Ever since the Utah Jazz were awarded the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, there's been rampant speculation that they could become trade partners with the Philadelphia 76ers. On the surface, the Sixers don't desperately need high-end young talent to develop like the Jazz do, and the Jazz don't need some of the playoff-ready veterans like the Sixers do.
That's why a deal could make some sense, and where someone like Jordan Clarkson could be used in a trade. Sports Illustrated's Derek Parker proposed a trade that would get the Jazz the No. 3 pick while the Sixers could upgrade their rotation with Clarkson.
He proposed the following deal between the Jazz and Sixers.
Sixers get: No. 5, No. 21, No. 53, Clarkson
Jazz get: No. 3, Eric Gordon, Andre Drummond
Parker explained why the Jazz
"The Jazz give up a few current and future assets, but get to move ahead of the Charlotte Hornets, who could be hunting the very same prospects," Parker wrote. "At No. 3, the Jazz would have its pick of Rutgers wing Ace Bailey, Baylor hybrid VJ Edgecombe, Texas hyper-scorer Tre Johnson, and plenty more. All players that could usher Utah into a new era."
This deal makes some sense but there are problems
There is some appeal to a trade like this from the Jazz's perspective, besides moving up in a talented draft class. This deal also allows them to consolidate their draft assets, which would be convenient as they have a massive influx of picks coming over the next few years and only have so many roster spots.
They could take or leave Gordon and Drummond, meaning they would either release or trade them elsewhere to open up more roster spots. Unfortunately, moving up from No. 5 to No. 3 currently doesn't hold a lot of appeal. After Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, no one currently knows who would be the right pick at No. 3.
It is commonly believed that picks three through five in the 2025 NBA Draft are interchangeable, so trading up to No. 3 doesn't seem like a great idea from the Jazz's perspective. From the Sixers' perspective, they would take this deal in a heartbeat because they get the same caliber of prospect from the draft and Clarkson, who can do much more for them than Gordon or Drummond.
This draft is expected to be loaded with talent, which would signify that the Jazz will likely want to keep that No. 21 pick. Getting a rotation player on a rookie contract is what NBA teams crave these days, unless can trade up to a higher pick from No. 21, that won't be a throw-in in a trade to move up to No. 3.
All things considered, the Jazz should sit comfortably with the No. 5 pick. A deal like this would make sense if it were for the No. 2 pick, but the San Antonio Spurs would likely want more than Clarkson to make that work. But that's whole other can of worms.
Grade: C+