The J-Notes
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This James Harden and Lauri Markkanen trade is beyond terrible for the Utah Jazz

By Chad Porto

CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 17: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket around James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets during the third quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on January 17, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Nets 114-107. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 17: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket around James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets during the third quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on January 17, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Nets 114-107. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Utah Jazz would be out of their mind making a trade with Lauri Markkanen and James Harden involved.

This must have been a Los Angeles Clippers fan who wrote this trade idea. We’re back with another bad trade idea from the world of the NBA media, this time from Paolo Songco of Wisconsin Sports Heroics. In this trade package, we have to suspend the notion that the Jazz are willing to see how they play this season, and instead embrace a full rebuild.

A full rebuild that isn’t coming, because it’s not needed. But Songco believes they not only should but are going to, and frankly if Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith signs off on this trade, he should be fired from the planet Earth.

In this trade, the Jazz ship out, wait for it, young building blocks Collin Sexton and Lauri Markkanen for a bunch of mundane prospects and two aging bets, plus a host of pics that may be very high, or may be worthless.

Solid idea. Here’s the total trade and who’s getting what and from whom;

"Clippers receive: James Harden (PHI) and Collin Sexton (UTH)76ers receive: Robert Covington (LAC) and Lauri Markkanen (UTH)Jazz receive: Norman Powell (LAC), Marcus Morris Sr. (LAC), Amir Coffey (LAC), Kobe Brown (LAC), Brandon Boston Jr. (LAC),  2030 First-Round Pick (LAC), 2030 First-Round Pick (PHI), 2029 First-Round Pick Swap (PHI favoring UTA)."

Clearly whoever came up with this trade either has a vendetta against the Jazz or are huge Clipper and or 76er fans. Considering what the Clippers are getting back, it’s safe to say that they’re a Clippers fan who is afraid of seeing the Jazz in the playoffs.

The picks from the Clippers could very easily be Top 10 picks when they mature, that’s not the issue. The issue is not realizing the Jazz aren’t giving up good, young players, for potentially good picks, and unimpressive young players.

Just because you have a young prospect, doesn’t mean you have a good young prospect, and Brown and Boston Jr. are far from worthy prospects. If you send a team of players who wouldn’t start over the rookies they draft in the same year, you’re not really sending over anything of value, now, are you?

The Jazz need to keep Markkanen and Sexton and think about trading Kelly Olynyk, Jordan Clarkson, and Talen Horton-Tucker.

Next. One Year Later: Grading the Rudy Gobert trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. dark

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