Fans of the Utah Jazz weren't happy with the decision to trade away anyone at the NBA trade deadline, let alone several of the team's best defenders. The Jazz made the call to trade Simone Fontecchio, Ochai Agbaji, and Kelly Olynyk in two separate trades to the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors respectively; two teams not expected to compete for the playoffs this season.
It was an odd set of moves, especially since the Jazz will be walking away with a very late-first-round pick and a very early second-round pick. Not exactly common places in the NBA Draft to find the next piece of the puzzle. Especially since Agbaji and Fontecchio were young (enough) and playing well for the Jazz. At least good on defense in Agbaji's case.
The moves were not wholly unexpected, as many thought that the moves would happen. In fact, many were shocked that bigger moves weren't made, specifically with Jordan Clarkson and John Collins. For some reason, the Jazz only dabbled in the waters this deadline season, and while the biggest of the big names didn't move, that doesn't mean the moves that were made weren't painful to the team's overall well-being.
Despite the trades, and the picks returned, many fans were hoping that the Jazz were actually going to make long-term additions to the team that could improve the roster this season and beyond. The fact they didn't does have some fans concerned about the direction they're going and where the immediate focus is.
Is it about building a winner around Lauri Markkanen or is this another decade-plus rebuild like the Philadelphia 76ers engaged in? (No winning season from 2006-2018).
What should the #UtahJazz do at the trade deadline?
— The J-Notes (@TheJNotes) February 7, 2024
Fans are clearly higher on the state of the team compared to management, who clearly don't feel that the team is competitive enough to invest money and resources into just yet. There's a genuine fear that the team knows this is a longer rebuild than they're admitting to, and that guys like Markkanen and Collin Sexton will eventually be moved sooner rather than later.
Until the Jazz start to make some big moves that fortify the roster, the concerns that this is a long, drawn-out rebuild, will linger. Especially if this team keeps trading away assets for pennies on the dollar come the trade deadline.