Utah Jazz: Dates you need to know as trade season approaches
By Ryan Aston
It’s 2019 now and the NBA trade season is right around the corner. These are the key dates Utah Jazz fans need to know as league executives begin to work the phones.
There’s no denying the fact that the Utah Jazz have been playing much better ball in recent weeks following a rough start to the 2018-19 campaign. After looking ill-equipped offensively and exposed defensively in the face of NBA rule changes, they’re slowly, but surely, rounding into a complete team.
Although that progress has been incredibly encouraging, it’s difficult to say that the team can completely right the ship without a bit of tinkering by Dennis Lindsey. And now is the time to tinker.
With the calendar change to 2019, trade season is descending upon us in a hurry, and while the Jazz shouldn’t make more trades (having already dealt for Kyle Korver) just for the sake of doing so, Lindsey and his brain trust should be actively working the phones in search of upgrades.
After all, if you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse.
With the league’s wheeling and dealing just a few, short weeks away, here are some key dates Jazz fans need to keep in mind ahead of the action.
January 5
Teams can start signing players to 10-day contracts. As it stands now, the Jazz don’t have any roster spots open, but that could change by the trade deadline.
January 10
Non- and partially guaranteed contracts get locked-in for the rest of the season around the Association. For the Jazz, that’s the remainder of Royce O’Neale’s $1.4 million 2018-19 salary.
Before the year, I said it was a no-brainer that O’Neale would get guaranteed, and I think it still is. That said, it’s hard to deny that he’s gone through multiple bouts of sophomore slumpage. One has to wonder how that affects his spot/role with the team in the long-term.
January 15
Last day to sign NBA Two-Way contracts — The Jazz currently have Naz Mitrou-Long and Tyler Cavanaugh filling their two-way slots. Neither player has spent significant time on the main roster and could be safe to hold down their spots for the rest of the year.
That said, if there’s a player they have their eye on, the Jazz need to open up a spot and ink them by this day.
Now, onto the day’s main event.
Trade restrictions lift — Derrick Favors, Dante Exum and Raul Neto join a host of players around the league whose trade restrictions lift after they inked new deals over the summer.
It’s at this point that the perpetual Favors trade rumors will really begin to heat up.
Some interesting names re: the Jazz from around the NBA who can be traded at this point include Montrezl Harrell, Joe Harris, Davis Bertans, Will Barton, Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart. If you’re really into pipe dreams, Aaron Gordon‘s trade restriction will be lifted on the 15th as well.
February 7
NBA Trade Deadline 2019. All deals need to be submitted/communicated to the league office (although not necessarily completed) by 1 PM MT.
Next. Three hard truths the Utah Jazz must accept. dark
February 8
Trade exceptions for Joe Johnson and Rodney Hood expire — The exceptions the Jazz created with their deal-making last February could be utilized to bridge financial gaps in potential deals should the Jazz decide to work the trade market ahead of this year’s deadline. Since said deadline actually comes one day earlier, they need to be used by then.
Johnson’s exception is worth just over $3.7 million, while Hood’s is valued at $2.4 million.