'Tis the season. Trading season that is, as the Utah Jazz may soon start making trades. Now that the first few dominoes have fallen this trading season, the Jazz have a clearer idea of the market for the players they will make available via trade.
Plenty of insiders have already confirmed that the Jazz have made multiple players available. However, just because some players are available to acquire from Utah does not mean it's all for the same reason.
Some of their players are available simply because they don't fit their current timeline. Others would only be available for a King's ransom, and even then, that might not be enough.
Really, the best way to sort out who among Jazz players are available is to rank who they are the most desperate to trade, from least to most.
5. Walker Kessler
Kessler has had an excellent season, so it's hard to believe the Jazz have made him available on the trade market. The only reason anyone considered trading him last offseason was that he had a sophomore slump. That's not the case this time, so if teams want him, they're paying through the nose to get him.
If the Jazz pull the trigger on trading Kessler, it's for the highest bid possible. His kind of production on a rookie contract would be worth a lot, so it's hard to see him going anywhere.
4. Drew Eubanks
Even before the December 15 date came around, the Jazz trading Eubanks felt inevitable, though that might not necessarily be right away. Eubanks is one of the more well-known backup bigs around the NBA who is adequately paid for what he does.
The Jazz already have plenty of big men in the rotation, including standout rookie Kyle Filipowski. Teams looking for a backup center will likely inquire about Eubanks' availability, and as long as the Jazz don't have to give up any assets, they'll likely oblige them.
At the same time, it's not like it will hurt them if they keep Eubanks for the whole season.
3. Collin Sexton
Sexton has taken a leap forward with the Jazz as an all-around player, which puts into question whether the Jazz are serious about trading him. Utah has made it more of an emphasis to see what Keyonte George is made of, which could signal that Sexton will have a new team by the deadline.
Besides Kessler, Sexton is the only player on this list who could realistically be traded for a young player and/or draft capital. He's very efficient as a scorer and he's ready now to help a team, but he's embraced the Jazz, which is why it might be hard for them to trade him.
Sexton's services is best used on a winning team, which is why the Jazz are seeing this through, but it's reasonable to think he'll only get traded if they get the right return for him.
2. Jordan Clarkson
Now we've reached the part where the Jazz's desperation to get rid of players is at, "Please, just take him." Many have wondered why Clarkson has stuck around, and the answer is because the Jazz thought that they would be able to sell him off for assets.
Now, that's out of the picture. Lucky for the Jazz, Clarkson isn't overpaid for what he does, and he has appeal as a microwave scorer to teams looking for precisely that. Because the Nets didn't get much for Dennis Schroder, who has been better than Clarkson this season, whose contract is expiring, the Jazz should anticipate that being their return for Clarkson if they get one.
1. John Collins
Collins has been one of the best plotlines for the Jazz this season. So much so that a solid portion of the fanbase doesn't want him gone after how well he's played. However, it's hard not to think that the Jazz won't try to get him off their payroll the first chance they get.
At least now, he's cleared up any negative perceptions about him. Those who want him gone don't feel that way out of frustration. Instead, they feel that way because what he's done this season has demonstrated that he should be on a winning team that could use him.
Utah got Collins for free basically, and after the play he's had, they could trade him without having to worry about giving up assets. They probably like more, but beggars can't be choosers.