Bleacher Report pitches terrible trade between the Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers

Bleacher Report delivers a terrible trade idea between the Utah Jazz and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have usually been a source of great resources for the Utah Jazz. In recent years the team has not only acquired Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, and nearly a gross of first-round draft picks but also Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Korver, and Jaea Crowder. They’ve become a great resource for the Jazz.

So clearly, any trade involving the Jazz and the Cavs should be looked at, as historically, they’ve done a great job helping the team from Salt Lake City. That’s why when Zack Buckley pitched an idea that would see the Cavs and Jazz trade with one another, I was intrigued.

The Jazz usually make out like bandits, so why not have a little hope?

Because it’s Bleacher Report, and they only know how to hurt. Buckley’s latest article “1 New Trade Idea for Every NBA Team” didn’t do the Jazz any justice. It’s like he doesn’t get what the Jazz actually need, and what they are, and more specifically, aren’t going to give up to get it.

In this new trade idea, Buckley suggests the Cavs send over Isaac Okoro and Caris LeVert for John Collins and a first-round draft pick. Firstly, this is a terrible trade for the Cavs. They already have a starting power forward and center in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Why give up a starting wing player in Caris LeVert for a backup big? That makes no sense.

Buckley’s explanation is that Collins is blocking Taylor Hendricks, and LeVert is some great shot-creator, while Okoro is a great defender who is “still finding himself” on offense. LeVert is not some great shot-creator, he’s fine, a solid sixth-man, but he’s not enough for what the Jazz need. And Okoro is heading into year four, and it’s safe to say he’s never going to develop an offensive game. He is what he is.

Secondly, while LeVert is starting for the Cavs, he’s not a good starter. He’s a mediocre wing player with limited ability to open up the court. He’s a two-ball kind of guy. He’ll make one three per game and that’s about it. He’s fine, but he’s not worth Collins, or a first-round pick. Let alone both. Maybe Simone Fontecchio or a second-round pick, but again, not both.

As for Okoro, the young defensive-minded wing has zero offensive game. Now, if the Cavs want Collins so badly, they can have him for Okoro and LeVert, and a first-round pick. The team sending the first-round pick in Buckley’s original article was fundamentally wrong. It’s not the Jazz who should be giving up a first-round pick for the likes of Okoro and LeVert.

It’s the other way around.

Both LeVert and Okoro have severe limitations that make them less than optimal. LeVert isn’t able to stretch the court, and while he’s long, he’s not very aggressive eon defense. Nor is his passing so good that it’s worth a first-round pick, let alone someone with the upside of Collins.

Okoro could easily be a top-10 defender in the league, but he’s so bad on offense that any positive he brings defensively is negated. If the Jazz want to swap a second-round pick for Okoro, or someone like Talen Horton-Tucker, sure. But outside of those two scenarios, there is no way Okoro can be seen as a net positive for the Jazz.

He’ll replace too much offense that he can’t ever contribute towards.