Should the Utah Jazz make 1 of these 3 Eric Paschall trades?

Utah Jazz acquire crafty basketball veteran

Anyone Utah Jazz fan who caught the team’s lone contest with the Denver Nuggets to-date this season may have noticed the same thing about Facundo Campazzo: the guy is annoying.

That’s exactly why they should want him on their team.

Campazzo may stand a mere 5’10, but his career 1.0 Defensive Box Plus/Minus (DBPM) suggests that he plays bigger. Last season, he stole the ball 2.0 times per 36 minutes. He’s also an exceptional passer, which is a weapon this Utah Jazz team could stand to add to their arsenal. His selfless brand of typically solid, occasionally spectacular facilitation would pair nicely with a score first guard of Jordan Clarkson’s ilk. Finally, his career 35% accuracy from deep may not be elite, but it does provide the type of floor spacing the Jazz would need in a fourth rotational guard.

As for the Nuggets, they’ve possibly lost Michael Porter Jr for the remainder of this season. They may be willing to part with a 30-year-old point guard in order to make up some of the production they’re losing at that position.

Jazz fans may raise two objections to this deal: Campazzo is old, and he’s small. Both points are valid. On the other hand, this team’s window to contend is now. The Lakers aren’t gelling, the Bucks are regressing, the Nets are significantly undervaccinated, and the Nuggets are injury-riddled. Only the Warriors, Suns and Heat seem to currently stand between the Utah Jazz and the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Now is not the time to plan for the future: the Jazz need to live in the present.

As for Campazzo’s size, we’ve established that he’s managed to be a positive on the defensive side anyway, which should minimize those concerns. Furthermore, size is about the only attribute Trent Forrest currently possesses an advantage in over the recent European expat. That doesn’t seem like enough of a reason to pass on a high-IQ, high-motor, valuable contributor.