The Utah Jazz are willing to spend to get Tyler Herro
By Chad Porto
The Utah Jazz are ready to go after Tyler Herro on their own.
For the longest time, dating back to the start of the summer, the big word on the streets of Salt Lake City involves the Utah Jazz wanting Tyler Herro as part of any Damian Lillard trade. The idea was that, if Lillard didn’t want to come to Utah, then they would find a way to land the ever-improving guard from the Miami Heat as part of the Lillard trade. After all, the idea was that the Heat would trade Herro and assets to the Portland Trail Blazers for Lillard.
And since the Blazers have too many guards, Herro would end up going to a third team, while that third team (in this scenario the Utah Jazz) would contribute pieces to the trade to land Herro and help Lillard get to Miami.
However, since Miami is seemingly out of the running for Lillard, the conversations around Utah landing Herro have seemingly quieted for now. That left many wondering if Utah’s interest in Herro was them simply capitalizing on the Lillard trade for a player they could use, or whether they wanted in on the Lillard trade because they coveted Herro specifically.
Well, this may not answer the question about whether or not Herro is someone they outright covet, but the Jazz still remain interested in Herro even if Lillard isn’t involved in the trade.
According to the Five Reasons Sports podcast, based out of Miami, the words is that the Jazz would still trade for Herro without Lillard being involved for a first-round pick and, presumably, a young player.
The Jazz should consider this move, with or without the Lillard trade, as Herro gives the Jazz the option of moving on from some of the more middling guards on the roster, like Talen Horton-Tucker.
It’d also give the Jazz a bonafide scorer to pair with Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson, giving the Salt Lake City crew a shot at winning the west with arguably the best-scoring trio in the league. Sure, the defense will suck, but you’ll see a lot of 120+ point games from the Jazz, so that’s something.