Grade the trade pitch: Jazz acquire Brandon Ingram in blockbuster package
By Matt John
Linking Brandon Ingram to the Utah Jazz sounds unbelievable, given the Jazz's current situation and Ingram's status as a veteran. However, the two sides have been mentioned together in recent trade rumors.
No one knows how serious the Jazz's interest is. However, with Markkanen locked up long-term, Ingram suddenly isn't a farfetched idea. He might not be someone who Jazz fans will unanimously want, but he is an All-Star-caliber player who's still decently young.
If the smoke is real, Sports Illustrated's Jackson Caudell proposed the following trade in an August 7 story.
Hawks Receive: Walker Kessler
Pelicans Receive: Clint Capela and Jordan Clarkson
Jazz Receive: Brandon Ingram and Cody Zeller
Caudell explains why the Jazz would do this trade, citing that the Jazz could have a solid season while developing their young talent.
'"Utah could... buy low on a talented player like Ingram and pair him with Markkanen. That might not guarantee the Jazz a playoff spot, but they would be in the mix for a play-in tournament spot and still have plenty of draft picks to be able to make a move later to add to this duo. They also have a lot of talented young players like Keyonte George and Cody Williams around them."
He also explained why the Jazz would not pull the trigger, citing the consequences of acquiring Ingram.
"Ingram is due a new contract and Utah might not want to be paying him and Markkanen huge money. While Ingram is good, he also does not make them a contender and ensures that they are not going to be in position for a high draft pick in a loaded 2025 draft class, unless they get some lottery luck."
Caudell makes solid points on all counts. However, there are more reasons for why the Jazz would not make a trade like this.
The Jazz can't actually do this trade financially
The Jazz could have made a trade like this before they extended Markkanen because they had the cap room to do it, but they don't anymore, thanks to the Markkanen extension. Shams Charania, Tony Jones, and Anthony Slater explained in an August 6 story how Markkanen's extension will lead to a pay raise for the 2024-25 season.
"The deal will come via a renegotiation-and-extend, using the Jazz’s $33 million of open salary-cap space... Utah is able to give Markkanen his maximum salary of $42.2 million this upcoming season by using $24.13 million of that cap space to add to his current $18 million salary."
So they used most of their available cap room on giving him a massive raise. This means it can't just be Kessler and Clarkson who go out when Ingram comes back since he makes more than double of what they make.
Now, if another Jazz contract like Collin Sexton's or John Collins' was included, this deal could work, but it's hard to imagine the Hawks wanting either one of those players. Especially in the latter's case since they were the ones who traded Collins to Utah for virtually nothing in the first place.
So this trade could work but it would take more.
The Jazz shouldn't give up on Kessler so soon
It is true that Kessler disappointed in his sophomore season, but he's not the first player to do that, and he won't be the last. The Jazz are going to throw him to the wolves this season hoping to see him not only get back to his rookie form but perhaps even take another step forward.
The Jazz have no reason to lose patience in him because he has shown his value. They have given up on other young prospects in the past, like Ochai Agbaji, but that's because he was not getting better.
Is Kessler untouchable? Of course not, but it's hard to see any scenario where the Jazz would trade him where they wouldn't get an unquestionable upgrade for him. Anyone with half a brain would trade Kessler for Nikola Jokic, but anyone with a full-sized brain would probably think twice about trading him for Ingram.
The Jazz may very well try their hardest to get Ingram before the season starts, but including Kessler in that package seems like an overpay.
Grade: D