At this stage of the offseason, the Utah Jazz don't exactly have that many boxes to check off. Besides the Kevin Love situation, it's likely that most of their current roster right now will be there on opening night. However, if the opportunity presented itself, the Jazz could acquire more draft assets, and one way they could do so is by acquiring excess salary to facilitate the move.
A notable example of a trade like this was Utah's acquisition of Russell Westbrook (the first time) in 2023. They traded Mike Conley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley in a blockbuster deal to get Westbrook, but it was all to get that coveted Lakers 2027 top-four protected lottery pick.
Because Westbrook's contract was set to expire, there wasn't any harm done financially. The Jazz cashed in on four players they weren't planning to keep, and didn't have to worry about Westbrook affecting their cap sheet much. That brings us to a proposed sign and trade made by ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel (that even he called complicated).
Siegel outlined a four-way trade between the Jazz, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, and Miami Heat.
Kings receive: Jonathan Kuminga (4-year, $112 million contract with about $25 million Year 1 base compensation)
Warriors receive: Devin Carter, Haywood Highsmith, Kings 2027 1st-round pick (Top-8 protected)
Heat receive: Malik Monk, KJ Martin
Jazz receive: Terry Rozier, Heat 2029 1st-round pick swap (More favorable to the Jazz), Hornets 2027 2nd-round pick (via the Heat)
Siegel doesn't really explain why the Jazz would agree to a trade like this, but he doesn't really have because it's pretty straightforward as to why they would. It's a salary dump where Utah gets an expiring albatross contract along with a pick swap for their troubles that could be quite valuable down the line.
While Martin was (maybe?) solid for the Jazz in the half season he played there, it's pretty clear that the team has put an emphasis on developing some of their other young big men, such as Walker Kessler, Kyle Filipowski, and Taylor Hendricks. Oh, and they still have that Lauri Markkanen guy.
It's simply hard to see how he would get any playing time. For what it's worth, sending him to South Beach does Martin a favor because it would give him, an athletic rim-runner who gives it his all, the opportunities to prove himself on a team with higher aspirations than the Jazz do.
The Jazz would give Rozier the Westbrook treatment (and for good reason)
While Rozier is currently dealing with some off-court issues (which we can't get into), even if he wasn't, there wouldn't be much reason for Utah to keep him. One, Rozier has declined pretty sharply since Miami acquired him last year. Two, Rozier would only get in the way of the Jazz's young guards. Three and finally, the Jazz just dumped two guys who play a similar style as Rozier.
Without going too much into it, Rozier being a lot like Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson as a player would make it seem counterproductive for the Jazz to keep him after what they went through to get rid of those two. Much like Westbrook, Utah would see him more as a contract to swallow as a means to an end to get another asset.
But hey, getting a potentially awesome pick swap while swallowing a one-year albatross would certainly be worth it to the Jazz because they've done something like that before.
Grade: A-