 76ers (13.5 points and 36 percent from three this season), he really thrives in Utah with an expanded role.
Thanks to his rookie deal, restricted free agency and home-team advantage, the Jazz have him on lockdown for the next several years. Mitchell-Gobert-Saric becomes one of the league’s most exciting young cores.
Worst Case: He doesn’t progress as much as we’d hoped despite being pegged as a core piece for the Jazz. Saric makes the team better, but they’re still not good enough to realize their potential. He’s really good offensively, but strength and length deficiencies limit his max output defensively.
At some point, he’s going to be in-line for a huge payday; maybe even a max deal. Will he really be worth that kind of cashola?
Next: Jabari Parker
Jabari Parker
Best Case: Jabari Parker gets off the plane at Salt Lake International Airport and proclaims, “This is the place!” Members of the predominant faith local rejoice.
On the hardwood, Parker looks like the player he was before his most recent injury. He’s Carmelo-esque in his ability to get buckets; he’s a 20-plus point scorer, he hits threes, he penetrates and attacks the rack. More importantly, he remains healthy as he does it. It’s a thing of beauty.
The Mitchell-Parker-Gboert trio leads a Jazz Renaissance that results in annual 50-60 win seasons, a boatload of playoff games and many All-Star appearances for all three players.
Worst Case: He injured; same as it ever was. The Jazz max him in hopes of what I’ve described above, but he can’t stay on the floor and fans start to look at Parker’s deal in the same way they bemoaned Andrei Kirilenko’s big contract several years ago.
The Jazz are stuck with a $150-200 million dollar anchor…and not the good kind of anchor.
Next: Nikola Mirotic
Nikola Mirotic
Best Case: The Jazz bring Mirotic in and he continues to stretch the floor and score the ball at a high-level (he’s currently putting up over 17 points per game and shooting 45 percent from 3-point range). He and Rudy Gobert quickly become one of the league’s best inside-out frontcourt combinations.
Mirotic is the new Mehmet Okur.
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As his current, cap-friendly deal reaches its end, he signs a long-term extension with the Jazz and saves them some money in the process.
Worst Case: His added output offensively proves to be outlier that some fear it is. Mirotic goes back to scoring 10 points per game, doesn’t hit the three quite as much as we think he should and is a negative on defense.
In the end, the Jazz aren’t interested in keeping him beyond 2019 despite having parted with assets to acquire him.