The Utah Jazz were able to add one last wrinkle to their last before the deadline hit on Thursday. It was the final piece in the Jimmy Butler trade, and the Jazz were able to walk away a little younger and with a little more draft capital.
Utah sends: Dennis Schroder
Utah receives: KJ Martin, Josh Richardson, 2028 2nd-round draft pick; least favorable between Utah, Detroit, and New York
KJ Martin flies into Utah
KJ Martin started the season as a first-teamer in Philadelphia but has seen his usage decrease throughout the season. Martin is a great athlete at his best in the painted area on offense and is a versatile defensive player. Think of him as an Aaron Gordon-type with less offensive versatility.
Martin needs to work on his 3-point shot to find a spot on the Jazz's roster. He has only taken 44 3-point shots over the last season and a half and is only shooting 34% over that same period. If he can develop that portion of his game, he can grow into a really good player in the league.
Josh Richardson is, unfortunately, just an afterthought in the trade, as the Jazz waived him within minutes of acquiring him.
Yet another second-round pick
This feels like the Jazz's 30th second-round pick they've gotten at the deadline, and so it's hard to find much more to say about it, but one thing to keep in mind: the Jazz essentially turned Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills into five second-round picks. Not a bad haul at all for what they gave up.
Disappointed fans looking for a first-round pick acquisition this trade deadline can actually look to a different trade made between the 76ers and the Washington Wizards. The Wizards were able to turn Jared Butler and four second-round picks into Reggie Jackson and a first-round pick. The Jazz can follow this blueprint in the future to turn these picks into a first-rounder.
Grade: B+
The Jazz were unsurprisingly able to offload Dennis Schroder just about as fast as they acquired him, and that alone earned them a good grade. He likely would not have fit with the Jazz's goals for this season and deserved to play for a team that wanted him.
KJ Martin is an intriguing, low-risk prospect the Jazz can fit into the rotation. If they can find a way to get his three-point shot anywhere near respectability, he could be a really good find.
The fifth second-round pick acquired in a week by the Jazz is a nice cherry on top, but like most of the trades the Jazz made at the deadline, this pick will likely see more value if the Jazz can involve it in a future deal to upgrade a player or a draft position.