Grade the trade idea: Jazz send Collin Sexton to win-now East contender

No one knows what the Utah Jazz's plans are for Collin Sexton. He was a bucket-getter before he even got to Utah, and last season, he took a leap as a playmaker. He's only 25 years old, so he's not too young to be in a youth movement.

So why does it feel like the Jazz still don't really trust him? His minutes still haven't increased all too much, his scoring numbers are down, and the Jazz have had him come off the bench. This would all point to that the Jazz don't plan to keep him around.

If that's not enough, Will Hardy appears more focused on helping their other young guards, like helping Keyonte George overcome his mental blocks. If he's more of the priority, and the Jazz intend to develop Isaiah Collier, then Sexton is likely seen as expendable.

Bleacher Report's Dan Favale proposed a trade that would put Sexton on a team that could use him now - the Orlando Magic. Favale outlined the following deal.

Magic Receive: Sexton

Jazz Receive: Cole Anthony, Tristan Da Silva, 2026 first-round pick (top-10 protection through 2027; turns into two seconds if not conveyed), 2027 second-round pick

The Magic's offense desperately needs scoring, and Sexton solves that problem. Earlier, it was predicted that Sexton would help a playoff team and the Magic definitely fit as a team that would benefit from adding him. While it's not hard to decipher why the Magic would do this, for the Jazz, it's a little different.

Favale explains why the Jazz would make that trade. He started with explaining why they would take on Anthony.

"The Jazz can buoy the circumstances by taking on the balance of Anthony's contract. No, it's not a bank-breaking deal. He is owed just two years and $26.2 million after this one. But his shot-making has cratered—so much so that Banchero's injury has not prompted head coach Jamahl Mosley to significantly increase his minutes."

So, outside of being cheaper, it's a talent downgrade, but acquiring Anthony would also allow guys like George and Isaiah Collier to get more minutes and scoring opportunities, and that's precisely what the Jazz want, right?

He also explained how Da Silva also appeals to the Jazz.

"Although Utah has more than enough picks, it is light on outside selections in 2026. (It can swap firsts with Minnesota and Cleveland.) Da Silva's archetype is also one the Jazz don't currently have in real supply. Cody Williams and Johnny Juzang are pretty much their only true wings."

There might not be a better offer out there than this

This isn't a ton of value for someone who could potentially solve the Magic's problems all by himself. If they're at full-strength, Sexton could vault them up to another level. If this were during the days where teams didn't have to worry about tax aprons, this is a pretty bad deal. But we don't live in those days anymore.

We live in an age where teams are being extra careful with who they acquire and who they pay for because they don't want to deal with salary cap ramifications that come from crossing those tax aprons. The Jazz only agree to a trade like this because they want to trade Sexton by any means.

They don't seem to be there yet, but they very well could be if they embrace George and Collier, and that might not be too long from now.

Grade: B+