Four realistic trade targets for the Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz acquire forward Josh Hart

If the Jazz are in the market for a 3-and-D wing, Josh Hart might be the best name realistically available to them on the market. That’s partly because he does more than the 3-and-D label suggests.

Hart is one of the best rebounders at his position in the NBA, as his 6.8 rebounds per game rank third among players who qualify for the shooting guard position. On a related note, Hart’s positional versatility is as strong as any player in the NBA’s. You won’t find a lot of guys who are listed as SG, SF, PF on Basketball Reference.

That versatility provides another added bonus for the Utah Jazz in acquiring Hart. He can round out a top-heavy guard rotation while also fulfilling the team’s desire for a defensive wing.

The benefits of adding Hart could be immeasurable. Beyond the reasons we’ve already listed, he’s averaging 11.0 points per contest while shooting 51.1% from the field and 33.3% from three point range, all with a solid 0.3 Defensive Box Plus/Minus (DBPM).

If any of those stats are concerning, it’s admittedly the three-point percentage. Still, it’s realistic to hope that Hart’s accuracy from deep is suffering on a Zion-less Pelicans team that’s struggling to keep afloat. In Quin Snyder’s spaced-out, hyper-efficient attack, he may trend towards his career 34.7% mark.

The New Orleans Pelicans have had a disaster of a 2021-22 season. Their franchise player seems likely finished for the year, and they’re on course to finish as one of the worst teams in the NBA. They have no need for a solid role player like Josh Hart, and could use a younger player and a draft pick in his place.

This is probably the most ambitious target on this list, but Hart’s presence could be a significant boon to the Utah Jazz.