After spending the entire offseason shutting down ideas that superstar guard Donovan Mitchell is on the trading block, the Utah Jazz have seemingly turned around. First reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Jazz are allegedly “showing a willingness” to listen.
After previously shutting down inquiries on moving All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, rival teams say the Utah Jazz are showing a willingness to listen on possible trade scenarios, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 12, 2022
The asking price will certainly be steep, as Mitchell is better than two players already traded this offseason: Dejounte Murray and Rudy Gobert. The Jazz will certainly ask for two solid players and at least four picks in any trade, although the wording of the report suggests Utah is not eager to trade their star.
Breaking: Utah Jazz might consider moving Mitchell
If Utah traded away their two franchise players in one offseason, they would certainly be tanking, opting for a full rebuild under Will Hardy and Danny Ainge, but would receive a total of at least nine first-round picks this offseason if you factor in the Royce O’Neale trade.
Wojnarowski suggests that the asking price is steep, perhaps too high, but the Jazz are no longer just hanging up the phone. Does this mean the end for the current Jazz roster? Or is this just more off-season smoke and mirrors? Utah definitely cannot compete with the current roster minus Mitchell, so the return on him would have to be future based, with unprotected picks, and a lot of them. Is there any team willing to mortgage their future? Mitchell is a top-20 player and is only 25. Dejounte Murray is not quite the player Mitchell is, and he’s the same age. The Spurs got four picks for Murray, so Utah should ask for more than that.