Blockbuster Blake Griffin trade could help Utah Jazz in Mirotic sweepstakes

The Detroit Pistons were formerly reported as being interested in Nikola Mirotic, but after yesterday’s blockbuster trade, the Utah Jazz may now very well be the frontrunners to land him.

The NBA world was turned upside down yesterday as it was announced that a blockbuster trade had gone down which sent the LA Clippers’ Blake Griffin, along with Brice Johnson and Willie Reed to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, and a first and second-round draft pick. That monumental move is yet another reminder that just because a big-name player doesn’t show up in many trade rumors, doesn’t mean he won’t be dealt.

Still, even with that knowledge, it was a pretty shocking move to see the Clippers move essentially the face of their franchise in a clear overhaul move. And if further reports are to be believed, LA may be far from done as they’re purportedly still set on moving two guys who have already been brought up in several trade rumors – Lou Williams and DeAndre Jordan.

But there’s plenty of places across the web to read up on this mind-blowing trade and dive into a number of reactions to it. So if you’re here of all places, you’re probably wondering one thing – how does this affect the Utah Jazz?

Time will tell if any impending moves revolving around Williams or Jordan cause any ripple effects that impact the Jazz more directly, but for now, the honest truth is likely that this trade doesn’t do a whole lot to the Jazz except perhaps begin causing more trade dominoes to fall. Neither LA nor Detroit were likely trade partners for the Jazz to begin with even though both teams had several players listed as on the block.

Avery Bradley was a player that the Pistons had reportedly made available Monday morning, but he was shortly thereafter a part of the Blake Griffin trade and making a move for him was probably never really in the cards for the Jazz anyway.

However, although this trade may not have directly impacted the Utah Jazz, it may still cause a separate transaction to finally take shape. It’s one we’ve heard an awful lot about for nearly a month – a deal which would send Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic to Utah.

The Mirotic-to-Utah saga has been quite drawn out, going from Mirotic supposedly expressing interest in the Jazz specifically, to Chicago demanding a first-round pick for his services, to that request presumably stopping negotiations dead in their tracks. However, one thing remains clear – while the final price has yet to be determined, Niko is certainly still on the Jazz’s radar.

And up until yesterday, the two teams that had been most closely associated with Mirotic in trade rumors were the Utah Jazz as well as the Detroit Pistons. But since the Pistons have now made their big move and landed a star power forward of their own in Blake Griffin, it’s practically a guarantee that they’re no longer planning to pursue Mirotic.

And that could definitely give the Jazz a leg-up on obtaining him as it eliminates one more potential suitor that may have been courting the Bulls. With the Pistons now out of the running, it’s very possible that Chicago could lose some of its leverage in conversations with the Jazz. Not only that, but the less teams that show interest in Mirotic, the more appealing Utah’s offers are going to look.

With that in mind, it’s not beyond reason to assume that the Jazz are now solidly the frontrunners for landing Mirotic in a trade.

However, it’s also important to remember that by no means is Chicago forced to move him. If they don’t feel like they’re getting enough value in return for Mirotic, there’s no reason why they can’t stand pat. If the Bulls are adamant about getting a first-rounder in exchange for his services, the Jazz would likely to be foolish to cave and give up their own pick unless a third team was able to be added to the mix to preserve it.

Thus, while the blockbuster Clippers-Pistons trade may very well increase Utah’s chances of winning the Mirotic sweepstakes, it by no means guarantees that they’ll go on to land him. The Jazz front office has made it clear that they’re open for business at the deadline, so if they don’t like what the Bulls are asking for, they’re certain to have several other offers and opportunities come their way as February 8th approaches.

Next: Utah Jazz: Possible trade options from every other NBA team

So whether it’s in a transaction that involves Mirotic, or if the Jazz pull a move akin to the shocking one made yesterday and carry out a deal that no one saw coming, it’s quite likely that they’ll make some sort of change to their roster in the next week and a half.

And that is reason alone to be absolutely excited (and perhaps somewhat nervous) about what lies ahead. I don’t know about the rest of you, Jazz fans, but I know I’ll certainly be on the edge of my seat until the dust of the trade deadline clears. It simply can’t come soon enough…