The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Eight intriguing players around NBA reportedly being shopped

By Jared Woodcox

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 5: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz dunks the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans on February 5, 2018 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 5: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz dunks the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans on February 5, 2018 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – JANUARY 2: Maurice Harkless #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on January 2, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Trail Blazers 127-110. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – JANUARY 2: Maurice Harkless #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on January 2, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Trail Blazers 127-110. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Maurice Harkless

Although it’s unlikely that any team manages to pry CJ McCollum away from the Blazers, there’s still a pretty good chance that Portland will look to be active at the deadline in other ways. And despite some recent struggles, Maurice Harkless is an intriguing piece that they have to offer.

I think Lowe summed up Harkless’ situation perfectly in his recent piece:

"Portland is $3 million over the tax, and when a non-contender gets that close, it usually tries to duck it. Maurice Harkless is the name to watch. He earns about $11 million per year through 2020, and he has largely fallen out of the rotation. But he’s still just 24, with the raw ingredients of a modern NBA wing who can slide up to power forward. A bullish team with an expiring contract might take a shot on him if the Blazers toss in a second-round pick."

I don’t know that I’d consider the Jazz “bullish”, but they do have some potentially attractive expiring contracts (Derrick Favors, Joe Johnson, etc.) that could help with a late-season playoff push and if they like Harkless’ raw skills and believe that their player development staff could make something out of him, he could be a nice piece, especially at only 24 years old.

The bad news, though? He still has two years left on his contract after this one and will be making over $21 million in those two years. If Harkless’ mediocre play continues, then he could very well just be a bad contract, not unlike that of Alec Burks.

Unless the Jazz see something amazing in Harkless like they saw in undrafted rookie Royce O’Neale, I imagine that’s not a contract they’d want to touch, especially if they had to give up anything of value to get it. At the price Harkless would command, keeping Rodney Hood in restricted free agency for a slightly higher price would likely be a safer and more helpful bet.