Grade the trade: Jazz acquire All-Star point guard in proposed deal

Would the Jazz make this trade?

From Utah's side of things, putting Trae Young in their starting lineup could be the best option to get them back in the playoff picture as soon as next season. When looking at the Jazz's roster, it is obvious there are a lot of solid pieces to work with if you are Will Hardy and his staff.

Lauri Markkanen is pretty clearly Utah's best player at the moment, and his impact in the frontcourt as a scorer is substantial. Keyonte George is a promising young star on the perimeter, and Jordan Clarkson's steady contributions off the bench are a big boost as well. Add in Walker Kessler ideally bouncing back from his sophomore slump, and one of the only big holes the Jazz have would be at point guard.

Adding Trae Young to the mix would have the potential to significantly boost Utah's offensive output. Not only is Trae a fantastic scorer, but he is an all-world passer and playmaker, having averaged over 10 assists per game for the second straight season in 2023-24. It is very reasonable to think Markkanen, Clarkson and others would all benefit from having Young there to get them the ball.

For the Jazz, this is exactly the kind of play you want to make when you have the draft capital to pull it off. A player as talented as Trae Young does not become available every offseason, and his fit with this roster would have the potential to be seamless. If a deal like this were on the table in real life, Utah would have to go for it.