Keyonte George was so good for the Utah Jazz this past season that he effectively erased how disastrous the season was before that was for him. George played well enough to have a legitimate case to be the NBA's Most Improved Player (if it weren't for the fact that he didn't play enough games). More than that, George has played well enough that Utah won't even think to add a star like Ja Morant.
NBA Insider Jake Fischer revealed that the Jazz won't try to trade for Morant while adding that they already have the blossoming George who plays the same position the Memphis Grizzlies star does.
"Sources say that the Jazz, who have the emerging Keyonte George at the forefront of their backcourt, are not currently regarded as a possible landing spot for Morant with Memphis widely expected to resume its efforts to trade him in the coming weeks," Fischer wrote.
Technically, Fischer didn't connect the dots, but it's pretty clear that they are. There's simply no need for someone like Morant with George coming into his own this past season. George has also proven that he is a good example for this team in terms of character, which is something Morant has struggled with over the past few years.
George has given Utah every indication he should be part of the future
George's talent was never in question, but when he didn't take the steps Utah hoped he would in Year 2, there were a lot of questions about if he was worth keeping around. It was clear George took that to heart, and aimed to turn his talent into something worthwhile.
It's not that George necessarily developed a better first step or became a better shooter. He simply just got smarter as a player. The efficiency and better playmaking were exciting developments, but it was also his ability to draw free throws and getting better at picking his spots that made him look like a franchise building block.
A year after it truly looked as though George wouldn't be part of the Jazz's long-term future, now it looks like they found the Donovan Mitchell replacement they've been on the prowl for ever since they traded him almost four years ago.
He's played so well that it's a fair question as to whether, in a vacuum, Morant is better than George going forward. Morant has gotten himself into some controversies, but he's also been quite injury-prone over the past few seasons. George didn't have the healthiest season, but one could argue that his injuries may have been part of Utah's efforts to tank.
Regardless, George has been good enough that Utah has no reason to think it's in their best interest to add someone like Morant regardless of what's happened. What is yet to be determined is whether that will be the team's best decision going forward.
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