Utah Jazz ’19-20 Trade Deadline: 5 backup center proposals

Alize Johnson, T.J. McConnell

The Pacers are an interesting team to watch going into the trade deadline. I don’t expect them to make a major move, much like Utah, but they could look to make a minor upgrade as they gear up for a playoff run in the Eastern Conference.

This move here gives them an extra option at center for when Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner are on the bench, and also frees up a rotation spot for Aaron Holiday, who has proven to be a complete stud on both ends of the court.

Do the Pacers want to play rookie Goga Bitadze spot center minutes deep into the regular season and playoffs? He has shown promise, but adding a veteran like Davis should be the move for them.

Utah would get an asset with the second rounder, as well as an excellent third-string point in T.J. McConnell. It would also give them the opportunity to make Tony Bradley the full-time backup center.

Alize Johnson is still a project, but he’s shown some tremendous signs in the G-League as an energizer and rebounder. Utah already has a bunch of youngsters on the back end of their roster, so it would be interesting to see if they can get anything out of the former Missouri State forward.

In the end, this is a move that isn’t likely to happen, but I do think it’s interesting. Indiana could really use an Ed Davis, while Utah gets a clear direction with Bradley at backup center along with an asset.