The Utah Jazz will have Austin Reaves in their sights this summer. With the amount of cap room at their disposal, adding Reaves gives them another elite scorer. Not only that, but signing him increases the value of the Lakers pick they owe the Jazz next year (imagine if they lose Reaves and LeBron this summer).
However, two questions immediately come into fray when the prospect of Reaves joining the Jazz come up:
1. What are the odds he leaves the Lakers for the Jazz?
2. Do the Jazz really need a player like Reaves?
Utah already has one of the best scoring duos in the NBA with Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George. Reaves would fortify that, but he doesn't bring much defensively, which they absolutely need to address.
He wouldn't be the worst investment, but he might not be the wisest. The wisest investment for Utah would be a two-way player that can shore up their defense. Hence, someone like OG Anunoby would make a lot of sense.
Wait, why specifically him? Well, Anunoby won a title in Toronto in 2019 and has solidified himself as one of the best two-way wings in the game. An All-Star, he is not, but he is one of the most impactful non-star players in the NBA.
But how could the Jazz make that happen?
Let's just get this out there: the Knicks will not simply hand over Anunoby to the Jazz. They are trying to win now, so there's no motive to help Utah improve. However, with the ongoing Giannis Antetokounmpo drama, the Knicks will explore every avenue they can to get him. Suddenly, the Jazz make sense as third team in the deal where they could get Anunoby.
Locked on Jazz's David Locke harped on this. Anunoby gives Utah something they need in ample supply: perimeter defense. He is a stepping stone towards vaulting the Jazz back to playoff contention.
The Jazz could try to get Antetokounmpo themselves, but it would take so much to make that work that gutting practically the entire roster may not be worth it. Alternatively, they could give up fewer expiring deals and fewer draft assets for Anunoby, which wouldn't be the case in a Giannis deal.
Again, Utah has enough scoring that when they start trying, they have enough offensive firepower to compete with anyone. If Markkanen and George aren't enough, Ace Bailey and Brice Sensabaugh are also starting to come alive a bit.
But Anunoby gives the Jazz the two-way player they've badly needed. He doesn't single-handedly change things for them, but it's impossible to argue against that he would fit like a glove and there's a compelling case that Utah should focus on him instead of Reaves if the opportunity presents itself.