The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz finalizing trade with Los Angeles Lakers

By Nathan Smith

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 23: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket while Patrick Beverley #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends in the fourth quarter of the game during Game Four of the Western Conference First Round at Target Center on April 23, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Grizzlies 119-118 to tie the series 2-2. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 23: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket while Patrick Beverley #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends in the fourth quarter of the game during Game Four of the Western Conference First Round at Target Center on April 23, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Grizzlies 119-118 to tie the series 2-2. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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The Utah Jazz have been relatively quiet on the trade front since moving Rudy Gobert to Minnesota in early July, and while there’s been talks, nothing has come close to fruition… until now. No, it’s not the Donovan Mitchell trade that people have been waiting to happen, but it’s a piece acquired in said Gobert deal that is being shipped out to join LeBron James and Anthony Davis in Los Angeles.

The deal, according to Adrian Wojnarowski, which is expected to be finalize on Thursday is Patrick Beverley for promising young guard Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson. Considering how high the Lakers, and especially their fans have valued Horton-Tucker, getting him and an additional piece for a player acquired just weeks ago seems like a great deal, as he has the potential to be a future starter in the NBA.

At just 21-years of age, THT has plenty of growing to do, but with the freedom to grow on his own in Utah, he may blossom into the player many have hoped for, but if Jazz fans were expecting the team to start building around Donovan Mitchell, this isn’t a great sign. Talen Horton-Tucker is the type of player you begin a long rebuild around, so if Danny Ainge can squeeze another two unprotected picks and another young player out of the Knicks, that’s a great building block for a rebuild.

Either way, after a short stint in Utah with exactly 0 games played, Beverley is on his way to Los Angeles, with Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson on the way back, and if this is what the Jazz were able to get for Beverley, you have to imagine Danny Ainge is confident in what he can get back for Mitchell, Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic and potentially Jordan Clarkson.

So what do you think of the deal? Do you like the return for Pat Bev, a player who didn’t once play for Utah? Are you thinking this is signalling a further rebuild, or could THT be part of a quick re-tool? As always, let us know all your thoughts in the comments below.

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