Jazz would be perfect trade partner for slumping contender (but there's 1 problem)

The Utah Jazz might be bad, but at least they won't suffer any ramifications for being the team they are. Pending any surprises, they're going to have a high lottery pick, and still have plenty of options for where to go long-term.

When you compare Utah's situation to the Milwaukee Bucks, it's hard not to think Utah is in a better place than them. Milwaukee may have a better record—by exactly one game—but they don't get to fall back on a high lottery pick, and they were supposed to be good.

Their issues go beyond Khris Middleton's absence (even scarier; no one knows when he's coming back). Without getting too much into it, the best way to summarize their issues is that their core just doesn't hold up as well as it once did. Either because they're too old or their guys don't perform at the level they once did.

So, where does that leave them? Well, desperate, obviously. They are fresh out of assets, which means they can't really get upgrades since most of their players' trade value are as low as they've ever been. If there's one team that would fit just right as a trade partner for the Bucks, it's the Jazz.

Why the two would work as trade partners

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been mentioned before as a potential trade target for the Jazz. The Jazz have the assets for him, but there would be some obstacles. Alas, this won't be to regurgitate what's already been said because, for the time being, Giannis isn't going anywhere, period.

The Bucks will overhaul their team before they even think about trading Giannis because he's Giannis. Moreover, that's exactly what they need to do if they want to salvage any hope they had for this season. The Jazz can provide that for them without having to involve any assets.

It seems odd to say this out loud, but the Bucks haven't even been average without Middleton. They've been flat-out bad. To solve this problem, they just need more youth and energy. You know who would bring that without having to cost anything from the Bucks' end? John Collins and Jordan Clarkson.

Brook Lopez is still a good player, but Father Time is catching up to him, and he's not slowing down. A youthful replacement could give the Bucks the energy they've sorely lacked this season. Collins is not the rim protector Lopez is, but he's playing with a massive chip on his shoulder, which has made him one of the Jazz's biggest standouts.

A stretch-five who can create his own shot and rebound to put next to Giannis would definitely work even with Collins' defensive shortcomings. Collins' positional versatility would also allow the Bucks to experiment with more lineups, which is an ingredient that a contender needs.

Since he's overpaid too, the Jazz would be more than happy to take only Lopez's deal for him. Clarkson isn't overpaid like Collins is, but the Jazz have no long-term use for him, and since the Bucks lack a second unit scorer, Clarkson would be of good use for them.

Clarkson still has the goods this season, and the Bucks' second unit, while better on paper, still is a little weak on that front. Like Collins, Clarkson also gives them more lineup options as a combo guard. Warts and all, he gives the Bucks versatility in their backcourt.

As far as guys who can be had without giving up assets in the process, Collins and Clarkson may be the best the Bucks could hope for. Sadly, there's one hangup.

The problem is that the contracts (barely) don't match

A Lopez-for-Collins swap does not work financially because Collins makes $3.5 million more than Lopez. In Clarkson's case, the Bucks would offer Bobby Portis' contract to match, but Clarkson makes $1.5 million more than him.

Because the Bucks have crossed the NBA's second tax apron, they also can't aggregate contracts in trades. It really is a shame because the Jazz would be more than happy to get off Collins and Clarkson if it means they get to save money and don't have to trade off their own assets to do it. Since they're a tanker by design, trading them won't hurt their standing too badly.

It's instances like these that serve as a reminder of how much different the trading game is. If this option were actually available, a deal could have probably been agreed to by now. Because of the tax apron restrictions, the Bucks and Jazz will have to look elsewhere to solve their issues.