The NBA is entering trade season.
December 15th is the open date that players who signed in the 2023 offseason become eligible to be traded. As such, it is the unofficial open date of trade season each year, which runs through the Trade Deadline in February.
Per the Salt Lake Tribune and Hoopshype, the Utah Jazz have several players projected to be on the trading block. Jordan Clarkson (eligible to be traded January 4th), Collin Sexton, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Kelly Olynyk are names that have been floated in trade rumors for the Jazz already, so those were not a surprise.
But John Collins, the biggest Jazz acquisition of the off-season, is a strange inclusion, especially where he has multiple seasons left under contract, and his play hasn't raised his trade value on the open market. Have the Jazz given up on him already?
Danny Ainge may not be thinking that this team can rebound to reach the playoffs, as that would likely take a 32-26 record or better over the final 58 games of the season. And if the Jazz did turn things around, only to lose in the first round, would they be any better off than when they dealt Donovan and Rudy away?
With that mindset, John Collins on the block makes a lot of sense, and the Jazz should be sellers in this market.
The priority for the Jazz, with their record at 8-16, should be to open opportunities for Taylor Hendricks, Brice Sensabaugh, Ochai Agbaji, Walker Kessler, and Keyonte George to play minutes in as many games as possible. Clearing some of the veterans out would make that happen quickly, even if it means more losses in the short term.
Teams like Chicago, Toronto, Orlando, Indiana, Golden State, Sacramento, Dallas, and the LA Lakers figure to be active in this trade season, and the Jazz could pick up some nice young players and draft capital if they play their cards right.