The NBA world was rocked late Saturday night with the Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis trade, and while the entire world was discussing the Lakers and the Mavericks, the Utah Jazz quietly were involved in the 3-team trade.
The Jazz acquired Jalen Hood-Schifino from the Lakers, the 2025 Clippers' second-round pick, and the 2025 Mavericks' second-round pick in the trade while giving up nothing except having to waive recently acquired Mo Bamba.
While this is by far the least talked about portion of the deal, the Jazz may be pretty happy with their part in it. Plus, they don't have to deal with any of the scrutiny or drama.
Jalen Hood-Schifino is... someone!
JHS, as he'll be referred to from here on out, has actually been a target for the Jazz for a couple of months now. Back when Walker Kessler-Lakers rumors were out and about in November, it had been reported that the Jazz had their eyes on him.
Now the Jazz have him on the roster without having to give up anything for him. Don't expect JHS to come in and be Donovan Mitchell, but he's an intriguing prospect that the Jazz can see his potential through. His short NBA career has been plagued with some injuries and a relatively deep guard rotation in LA, so a fresh start in Utah may just be what he needs for his career.
JHS played only one year in college at Indiana before being drafted 17th by the Lakers. He averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. His standout game was against Purdue, where he scored 35 points, leading them to an upset victory. He also brought home Big 10 Freshman of the Year honors.
At 6'6" with a 6'10" wingspan, JHS offers a lot of potential as a combo guard who can defend multiple positions and has shown proficiency in mid-range shooting. His three-point shot needs some work, and he is not an elite athlete, but he has some potential to grow into a good two-way player in the future.
That's why he and Utah are perfect for each other!
More draft capital please!
While two second-round picks from playoff teams do not seem like too much on their own, the Jazz are doing their best to offload players like Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, and John Collins, and they want first-round picks in return.
Throwing in some second-rounders into trades to sweeten the deal a bit could be just what they need to get an extra first-rounder back at the deadline. Alongside the second-round pick they acquired in the Eubanks trade, these picks could be used to acquire a better asset.
Grade: B
This is a potential no-risk, medium-reward move for the Jazz. The value of this trade may be identified over the next few days, but a solid B seems fair for now. Nothing huge, but the Jazz are seemingly positioning themselves for more moves at the deadline.