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Utah Jazz: Five potential trade options involving Rodney Hood

By Jared Woodcox

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 7: Rodney Hood #5 of the Utah Jazz dribbles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on January 7, 2018 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 7: Rodney Hood #5 of the Utah Jazz dribbles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on January 7, 2018 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC -JANUARY 20: Kemba Walker #15 of the Charlotte Hornets looks on during the game against the Miami Heat on January 20, 2018 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC -JANUARY 20: Kemba Walker #15 of the Charlotte Hornets looks on during the game against the Miami Heat on January 20, 2018 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Jazz go all in for Kemba Walker

The final trade that I’ll mention here is one that I touched on a few days ago that was formulated by ESPN’s Kevin Pelton. It would send Ricky Rubio, Rodney Hood, Derrick Favors and Utah’s 2018 first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Kemba Walker, Marvin Williams and Jeremy Lamb.

For my full thoughts on this deal, be sure to check out my piece via the link in the tweet below, but I’ll summarize them here.

In short, I love this deal, especially now that the Jazz seem set on moving Hood anyway. Utah parts with Hood and Favors who they were planning to trade anyway and exchange Ricky Rubio who has been an absolute disappointment this season in order to replace him with a more proven point guard in Kemba Walker. Meanwhile, the Hornets get a valuable first-round pick to help them with their rebuild and shed the cumbersome contract of Marvin Williams.

Honestly, I don’t know that this is enough to convince the Hornets to do it, especially with how much Rubio’s value has dropped during a disappointing season with the Jazz, but if Utah can get it done, it’s a move they absolutely should make. Yes, giving up their first-round pick for a guy that could up and leave as a free agent in two years is risky, but at some point I feel that the Jazz have to stop relying solely on development and the draft and take some risks to attempt to win in a trade.

And making such a risk for a guy like Walker could be absolutely perfect. He’s a high-character guy who could very well aim to re-sign with a team that showed they wanted him and he’s a force to be reckoned with on the court that could be a blast to see paired alongside Donovan Mitchell.

It might be a long shot, but if Utah is able to turn Hood, Favors and Rubio into Kemba Walker, it’s a move they should certainly do.

Next: Utah Jazz 2017-18 Week 15 Outlook, Predictions

These are just the tip of the iceberg of trades that could be made for Rodney Hood. The young guard has plenty of value and could very well bring in a nice return for the Jazz, so with him officially on the block, it will be exciting to see what kind of transaction actually comes about.

Whatever it ends up being, you can bet that the Jazz will make a savvy move that may help them with a playoff push this season, but will most definitely help them down the road as they aim towards a prosperous future.