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Staff Debate: The Jazz lost the trade with the Lakers

Jonah Kubicek|
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)

The Utah Jazz traded three-time All-Defensive point guard Patrick Beverly to the Los Angeles Lakers for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson earlier this week. In layman’s terms, the Jazz gave up one of the best defensive guards in the league for absolutely nothing.

Let me be clear: Beverly’s value is waning as he surges towards 35 years old, but are you kidding me? The Jazz got a forward who has never had a productive season and one of the most overhyped players in the NBA today, who shot just 27% from deep. I’m tired of these shooting guards who can’t shoot.

Utah Jazz: The Lakers robbed the Jazz

If the Utah Jazz are serious about rebuilding, maybe they should have avoided a 25-year-old journeyman who has had a lackluster career. Stanley Johnson was picked 8th in the 2015 NBA Draft and ranks 28th out of all 44 players who saw court time in win shares.

Talen Horton-Tucker has been the only young player the Lakers have tried to hold onto. As they go with veterans to get LeBron James a ring in Hollywood, Tucker has been the untouchable piece they refused to deal. Tucker played poorly in the Drew League and has not shown significant improvement in any areas of his game.

If the Jazz wanted to compete, you would think they would keep one of the most driven players in the league on their roster. This looks like a move that indicates a tank or a rebuild is coming, but if that’s the case, couldn’t they have gotten a first-round pick? I know Beverly isn’t the most valuable player, but he is a top-tier backup point guard and one of the best defenders in the league. Surely there was a better market out there if the Jazz were considering the future.

No matter what the Jazz intended moving forward, this deal could be much better. The Lakers didn’t rob the Jazz, as the deal is somewhat fair, but with no clear goal in mind, the Jazz are the clear losers.

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