Ever since the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery unfolded, the Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz have been linked as trade partners. While it would make sense on both sides because the Jazz would want the No. 3 pick while the Sixers would love to get rid of Paul George, it's hard to find a compromise between the two sides. This proposed trade would be that compromise, as it wouldn't involve George.
PhillyVoice's Adam Aaronson proposed a trade between the Jazz and Sixers in which the two would agree to a pick swap, but other assets would also be thrown in there. He outlined the following deal.
Jazz trade: No 5. pick, 2027 first-round pick (second most favorable between Utah, Minnesota, and Cleveland), Taylor Hendricks
Sixers trade: No. 3 pick, Andre Drummond, Lonnie Walker IV
Aaronson explained what it would take for Utah to agree to this trade.
"Of course, this requires Utah actually feeling compelled to trade an asset or two of real significance to move up only two spots. That would mean they are infatuated with someone like (V.J.) Edgecombe or (Ace) Bailey, enough to pay 120 cents on the dollar in a deal like this," Aaronson wrote.
That truly is the million-dollar question. With so many talented prospects in this draft, there's a compelling case for the Jazz to stand pat with the No. 5 pick and simply let things play out until they are on the clock. It has been confirmed that Edgecombe is one of the players they would see as a "best-case scenario, so it would be a risk if Utah lets someone else scoop him up before they do.
A trade like this would allow them to get him (or any other player they may prefer) while making good use of their arsenal of draft assets. It truly would depend on whether there is a prospect that they would go out of their way to acquire.
There' is another major variable at play here.
Taylor Hendricks is an unknown quantity, but it's too soon to give up on him
It's difficult to say whether including Hendricks in the deal is too much because there is so little data on him as a player overall. He will be back at 100% physically next season, but before he suffered such a devastating injury, there was no telling what exactly he was as a player.
The Jazz picked him at No. 9 in 2023 because they saw him as a project with high-ceiling potential. While it may be a while before he rewards them for their faith (if he does), it would definitely seem too early to pull the plug on him unless it's clear he's a bust.
This trade is far from a bad idea because the Jazz should try to cash in on the treasure trove of draft assets they have, but in a perfect world, they would trade up for No. 5 without giving up one of their more ambiguous youth to do it.
Philadelphia and Utah could certainly be trade partners, and something like this is more realistic than any scenario involving George or Lauri Markkanen. If they do agree to a deal, and there honestly is no telling if they will, it wouldn't be shocking if it's not too far off from the details in this trader scenario.