The Utah Jazz traded John Konchar most likely because he wasn't going to play much and because Josh Green was the safer bet. It also freed up a roster spot, which could come in handy down the line this season. However, Konchar is now a free agent after the Minnesota Timberwolves waived and stretched him.
Konchar isn't among the league's best role players, but he is a try-hard who is the perfect buy-low candidate that contenders both seek and value to round out their rotation. He reportedly has a suitor already.
SNY's Ian Begley revealed that the New York Knicks, the reigning NBA Champions, are looking into bringing him.
"Per SNY sources, guard-forward John Konchar and forward-center Drew Eubanks are among the players on New York’s radar as we draw closer to training camp. Konchar, recently waived and stretched after a trade to Minnesota, is known as a strong rebounder/defender/offensive connector who can knock down perimeter shots over his seven-year NBA career."
(How many Jazz fans remember the Drew Eubanks era?)
The Knicks are hoping to do something no team has done this decade: repeat as NBA Champions. Konchar won't necessarily guarantee that if added to the team, but in today's NBA, getting a productive player for pennies is a huge deal because that opportunity doesn't come all that often. Especially this late in the offseason.
Konchar has more appeal because he's already getting paid in dead money. Not to mention, he'll be playing for a new deal, giving him extra motivation.
The Jazz alum is not the perfect role player. If he were, Utah never would have traded him to begin with. He is good enough that the Knicks are absolutely right to look into adding him. If they add him before the season starts, the reigning champs just got a solid reinforcement for cheap.
The Jazz knew what they were doing
Utah knew this was a possibility when they made the deal in the first place. Once you trade a player, it's no longer in your control what happens next. Like any team, they simply don't care what happens next with the players they trade away. They should only care about what's best for them, and the trades they've made took care of problems before they became problems in the first place.
If Konchar goes to the Knicks and he hypothetically not only thrives but also helps them win another title, many may wonder what Utah was thinking when they traded him away. That's just the price to pay when trying to build a title contender the right way. Especially during a time when that's harder to do than ever.
Besides, when the time comes, and it might be sooner rather than later, the Jazz might very well be in the same position to add a Konchar-type like the Knicks are.
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