Utah Jazz trade rumors: Could Kyle Lowry be an unforeseen target?

Reports indicate that the Toronto Raptors may be dangling Kyle Lowry in trade talks. Should the Utah Jazz take that into consideration?

When you’re a top-three seed in a conference with a legitimate shot at making the NBA Finals, typically you aren’t looking to really rock the boat at the trade deadline. Sure, perhaps shore up a couple of weaknesses here and there or make a move to bring in some capable role players, but a team that good is there for a reason. Thus, it’s rare that such a team would look to move one of their star players, particularly an All-Star.

Yet, if recent reports are to be believed, it’s entirely possible that such circumstances are precisely the case with the Toronto Raptors, who currently find themselves at second in the Eastern Conference, trailing only the Milwaukee Bucks. A host of reports emerged on Tuesday suggesting that the Raptors are open to dealing All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry and are very much in conversations to attempt to do so.

The report stemmed from Sports Illustrated’s Jake Fischer who stated that “the Toronto Raptors have called Memphis offering Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Lowry for both of Mike Conley and Marc Gasol.” Up to this point, it has appeared that the Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons are the front runners in the Conley sweepstakes, but there’s still no telling how that saga will ultimately play out when all is said and done.

And having a package including an All-Star such as Lowry thrown into the mix makes things all the more intriguing. It was subsequently reported that Memphis wasn’t interested in making that deal, but you have to wonder if there could be something here involving a Conley-Lowry swap.

There were also contradictory reports, such as from Michael Grange of Rogers Sportsnet, that it was actually the Grizzlies who initiated the talks as a way to gauge what they might be able get in return for their star duo.

This further complicates things, but it seems entirely feasible that the Toronto Raptors could very well be open to dealing Kyle Lowry. And as such, particularly if nothing comes from a potential deal with the Grizzlies for Conley, it becomes intriguing to consider whether or not the Jazz could have Lowry on their radar as well.

It’s no secret that the Utah Jazz could use an upgrade at the point guard position to pair next to Donovan Mitchell and to replace the erratic Ricky Rubio. And while many have adopted the thinking that at this point it’s either Mike Conley or bust, if Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey is serious about upgrading the position now, he’s bound to have a few aces up his sleeve.

Making a surprise move and going for the available Lowry could potentially be one of them.

In the aforementioned Sports Illustrated piece, Fischer noted that Lowry is aware that the Raptors are in negotiations involving him. This wouldn’t be the first time that Toronto was exploring Lowry trades, so the possibility seems absolutely plausible. Not only that, but there’s been rampant speculation that Lowry is discontent with his situation in Toronto, so perhaps moving him is very much on the mind of the Raptors front office.

Last of all, it has been rumored that the Utah Jazz were high on their odds of landing Lowry two summers ago had Gordon Hayward not delayed in making his free agency decision. In other words, it’s quite possible the Jazz were interested in him before and have remained so since. Such was the case with Jae Crowder, who the Jazz ultimately ended up trading for despite initial sign-and-trade options falling through.

Perhaps a similar event will occur with Lowry. When Dennis likes a player, he tends to go and get his guy a la Crowder and even Mitchell in the draft.

The question, though, is what in the world would the Jazz have that the Raps would want? Unlike the Grizzlies, who may be willing to deal a star-caliber Mike Conley for expiring contracts and picks to jump-start their rebuild, the Raptors are in win-now mode in a major way with the clock likely ticking on Kawhi Leonard‘s tenure there. If the hope is to keep their Finals dreams alive, trading away Lowry for, say, Ricky Rubio and others doesn’t make a bit of sense.

Nevertheless, the beauty of NBA trades and deadline season are that sometimes miracles can happen where every team gets what it wants in a multi-team transaction. If there were some combination that entailed Toronto getting Conley (who they allegedly were seeking, according to initial reports) the Jazz getting Lowry and the Grizzlies getting the haul they desire from both teams, then this could be feasible.

That said, I think Utah would prefer Conley over Lowry due to his style of play, current performances and ability to keep such talent longer term. Then again, Lowry is on a shorter, though similarly priced annual contract, so perhaps that would give Lowry the edge if Utah didn’t want to feel as handcuffed by Conley’s contract. Not to mention, the belief that Lowry was once a plausible Jazz free agent target seems to shed further possibility on the situation.

I’m personally a fan of Lowry and for the most part would be excited about the prospect of him joining the ranks of the Utah Jazz. He’s undoubtedly an All-Star talent and is exceptional at running the point position. However, he is having a bit of a down year this season which is quite concerning. Perhaps a change of scenery would do him some good, especially if he’s disgruntled in Toronto as many believe to be the case. But if the choice was entirely Utah’s, I’d have to think they’d take Conley over Lowry.

Then again, if Memphis decides not to budge on Conley, I’d still take Lowry over Rubio. Make no mistake about it, Lowry would be far from a mere consolation prize. He could be an exceptional piece for the Jazz to help take them to another level and add a whole new dynamic to their backcourt.

Chances are that there are more conversations going on behind the scenes than we can fathom and it’s quite possible that the majority of the trades that happen between now and Thursday’s 1:00 PM MT deadline will be ones that no one even saw coming. With that in mind, Jazz fans should keep a close eye on the Kyle Lowry situation.

It may not be the most likely outcome, but he could very well be an under-the-radar and unforeseen trade prospect for the Utah Jazz.