It’s been a strange season for the Utah Jazz. To call it a disappointment is to acknowledge how lofty this group’s expectations were heading into the 2021-22 season. As it stands, they’re 31-21, good for fourth in the Western Conference.
The numbers suggest that they’re better than their record shows. Their 116.83 Offensive Rating is tops in the National Basketball Association. In spite of a 14th ranked 111.02 Defensive Rating, they boast a 3rd ranked 5.80 net rating.
That’s the statistical profile of a team on the fringe of contention. Unfortunately, the Utah Jazz are too old, too asset-strapped, and too ambitious for the fringe. It seems obvious that they’ll broker a trade leading up to this year’s February 10 trade deadline.
Here are 3 goals the team could look to achieve in a prospective deal.
Utah Jazz Trade Deadline Goal #1: Add playmaking
The Jazz’s lack of playmaking feels like it’s not discussed often enough. That’s probably because they’re most efficient offense in the NBA. There’s no real reason for this group to change their attack.
Still, the Jazz rank 27th in the NBA in assists per game at 22.0. Surely, there’s room for improvement there. Even with a league-leading Offensive Rating, regular Jazz watchers know that this offense is combustible. When it’s working, it’s the league’s most dynamic: when it isn’t, it can get ugly.
A few more assists per game might diversify an offense that runs an extra risk of getting stagnant in the postseason. It’s not as high of a priority as the next two goals we’ll set for the Jazzmen, but if a little playmaking comes along with one of their more pressing needs, it’ll be a great bonus.
Utah Jazz Trade Deadline Goal #2: Find a more efficient secondary ball-handler
You probably knew this was coming.
Cue the usual caveats about how Jordan Clarkson is talented, isn’t a great fit in Utah, etc. They still apply.
Clarkson is averaging 19.8 points per game and shooting 43.9% from the field and 35.5% from downtown in 10 games without Donovan Mitchell this season. He’s averaging 15.5 points with a 40.0/32.3 shooting split in his absence.
You tell us if this is working.
The eye test confirms what the stats are suggesting. Clarkson is an undersized, ball dominant scoring guard with an inconsistent three-point cannon. Mitchell is the same: he’s just better. That’s not a player archetype most teams are looking to double down on.
The best available trade target would be someone who can co-exist with Mitchell by spacing the floor while carrying the offense when needed. That sounds a lot like Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon. Otherwise, these Utah Jazz should be calling Memphis about Kyle Anderson, the Knicks about Kemba Walker, and perhaps the Lakers about Kendrick Nunn.
Basically, any team who rosters a potential secondary ball handler that shoots better than 32.3% from distance could be a feasible trade partner. The Jazz don’t even have to trade Clarkson. They could acquire any one of those players with Joe Ingles’ contract and young players or draft capital. They’d do that with the intent to maximize the time that Clarkson spends without Mitchell on the floor, while gaining a player whose a better fit alongside Spida.
That might get crowded, but it also sounds like a better problem than the current one. If Clarkson is to be a high volume sixth man, he has to be able to play alongside every starter.
If he can’t fit in with the team’s most important offensive player, that’s a problem that needs to be resolved.
Utah Jazz Trade Deadline Goal #3: Improve perimeter defense
The Utah Jazz need more perimeter defenders. In other news, water is wet, and that Captain Obvious ad campaign isn’t funny anymore.
It’s telling that the Jazz have the league’s 14th ranked Defensive Rating (111.02) despite rostering Rudy Gobert. Anyone who would like to point blame in the Stifle Tower’s direction is woefully misguided. This team needs more perimeter stopping power.
That’s especially true in the wake of Joe Ingles’ ACL tear. Ingles wasn’t the most athletic player in the NBA, but he was a willing, high IQ defender. Now, he’s gone.
Bojan Bogdanovic isn’t up to the task of replacing him. He’s been a marginally negative defender for most of his NBA career now. At 31, that’s unlikely to change.
Royce O’Neale is a great perimeter defender. The Jazz just need to get him some help. Guys like Robert Covington and Torrey Craig need to be on their radar. Jerami Grant should be to, although the team should be preparing for the (highly likely) outcome that they can’t land him.
There will be other options across the league. Wherever the Jazz land, it’d better be somewhere that enables them to upgrade their perimeter defense.
This season was always about title contention for the Utah Jazz. They do not appear ready for that challenge. If they can accomplish at least two of these three goals, they may get there.