Utah Jazz shockingly shake up their backcourt
Here it is, my most controversial trade proposal. In reality, I think the chances that this trade actually occurs are virtually zero. With so many moving parts, this would be a very complicated trade to arrange in the short time before the deadline. However, I do believe that it would yield certain benefits for all 3 teams involved.
To start, Boston gets a younger guard to pair with their star wing duo, as well as a reliable floor spacer. Brunson would alleviate some of the playmaking duties Boston has struggled to find, and he fits nicely with the developmental timeline of Tatum and Brown.
The Mavericks might be willing to trade the young guard if they are not certain they would like to re-sign him this offseason. His contract expires at the end of the year and it is reported that he is looking for a deal potentially worth around $80 million over 4 years. If the Mavericks are not willing to commit to that investment, he could very well move to a new team at the deadline.
Dallas in return gets quite the haul in this deal. They get a veteran point guard in Mike Conley who is an optimal fit next to Luka Doncic. Conley can spread the floor, facilitate, play on or off the ball, and defend at least to an equal level as the Mavericks’ current guards. Conley could help run the slower pace offense that Jason Kidd has brought to Dallas this year, and would bring great veteran leadership to a team that has struggled to make it out of the first round.
They also get Dennis Schroder, a plug-and-play scoring guard to come off the bench, as well as Romeo Langford, a versatile (yet inconsistent) young wing. By giving up Brunson and a few 2nd round picks, the Mavericks fill a few holes in their current roster and pair Doncic with a dynamic point guard.
For Utah, this would clearly be a major move and it would change the fabric of the team. For that reason, many fans might resent my proposed deal. However, it is for that same reason that I feel it could be worth exploring. The Jazz, as currently built, could be on a track to repeat their failures of the past. They still lack any real point-of-attack defenders, and I worry about their lack of versatility in the playoffs. This trade, however, could rectify some of those issues.
Before you yell at me that this is a silly trade, just imagine a defensive lineup that contains both Marcus Smart and Rudy Gobert. This would instantly be one of the best defensive starting 5s in the league. Marcus Smart has also taken strides as both a shooter and passer in recent years of his career. Dorian Finney Smith, while on an expiring contract, is a great plug-and-play wing that can help soften the loss of Joe Ingles. Frank Ntilikina is another talented perimeter defender who offers the Jazz some flexibility and versatility if they look to make adjustments in a playoff series.
This trade, as well as the other two I suggested, I feel could be viable options in improving the Utah Jazz roster before making a playoff run. Whether or not they will actually come to fruition is anyone’s guess, but especially in consideration of the Jazz’s recent struggles, don’t be surprised if you see some new faces in Utah come February 10th.