Utah Jazz: The case for and against trading Rudy Gobert
By Josh Wilson
The case for trading Rudy Gobert: Could lose him for nothing
You never want to lose a player for absolutely nothing that’s been an All-Star and has been recognized for his defense at the highest level. And the Jazz are coming up on a situation where that could be incredibly likely.
This is the last year of Gobert’s deal, and he’ll enter unrestricted free agency in the 2021 offseason. Given all the good things we’ve covered on Gobert here — his rim protecting, defensive anchoring, and rebounding abilities — he’s going to have some offers. These might be offers the Jazz don’t want to or can’t match.
Furthermore, after a rough run in Utah with his teammates over the last several months, he just might want to get out.
If he decides to leave, whether it be for more money or personal reasons, the Jazz will have nothing to show for it. If they trade him now, they could get someone in return that may be around for longer.
As a for instance, Myles Turner mentioned earlier is on contract at $18 million per year through 2023.