Grade the trade idea: Jazz deal Walker Kessler, reunite Jordan Clarkson with old team

The Utah Jazz are in a position to do practically whatever they want this season. With minimal expectations coming in, they're free to do whatever they want. That includes trading whoever they want, though for obvious reasons, they have to watch who they trade.

When the words "Jazz" and "trade" are paired together, the two most commonly named players are Walker Kessler and Jordan Clarkson, though for different reasons. Kessler was named because he was in trade rumors all offseason long, and they still haven't died down. In Clarkson's case, it's because it makes sense knowing how he doesn't fit the Jazz's long-term plans.

So it would make some sense if the Jazz traded them both, but it would all depend on what they get back. Silver Screen & Roll's Jacob Rude proposed the following trade between the Jazz and Lakers to make that happen.

Lakers get: Kessler and Clarkson

Jazz get: D'Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2029 Lakers first-round pick, 2031 Lakers' first-round pick

Rude didn't explain why the Jazz would agree to a trade like this but why the Lakers would. His explanation doesn't bear repeating because it doesn't take much critical thought to understand why the Lakers would make a trade like this.

But would the Jazz?

There is some appeal to this trade for the Jazz

It's common knowledge now that the Lakers want Kessler. Better yet, recent info has leaked that the Jazz are actually interested in Hood-Schifino because he came up in Kessler discussions. Clearly, there's some potential there since they are not his only suitor.

The only appeal someone like Russell has is his expiring contract, so getting off of Clarkson's deal for him isn't the worst idea. Make no mistake, though: Russell's value as a player is quite literally at zero if it wasn't before.

Yikes. It wouldn't be earth-shattering to suggest that the Jazz would promptly waive Russell like they did Russell Westbrook upon trading for him both times.

The biggest appeal of all, of course, is owning the Lakers' future, but it would depend on the protections that those picks would have. If it's lottery protected, that's not really good value for Utah, but if they have the same value as the pick that the Lakers already owe the Jazz in 2027, then that's an amazing deal.

But the Jazz say no

The Jazz already turned down a trade like this from the Lakers, signifying that it will take more than offering the chance of cap flexibility and picks to get Kessler. This isn't a terrible proposal, but it's not rich enough for the Jazz's taste.

Kessler might be available, but the Jazz are setting a high price for him and want more favors than cap flexibility and picks in exchange for him. It'd be nice to get Clarkson off their payroll, but it's been very much understood for quite some time that John Collins has negative value on the Jazz right now, so they would definitely push to trade him instead of Clarkson.

Clarkson may be hard to trade, but there's not much of an issue financially with paying him for the next two years. Collins is owed a lot more, so if the Lakers want to, say, offer this same deal only with more expiring contracts to match for Collins, that's how a trade could be agreed to.

But because the one being floated is Clarkson, whom the Jazz aren't as desperate to get rid of as they are Collins, no deal.

This isn't a terrible offer by any means, but the Jazz are in a good position to take advantage of the Lakers if they're serious about Kessler. They shouldn't have to settle for trading Clarkson because they don't have to. If the Lakers are willing to take Collins, though, the Jazz should jump at it immediately.

Grade: C+