Don't speed up the timeline: How the Jazz should navigate the trade deadline

The Jazz have shown interest in trading for available star players. Patience is key in player development--don't speed up the timeline!

Dejounte Murray shoots over Kelly Olynyk as the Utah Jazz face the Atlanta Hawks.
Dejounte Murray shoots over Kelly Olynyk as the Utah Jazz face the Atlanta Hawks. | Alex Goodlett/GettyImages
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Should the Jazz be sellers?

Jordan Clarkson, Cam Thomas
Jordan Clarkson drives against Cam Thomas as the Utah Jazz face the Brooklyn Nets. | Sarah Stier/GettyImages

Utah has assets, and teams across the league want those assets. While rumors of a Lauri Markkanen trade began circulating as the Jazz sputtered to begin the season, Utah isn't going to trade their young star. Meanwhile, Jordan Clarkson and Kelly Olynyk have been garnering plenty of attention across the league, per Michael Scotto of Hoopshype.

"“Whatever team can get Clarkson will be a game changer,” an NBA scout told HoopsHype. “I think he’s the best of the volume scorers available on the trade market.”

[...]

Olynyk has drawn interest from various teams across the league, sources say, and is considered Utah’s top trade candidate ahead of the deadline by rival executives as he prepares to enter unrestricted free agency in the summer."
Hoopshype

Clarkson and Olynyk are 31 and 32 years old, respectively. They are the only players on the Jazz roster older than 30. Young talent is the emphasis for young rebuilding teams, and Utah does not need to keep players like these two who will muck up the depth chart and leech minutes that could be given to developing talent--starving for more game experience.

Selling could be a good idea for Utah. It would allow the Jazz to focus on developing George, Hendricks, Agbaji, and other young talent. Their youth is their future, and by the time those players are ready to compete in the playoffs, older players like Clarkson and Olynyk may be out of the picture anyway. I like the idea of selling for the Jazz, but only if the return is enough to support the team's future aspirations. Draft picks and young players with potential should be the target return. Clarkson and Olynyk are good players though, and great culture guys. If a good offer isn't available, retaining these players is the right move.

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