Utah Jazz fans shouldn't expect many fireworks at the NBA Trade Deadline. The team has expendable players for sure, but they are not on the same talent level as the players with the same label on last year's team. However, they could take advantage of a team's desperation to improve, as they did last year when they acquired an unprotected pick from Phoenix. This year, that would be the Los Angeles Lakers.
As everyone should remember from last year, the Jazz traded three of their picks for the Suns' unprotected first-round pick in 2031. The condition of those picks they sent is that Phoenix would get the worst pick between Utah, Cleveland, and Minnesota in 2025, 2027, and 2029. Why did the Suns do this? Because they hoped to dangle those picks in other trades, and it turned out to be a big WHOOPS!
The Suns already looked like they were pretty much out of options, but once they traded Kevin Durant, this trade looked even smarter than it already was. Phoenix might be in a better place now, but their long-term options are not great, and the Jazz are in a prime position to capitalize.
The Jazz can do it again with the Lakers. Kevin O'Connor revealed on his podcast that the Lakers plan to do what the Suns are doing by dangling their 2032 first-round pick for more picks to dangle in other trades.
Silver Screen & Roll's Jacob Rude mentioned the Jazz as a team that could help with the Lakers with this, too. Utah still has quite a few draft assets in its arsenal, and the team signaled through that Suns trade last year that they don't want more assets, but better.
It would be a bit more complicated than it was last year with the Suns because they don't have as many, but the option is definitely there to work out a deal.
They could also improve their asset the Lakers currently owe them
If the Jazz want to exchange quantity for quality again and believe the Lakers are a legitimate trade partner in this scenario, not only could they try to get that 2032 pick, but could also strengthen the asset they acquired from the Lakers three years ago when they acquired LA's top-four protected 2027 first-round pick.
That would probably require giving up more assets than they did when they traded with the Suns last year, but it might be worth it with all of the long-term uncertainty with the Lakers. They may have Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves all on the same team, but there has been some trouble in paradise lately. The supporting cast around them, simply put, isn't talented nor cohesive enough with their three stars.
Making it even harder is that LeBron and Reaves will want new deals this summer, and with Doncic locked up long-term, the Lakers have to decide wisely on their best long-term move. The Jazz will also be right there to make them uncomfortable this offseason with Reaves. The pressure will be on the Lakers to build a winner.
To think that the Jazz can take advantage of their desperation while simultaneously screwing them over this summer is pretty wild.