Jazz's controversial move vindicated by Isaiah Collier's historic performance

The Utah Jazz made an all-in move when they acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. Player-wise, the most exciting one they sent back was Walter Clayton Jr., leaving Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier as the Jazz's only pure guards on the roster.

Clayton showed off his talent in Utah, and it's very possible he will be a valuable player not too far down the line, but that's what teams who want to win have to give up for players like Jackson. It can be a tough pill to swallow, but Isaiah Collier's historic performance last night should comfort any fans nervous about Clayton coming back to bite them.

Collier making Jazz history isn't exactly *new* news. He did that last year to the point that it was a travesty that he didn't make an All-Rookie team. However, Collier hasn't gotten much love this year. An injury before the season and Keyonte George's ascension have made him somewhat forgotten.

Now that Utah is down a guard and have signaled that things are about to change next year, this is Collier's chance to prove to the fanbase the kind of player they have in him again. He probably won't reach the level George has, but luckily, he doesn't have to.

At this stage, all he has to prove is that Utah was right to risk trading Clayton away. Granted, they got a proven two-way star, but even in trades like those, sending away players who fill in the gaps like Clayton can be costly if he turns out to be excellent combined with the Jazz missing what he brought. That's where Collier comes in.

Having an elite distributor on the bench could be an important asset for the Jazz's playoff aspirations next season. Collier's warts are still there: a little too small and not a floor-spacer. However, nights like last night show the kind of player Collier can be when he's got it going, which can go a long way in helping Utah forget about Clayton.

The next step for Isaiah Collier

Okay, we already discussed his flaws, and it's a strong possibility that he will never get past them, but what Collier has to do next is prove that what he did last night is something he can do against good teams.

The Pacers are worse than the Jazz this season - which makes Pascal Siakam's All-Star nod even more ridiculous, with all due respect to him and all things considered - so games like those make it easier for Collier to make himself stand out.

Next season, the kid gloves are coming off when the Jazz trot out their likely starting lineup of George, Jackson, Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, and Ace Bailey. That means they will start demanding more out of their guys, and now that their backcourt rotation is smaller, that will especially be the case with Collier.

He has proven his talent, but next year, fans will see if his contributions will be meaningful. If he can build on performances like last night, then there should little to worry about from him.