The J-Notes
Fansided

Winners and losers of the Utah Jazz’s latest trade

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 16: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass the ball against Royce O’Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena on February 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 16: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass the ball against Royce O’Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena on February 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Losers

Talen Horton-Tucker

For some reason, the Lakers have placed immense value on THT. They led Alex Caruso walk last summer in free agency, opting instead to develop THT. The Lakers made him untradeable,e placing insane value on him, and eventually traded him for a career role player.

Horton-Tucker is a 27% three-point shooter and he is not great on defense. Maybe a change of scenery will help, but the Lakers seemingly gave him all the help he could ever want. Donovan Mitchell and Jared Butler will probably be ahead of him on the depth chart, and all the hype surrounding him may leave. He benefited heavily from playing in LA, and now he heads to a small market in what might be a culture shock.

Russell Westbrook

It’s been noted that Patrick Beverly and Russell Westbrook hate each other. And now they need to play on the same team. Or do they? Maybe the Lakers think Beverly is more capable, which means Westbrook will either be benched for the first time in his career, or he will get bought out.

Westbrook is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. If you don’t like him, I see why, but he is a statistical anomaly, MVP, and nine-time All-Star. If this is the end of his career, it’s rather sad, and I can’t help but feel bad for him.

The Lakers made their bed when they traded for him, and now they’re looking for a way out. I don’t think they owe him anything, but this is a rather insulting way to enter the 2022-23 NBA season.

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