Utah Jazz: reacting to a wild proposed four team trade
By Nathan Smith
After trading Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves, no one quite knows which direction the Utah Jazz are heading in next, but it’s safe to say that Donovan Mitchell is going to play a huge part in those plans, one way or another. On one hand, the Utah Jazz can trade the young superstar for a haul of picks and young players, but if Danny Ainge and the front office believe in him as the face and future of the franchise, they can trade some of the picks acquired in the Gobert deal to add significant talent around him.
Whichever way they do end up going, fans and analysts are going to have a great time discussing possible trades in the meantime, and that’s exactly what the New York Daily News has done in their latest piece. While it’s a very unlikely trade involving Utah, Brooklyn, Indiana and Phoenix, it’s definitely worth looking at, as it would signal a complete overhaul of the entire Jazz franchise in just one off-season.
The Trade
Brooklyn receives: Donovan Mitchell (Utah), Bojan Bogdanovic (Utah), Mikal Bridges (Phoenix), Cam Jonhson (Phoenix), 2023 first round pick (Indiana, via Boston).
Phoenix receives: Kevin Durant (Brooklyn), Myles Turner (Indiana).
Indiana receives: DeAndre Ayton (Phoenix), Mike Conley (Utah).
Utah receives: Buddy Hield (Indiana), Cam Thomas (Brooklyn), Joe Harris (Brooklyn), Ben Simmons (Brooklyn), 2023, 2025, 2027 unprotected first round picks (Phoenix), 2029 top-five protected first round pick (Phoenix), 2026, 2028 first round pick swap (Phoenix).
In this scenario, the Jazz may be losing their marquee player, but in return would be receiving four first-round draft picks, along with two swaps, giving them a haul of first-round draft picks that can only be matched in the NBA by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Fans may be somewhat put off by the acquisition of Ben Simmons, but with Cam Thomas, Buddy Hield and Joe Harris all coming in the deal, it’s one that Utah would likely seriously consider if this crazy proposal were to ever come to fruition.
Ultimately, this type of blockbuster trade is nowhere near the realm of possibility, but if a four team trade like this were to ever happen, it would rock the NBA to its foundation, and change the landscape of the NBA for years to come.
So what do you think? Is this a trade you’d enjoy as a Utah Jazz fan? Who would you like to see Utah target to pair with Spida if they keep him? Would you take this trade if there were a few changes made? What would those changes be? As always, let us know in the comments!