Grade the trade pitch: Jazz give up hefty price for Brandon Ingram
By Matt John
While it does make some sense if the Utah Jazz entertained trading John Collins for Brandon Ingram, it would depend on what else would go into the trade.
Ingram could vault the Jazz to another level, but knowing that he's both injury-prone on top of having an expiring contract, there's some risk there. Hence, he should come at a certain price, but not an unreasonable one.
Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus proposed a three-way trade that would wend Ingram to the Jazz involving Collins. However, other assets are also thrown into the following hypothetical trade between the Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans, and Brooklyn Nets.
Jazz receive: Ingram, Day'Ron Sharpe
Pelicans receive: Cameron Johnson, Walker Kessler, $13.5 million TPE from Ingram
Nets receive: Collins, Brice Sensabaugh, 2025 first-round pick (higher between Cavaliers and Timberwolves)
Why the Jazz agree to the trade (according to Pincus)
Pincus explained why the Jazz would be willing to include Kessler in the deal for Ingram.
"Per sources, Utah has discussed Kessler previously in trade, including a stalled conversation with the New York Knicks. He doesn't seem part of the team's long-term plan, and the Jazz get a replacement in Sharpe from the Nets.
"Sharpe, who played 15.1 minutes last season backing up Nic Claxton in Brooklyn, is extension-eligible until the start of the summer or will be restricted in 2025. Getting him on an economic contract before the season is a potential bonus in the deal for the Jazz."
Pincus added what else would have to happen for the Jazz to agree to a deal for Ingram.
"The working assumption is that Utah and Ingram agree to an extension (immediately or after six months for a longer deal). The Jazz also give up Brice Sensabaugh, the No. 28 pick in 2023, but they may have too many young players to develop all at once—also why letting go of one of their three picks in 2025 for Ingram makes sense."
He also admitted that making this trade would hurt the Jazz's chances of getting Cooper Flagg, so it would depend on when exactly they agreed to a deal.
"Adding Ingram could endanger the Jazz's "tank" position, and the team may prefer to do this deal closer to the trade deadline after the race to the bottom has been more readily secured. But waiting generates its own risk; Markkanen and Ingram may not mind taking a mulligan 2024-25 season if they're both locked in on long-term contracts."
Walker Kessler is the real X-Factor in this trade
This is a rare opportunity for Utah to get an All-Star caliber player at a low price. Trading Kessler after he came off a disappointing sophomore campaign could be a massive payoff if his most recent play then proves to not be an accident.
At the same time, no one knows if it was, which is why the Jazz may want to see how Kessler does in his third season. That's why a trade like this should only happen if it's absolutely clear Kessler is more like the player he was in his sophomore season than his rookie season.
If his performance is, at best, a mixed bag, and as long as Ingram has a clear bill of health along with his future secured in Utah, then this deal is one that Utah should make without hesitation.
But if Kessler not only returns to form but may also be even better than how he played in his rookie season, they should still pursue the deal but remove him from the framework.
The problem would be that New Orleans would likely not consider this deal unless Kessler is in it.
Grade: B