The Jazz unknowingly gifted a playoff X-factor to a contender

Many expected the Utah Jazz to be active at the trade deadline, and they lived up to that expectation. Just not in the way many projected they would.

The Jazz were involved in four trades at the deadline. Two of which featured the two biggest names that were sent to a new team: Luka Doncic and Jimmy Butler. The Jazz came away with neither, and didn't get much from the trades, but they were instrumental in the league's most drastic mid-season changes.

Those trades could very much impact who wins the title. However, the Jazz may have swung a playoff series when they sent another player to a playoff contender.

The Jazz may have changed the Pistons' playoff fortunes

When the Butler trade was first announced, the Jazz acquired Dennis Schroder, who everyone knew wouldn't be on the team for long. Less than a day later, Schroder was sent to the Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons acquired Schroder because Jaden Ivey suffered a broken leg, and they needed a temporary replacement. With their playoff aspirations, Schroder fit like a glove in Motown. The stats don't show it, but Schroder has not only filled in well for Ivey, but he also gives the Pistons a proven playoff veteran.

He showed it when he hit the dagger three against the New York Knicks.

The Pistons were melting down in the closing minutes of Game 2 against the Knicks. Even though Detroit had done a pretty good job keeping New York at an arm's length for most of the game, the Knicks stormed back (again) to the point where the game was tied

Had the Pistons blown it, not only would they go back home down 0-2, but it would have been another heartbreaking and humiliating loss going into Game 3. Schroder just stopped that from happening.

It's plays like those that prove the Pistons were right to get Schroder when they had the chance. It also shows that the Jazz's fingerprints could be all over how that series turns out.

Now, no one should shame the Jazz for not holding a bidding war for Schroder because a, they didn't have time, and b, his contract was expiring, so it wasn't like teams were going to pay up for him.

This is more of a reflection of what happens when teams take advantage of rebuilding teams that are selling off veterans versus teams that don't. The Pistons throughout the season made it clear that they wanted to make the playoffs and do some damage while they were there. Ergo, they got Schroder.

Time will tell whether they will come up victorious over the Knicks, but the season will still go down as a success for Detroit no matter what, and if they advance, it just makes it all the better. If they do make it past the first round, it will be hard not to think Schroder had a big part in that, and it wouldn't have happened without the Jazz.

Ironically, the Jazz were also trying to sell off some of their other players, but nobody bit on them (though the Kings tried to get John Collins). The Pistons' success shows that teams should be willing to get an X-factor like him when the opportunity presents itself.

While teams may wonder where they could find it, the Jazz have three veterans who fit that bill in Collins, Jordan Clarkson, and Collin Sexton. Teams could decide not to chase after them, but do they really want to take their chances of their season ending in disappointment?

Detroit didn't, and look where they are now.