29 Utah Jazz Trade Proposals

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The Utah Jazz need to decide which direction the team is headed. Fans are split on whether to continue to make a playoff push or to rebuild. After trading for Derrick Favors and drafting Enes Kanter, the Jazz have a logjam in their front-court with five players eligible at PF/C. Utah risks stunting the growth of their rookies if they keep veterans, but risk missing the playoffs if they open up space by trading for draft picks.

I determined potential trades with all 29 other teams that would help select a direction for the team.

Atlanta Hawks

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Al Jefferson for Josh Smith

The Hawks have been actively shopping Josh Smith and he could provide what the Jazz so sorely need: rebounding. J-Smoove would be the starting SF and would maintain Kirilenko’s defensive legacy at the 3.

Boston Celtics

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Devin Harris + Paul Millsap + (any picks/players necessary) for Rajon Rondo + Jermaine O’Neal

The Celtics claimed that no one on the roster is safe from a trade and, although this would likely never go down, the Jazz need to be considering ways to acquire a D-Will caliber PG. O'Neal would likely be bought out and head right back to Boston.

Charlotte Bobcats

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Mehmet Okur + CJ Miles for Boris Diaw

Bobcats acquire a young piece and the Jazz delay the uncertainty of their SF position for a year while they determine how Air Gordon, Alec Burks, and Jeremy Evans will develop, or if they can draft Harrison Barnes in 2012.

Chicago Bulls

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Sign and trade AK47 + Mehmet Okur + Alec Burks for Keith Bogans + Luol Deng

My first goal in this trade scenario is to plant a second Jazz team in Chicago and the second is to help the Jazz, but it could work. Burks would provide a SG scorer that the Bulls crave.

Cleveland Cavaliers

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CJ Miles for Ramon Sessions

The Jazz get a serviceable backup PG and Cleveland relieves their PG logjam to improve at their wing.

CJ Miles + Mehmet Okur for Antawn Jamison

Expiring contracts galore. If the Jazz don’t see CJ as a long term player, they could turn Memo into an AK46.5 in Jamison

Dallas Mavericks

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Nothing

After thinking of ways to reunite Devin Harris with Mark Cuban, I have come up with nothing. The Jazz have nothing to gain trading with Dallas.

Denver Nuggets

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Paul Millsap for signed and traded Wilson Chandler OR Paul Millsap for Danilo Gallinari +  Koufos/Mozgov

The Nuggets and the Jazz should be making a trade despite being division rivals. K-mart is not going to be a Nugget and Al Harrington is simply not going to cut it as a PF. They are reportedly considering starting Kenneth Faried, but his offensive abilities are very limited. Denver is stocked with wings and needs a PF. Utah is stocked with power forwards and needs a wing. Make some calls.

Detroit Pistons

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Paul Millsap + CJ Miles for Richard Hamilton + Brandon Knight rights

The Jazz made attempts to trade the 12^th pick and a future first rounder only to be rejected. The Jazz need to keep trying. The Pistons need size to pair with Greg Monroe and could spare one of Brandon Knight, combo guard Rodney Stuckey, and Will Bynum. The Jazz could get Rip and take his “Rip” off contract which will be enough to fill the SG slot and acquire PG of the future Brandon Knight. The Pistons get Millsap to pair with Greg Monroe to make a formidable frontcourt with Villanueva backing them up.

Golden State Warriors

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No possible trades

The Jazz could offer assets for Stephon Curry, but the Warriors are looking to move Ellis and not Curry. Sure, the Jazz could dangle Jefferson for Ellis, but that makes the Jazz defense worse than it already is, and helps Golden State way more. After all, the Jazz want the Warriors to be lousily mediocre so the Jazz-owned GSW 2012 top 7 protected draft pick pays out at a good spot in next year’s deep draft.

Houston Rockets

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Al Jefferson for Flynn/Dragic and Kevin Martin

Houston desires the services of a big man so much that they were reportedly trying to acquire Biedrins’s toxic contract. Flynn or Dragic would not be the future point guard, but they are young and decent backup PGs. K-mart fills a huge need for Utah while he is ultimately being shopped for rebuilding pieces. This helps both teams and is one of the more plausible trades.

Indiana Pacers

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Al Jefferson for Danny Granger; Millsap for James Posey + 2 first round picks

Indiana has foul-prone Roy Hibbert and Tyler Hansbrough as their only bigs. I have no idea if they will resign Josh McBob, but Jefferson would make a great PF with Hibbert to help on defense. Pacers then start Paul George at SF and have Jones and Rush play SG. It also makes tons of sense for the Jazz to have all-star Danny Granger handling the SF position.

L.A. Clippers

Former Jazz point guard Jason Hart going to "work"
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Nothing

Wait, maybe. Does Jason Hart or Brevin Knight still play for them? Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan eliminate any frontcourt needs the Clippers might have had. Both L.A. and the Jazz need an SF so no deal.

L.A. Lakers

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Nothing

Unless it’s a trophy they are offering for a trade, forget it.

Memphis Grizzlies

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Devin Harris for Mike Conley + Ishmael Smith

After a serious run in the playoffs, Grizzlies have the opportunity to trade for win-now point guard Devin Harris. The Jazz gain a 24-year-old true point guard in Conley who is in the mold of typical Jazz point guards.

Miami Heat

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Nothing

They have zero tradable assets. Maybe the Utah Jazz could trade for their coach.

Milwaukee Bucks

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Devin Harris + Paul Millsap for Beno Udrih + Brandon Jennings + Carlos Delfino + Ersan Ilyasova

No chance exists of this materializing. Bucks do not want to trade Jennings, but this is what a trade would have to look like should the Jazz lock horns with the Deer.

Minnesota Timberwolves

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Raja Bell for Anyone

If the rumor that Raja Bell could be the veteran that the young TWolves covet, the Jazz will not ask for much.

New Jersey Nets

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Al Jefferson for Travis Outlaw and first round pick

NJ is under the cap enough to absorb the rest of AJ’s salary which makes the trade work. This trade gives D-Will the chance to make good on his promise to turn Al Jefferson into an All Star. Outlaw could find minutes at Utah’s SF position and NJ would love to unload his mistake of a contract.

New Orleans Hornets

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Paul Millsap for Trevor Ariza

Now that David West has opted out of his contract, the Hornets would be in need of a PF. However, Ariza was not very exciting outside of the playoffs.

New York Knicks

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Devin Harris + Raja Bell for Chauncey Billups + Landry Fields/Toney Douglas/first round pick in 2027

If the Jazz decide to blow up their team, this is an option, but NY is a team with few assets after being picked dry by Denver.

Oklahoma City Thunder

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Raja Bell +Jeremy Evans for Nate Robinson

The Thunder are not expected to be very active in the trade market, but Russell Westbrook and Eric Maynor, thanks to Matt Harpring, make KryptoNate expendable. The Thunder are young and could use Raja Bell’s experience. The Jazz desperately need a backup Point. Zero chance of Westbrook being on the market.

Orlando Magic

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Paul Millsap for JJ Reddick + 2013 first round pick

The Magic do this because they are desperate to keep Dwight and need a PF. They fail to re-sign him and Utah gets a sweet lottery pick.

Philidelphia 76ers

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Al Jefferson for Andre Iguodala

The Sixers need size, and AJ would fit that need. The Jazz thin out the logjam and replace AK47 with a talented all around player. Iggy has a longer contract than AJ so it likely won’t work without some sweetening from Philly. Sweeten is a showbiz term that means to add sugar to (RIP Mitch Hedberg).

Phoenix Suns

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Paul Millsap for Robin Lopez + Mickael Pietrus + 2012 first round pick

This was the consensus deal between Jazz and Suns blog commenters. The Suns need a starting caliber PF and no longer require Lopez who would only need 15 mpg with the Jazz opening up minutes for rookies.

Portland Trail Blazers

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Paul Millsap for Wesley Matthews

This would be what the 2004 presidential election should have been: the correction of a big mistake. I regrettably supported the decision to let the Blazers pay for their bullying while Matthews laughed all the way to the bank. However, he is a key player for the team and I don’t see Portland dealing Wes because of Roy’s health, signing Oden to a qualifying offer, and the loss of Rudy Fernandez.

Sacramento Kings

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Al Jefferson + Alec Burks + (any desired picks) for Francisco Garcia + Tyreke Evans

No chance, but for fun I will make the argument. The Kings will not retain ring-thirsty Samuel Dalembert and Sacramento has a real need at center even with JJ Hickson on the team. Al Jefferson can be acquired because the Kings are under the salary cap and are also itching to unload Garcia. No way they unload their franchise player, but then again there is no Point to having Evans, Jimmer, and Thornton as guards. No Point in the whole bunch. Puns anyone?

San Antonio Spurs

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Nothing

When you trade with the Spurs, you usually will lose. Besides, the Spurs do not have any desirable assets now that Tony Parker will likely not be traded.

Toronto Raptors

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Nothing

The Raptors are loaded in their frontcourt and have few players of use to the Jazz.

Washington Wizards

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CJ Miles for Chris Singleton

The Wizards have Rashard Lewis, Jan Vesely, and possibly Josh Howard hogging the SF minutes. CJ could help at SG while the Jazz gain a defensive addition to shore up their lousy defensive effort last season.

 

Do any of these trade scenarios seem possible and beneficial? Do you have a trade proposal that could help the Utah Jazz?

Overview

Do any of these trade scenarios seem possible and beneficial?

Do you have a trade proposal that could help the Utah Jazz?