With the Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors heating up yet again, the prospect of him becoming part of the Utah Jazz has come up. The prospect is tantalizing, and the Jazz have a pretty enticing package for the Greek Freak, but an ex-Jazz reporter cast doubt on a trade happening in the near future.
The Athletic's Tony Jones (who now covers the 76ers) put any hope of a Giannis-Jazz union to rest when asked about it.
I don't think the Jazz are there and I don't think Giannis would be happy in Utah https://t.co/Agg5qR6hVl
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) December 3, 2025
Okay, so this isn't the most surprising news. The Jazz have never traded for established superstars over the years. Antetokounmpo would leave the Bucks (he still hasn't made an official request yet) on the belief that his new team would immediately start winning. If the Jazz traded for him, that wouldn't necessarily come right away, especially if they gave up the farm for him.
Walker Kessler (should he not be included in a potential deal) won't play for the rest of the season, which has helped make the Jazz one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. Utah would need both him and Giannis to turn Utah's fortunes around. Not to mention, he would have to go through the warzone that is the Western Conference.
The Jazz might be better off drafting their Giannis
While Antetokounmpo is a nice thought on the Jazz, it has always felt like a longshot that Milwaukee would trade him to Utah. There's no telling if he would want to stick around unless it were a guarantee that the Jazz would win a title with him. Getting him would certainly vault them up into the title conversation or close to it, but there are too many excellent teams in the West at the moment that saying a Jazz title is guaranteed would be dishonest.
The Western Conference playoffs will be a buzzsaw like it always has been. It's not out of the question that the Jazz won't try to add an established star to their improving core, but to be in the conversation, they would need more than just the two-time MVP to get there.
Utah definitely wants to see some progress from here on out. The best way for them to get it is by drafting a Giannis-type in the draft like they typically have. Some may think this is implying that the Jazz should tank. Utah is entitled to do whatever it wants as far as draft intentions go, but the Jazz have found their best players through draft steals.
Even if they don't wind up with the high pick, the Jazz could still get their Giannis in the draft. One would think that's wishful thinking, but everyone must remember that the Greek Freak was not a high lottery pick when he entered the NBA.