4 ways the Utah Jazz could rebuild this summer

Utah Jazz offseason Plan B: trade Gobert

Nobody wants to trade the best rim protector in basketball. Here, we’re exploring situations that could occur if the Utah Jazz feel dissatisfied with their 2021-22 postseason performance. After so many years of that same outcome, the team may need to do something drastic.

Moving on from the 3x Defensive Player of the Year would surely qualify. This scenario only unfolds if Donovan Mitchell decides that he’s happy in Utah, but not alongside Gobert. Given what we’ve seen from their relationship, that’ feels at least plausible.

Rudy Gobert will command attention on the trade market. The Jazz will have a lineup of suitors for his services. What specifically could they hope to acquire for the big man?

That’s a lot to unpack. It requires Kelly Oubre Jr and PJ Washington to agree to a sign-and-trades. Let’s assume they’re both comfortable with that.

This is an interesting haul in exchange for Gobert. Oubre Jr. fits the Jazz’s long-desired 3-and-D archetype. Washington fits the small ball center role more cleanly than either of Eric Paschall or Rudy Gay. Hayward is more than just a nice reunion story: he gives the Jazz a secondary ball handler to relieve some of Mitchell’s pressure.

Suddenly, the Jazz go from needing wings to having too many with this deal. That’s fine. They can start Oubre Jr. alongside Royce O’Neale and have Gordon Hayward function as a sixth man. Wait, the Utah Jazz already have a sixth man?

You don’t say.

Not anymore!

Admittedly, we’re really spitballing with this one. It assumes that Boston also ends up dissatisfied with their postseason, and that the Kings are looking to make marginal win-now upgrades. Take all of these trades as hypothetical guidelines.

Still, we like the product this series of moves puts together. The Jazz now feature five-out spacing, while retaining some of Gobert’s rim protection prowess with Horford in the middle. They become a team with greater flexibility and offensive diversity (albeit at the expense of Gobert’s elite interior defense).

Utah Jazz Plan B depth chart:

C: Al Horford/PJ Washington/Udoka Azubuike

PF: Royce O’Neale/Rudy Gay/PJ Washington

SF: Kelly Oubre Jr./Gordon Hayward/Danuel House Jr.

SG: Donovan Mitchell/Terrance Davis/Gordon Hayward

PG: Mike Conley/Jared Butler/Nickeil Alexander-Walker