The Utah Jazz just keep winning the Rudy Gobert trade. Not only were they able to complete the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade because of their surplus of draft picks, but without the Gobert trade, they wouldn’t have landed Walter Clayton Je. And he was a part of getting the Jackson trade done.
In the long run, the Jazz trading Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves was what allowed them to make the Jackson trade at this year’s deadline. And even though Utah hasn’t played a ton of games with Jackson in the lineup, it’s clear that they have the talent to win. They just don’t want to right now.
But the future looks bright.
Rudy Gobert trade made the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade possible
When the Jazz traded Gobert, it was the start of a new era in Utah. They were hitting the reset button, and moving on from Gobert and Donovan Mitchell was the first step in that.
They shipped Gobert to the Wolves, and in return, they got a ton of draft capital (plus a few decent players who never ended up spending much time in a Jazz uniform).
First and foremost, at the 2025 NBA Draft, they were able to get Clayton because of the Gobert trade. Utah had the No. 21 pick in the draft, which they received in the Gobert trade, but they packaged it to move up and pick Clayton at No. 18.
Then, just a few months into his rookie season, Clayton was traded again. But this time, he was included in the deal that ended up sending Jackson to the Jazz.
But that’s not where the spider web ends.
Utah also got back Malik Beasley in the Gobert trade. They sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers and got back a 2027 first-rounder. Then, they sent that first to the Memphis Grizzlies in the Jackson trade.
Memphis also received the most favorable of the Jazz’s, Timberwolves’, and Cleveland Cavaliers’ first-rounders in 2027, which Utah was able to make happen because they own the Wolves’ first (from the Gobert trade).
And when Jackson has been on the floor for the Jazz this year, they’ve been good. So good, in fact, that Utah had to shut him, Lauri Markkanen, and others down in order to tank effectively.
It looks like the trio of Jackson, Markkanen, and Keyonte George could place the Jazz back in the playoff picture as soon as next year. They just keep building and improving.
And in the process, because of the Jackson trade, the Gobert deal keeps looking better and better for Utah.
They were able to make a big splash trade without gutting their draft war chest.