New trade opportunities for the Utah Jazz?
It’s no secret that the Utah Jazz are looking to improve this offseason, and while a star-studded free agent market is exciting and appealing, it’s not nearly as realistic as if the Jazz instead found a way to improve via trade. Many Jazz fans have been drooling over the likes of Mike Conley or Spencer Dinwiddie, but with Houston opening up their roster for trades, it could present some interesting opportunities for Utah.
I don’t see it happening in a million years, but just imagine for one second if the Jazz were to trade for Chris Paul as their new starting point guard. It would be extremely ironic considering the rivalry I’ve just described, but if Paul were somehow able to find the fountain of youth, he’d be an amazing and prolific fit running the point alongside Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt with Rudy Gobert ruling supreme down low.
Unfortunately, due to his age, he likely wouldn’t be the answer for the Jazz at that spot. And forget years and injuries, Paul’s contract is absolutely abhorrent to the point that Utah (and perhaps no team in their right mind) would want to touch it. Sure, perhaps Paul could help the right team open up a small championship window while he was there – that’s supposed to be what he’s doing for Houston right now – but in the long run his deal could be a back breaker.
Technically he has a player option in 2021-22 that he could turn down which would mean he’d have only two years left on his contract and it would then end the same year as that of Rudy Gobert’s and Donovan Mitchell’s. Having him around as a starting point guard for a two-year championship window, even if at a high price, may not be the worst idea even though I think he’s far from the one that would lead the Jazz to the promised land.
However, beyond that, there’s almost no way he would turn down his player option – where else would he find the $44.2 million he’s owed that year?! – and that would decimate Utah’s cap flexibility that season and thereafter. The same can be said for pretty much any team, which is why Morey will likely have little to no luck dealing him.
But enough about the very, very, very, extremely, pretty much impossibly bleak chance of the Jazz considering Paul, because while that’s a long shot and a stupid consideration, there are wiser choices the Jazz could pursue. First and foremost would be inquiring about the status of Eric Gordon who, if indeed available, could be a brilliant addition to the Jazz.
Gordon is a bit streaky as a shooter, to put it lightly, but he would add much-needed spacing and offense to the Jazz that could be an ideal fit. Even more so, he’d be a prolific defender that would fit perfectly with Utah’s M.O. He did an incredible job of slowing Donovan Mitchell in the postseason as he consistently gave him fits, and could be a similar weapon for Utah on that front moving forward.
1000 percent, morey would be silly to give him up on his contract
— ... (@JCLARKSONszn) May 29, 2019
His contract is a little risky at $14 million with just one year remaining, meaning Gordon would likely be a one-year rental, but the upside and help he would provide could be deemed worth it if the right trade package were formed. P.J. Tucker is another guy that would make any team better if added to their ranks and that the Jazz could look at in a trade as well. His contract has two more years remaining and hovers right around $8 million per year, a reasonable amount for a player of his caliber.
Are these realistic options? Most likely not, but that shouldn’t stop the Jazz from at least calling to inquire. If Morey is desperate to change and/or clear salary for some other big move, the Jazz could potentially get a guy like Eric Gordon or P.J. Tucker on the cheap. That would be an amazing accomplishment that could help a Jazz team that clearly needs additional pieces.
Even if the Rockets and Jazz in no way do business with one another in spite of the potential fire sale in Houston, it could still have heavy implications. There are an immense number of big-time free agents available this summer and many believe the trade market will be hopping as well. There are only a certain number of players and money to pay them with among the 30 teams, so the more players that become available, i.e. the key Rockets players, the more chances that someone will settle further towards the bottom and fall in Utah’s lap.
What I mean is, even if the Jazz miss out on some trade or free agent targets, if money is being thrown at Houston’s players or if adjustments are being made to add them, the focus of other teams and players could shift such that the Jazz have more available options. The more names that are out there in the open, the better chance a team like Utah has to swoop in and find at least some sort of upgrade.
Maybe a pursuit or landing by another team of Chris Paul takes away their cap space allowing the Jazz to go after a player that team would have otherwise signed. Maybe the potential trading of Gordon and Tucker makes some other trade become available to the Jazz, or they jump in as a third team.
The possibilities are endless, but the fact remains that the more teams out there attempting to do business, the more opportunities that will arise.
The Jazz are in desperate need of finding and capitalizing on big opportunities if they hope to take a leap to the next level in 2019-20. Whether it’s by directly working with the Houston Rockets or benefiting from the aftermath of a potential fire sale, ideally the Utah Jazz can take advantage of what could be big changes in Clutch City and the Western Conference this summer.