The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz trade deadline 2019: Five potential power forward targets

By Jared Woodcox

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 10: Otto Porter Jr. #22 of the Washington Wizards passes the ball around Ekpe Udoh #33 of the Utah Jazz in the first half at Capital One Arena on January 10, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 10: Otto Porter Jr. #22 of the Washington Wizards passes the ball around Ekpe Udoh #33 of the Utah Jazz in the first half at Capital One Arena on January 10, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JANUARY 27: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz makes his entrance before the game during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 27, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JANUARY 27: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz makes his entrance before the game during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 27, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

It’s no secret that the Utah Jazz have had their eyes on potential stretch-four options for a while. Could one of these available power forwards fit the bill at this season’s trade deadline?

Of all the positions at which you could argue the Utah Jazz may be seeking an upgrade, power forward might be the first one that comes to mind. That’s not supposed to mean any disrespect to Derrick Favors, who’s honestly a phenomenal player and one of Utah’s best, but unfortunately in the modern NBA, he’s much more cut out for a center role and he’s admittedly a few notches below Rudy Gobert talent-wise.

So Utah’s power forward quandary isn’t so much about talent as it is about fit. For Quin Snyder’s offensive system to truly thrive, they need a playmaking stretch-four that can play the majority of their minutes at that position. That’s why the Jazz have done so well with Jae Crowder inserted alongside the starters, though I’m not entirely sure he’s their best bet as a starting four.

Therefore, if the Jazz are able to nab an upgrade at the power forward slot through trade, they may very well do so. That could come in the form of an already established player or one that has the potential to grow into such a player and would already be a better fit in Quin’s system than continuing to start Favors at the four.

With those thoughts in mind, let’s take a look at five potential trade targets that the Utah Jazz could explore with the deadline looming.