NBA Trade Deadline: The Utah Jazz History and Near Future?

The NBA Trade Deadline is one of my favorite days of the season. I can’t help but refresh twitter every 5 seconds waiting for that next #WojBomb to hit. While the Utah Jazz have been more active in recent years, historically they haven’t been an overly active trade deadline participant. Let’s review some significant deadline moves in preparation for this year.

February 24, 1994

Utah Jazz Receive

• Jeff Hornaceck, Sean Green, 1995 2nd rounder (Junior Burrough)

Philadelphia 76er’s Receive

• Jeff Malone, 1994 1st rounder (B.J. Tyler)

February 19, 2004

Utah Jazz Receive

• Tom Gugliotta, 2004 1st rounder (Kirk Snyder) , 2005 2nd rounder (traded- Alex Acker picked by Pistons), 2006 conditional 1st rounder (NYK own- turned into 2010 1st rounder Gordon Hayward), cash

Phoenix Suns Receive

• Keon Clark, Ben Handlogten, and a TPE

February 18, 2010

Utah Jazz Receive

• 2011 conditional 1st rounder (traded—> Minnesota—> Houston selects Donatas Montiejunas), cash, and a TPE

Memphis Grizzlies Receive

• Ronnie Brewer

February 23, 2011 (Not actual deadline, but close enough)

Utah Jazz Receive

• Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, 2011 1st rounder (Enes Kanter), 2012 1st rounder (traded- Minnesota drafted Gorgui Dieng), cash

New Jersey Nets Receive

• Deron Williams

February 19, 2015

Utah Jazz Receive

• Grand Jerrett, Kendrick Perkins, Tibor Pleiss, addition by subtraction, 2017 2nd rounder (DET), conditional 2018 1st rounder (OKC-protected 1-14)

OKC Thunder Receive

• Steve Novak, D.J. Augustin, Enes Kanter, Kyle Singler, 2019 2nd rounder (DET), and a TPE

Detroit Pistons Receive

• Reggie Jackson and multiple TPE’s.

February 18, 2016

Utah Jazz Receive

• Shelvin Mack

Atlanta Hawks Receive

• Kirk Heinrich and a TPE

Chicago Bulls Receive

• Justin Holiday, 2018 2nd rounder (DEN), and a TPE

I didn’t include some other non-impactful trades, but on this list were certainly some franchise changers. Acquiring Jeff Hornaceck back in 1994 may be the best trade in franchise history. Utah’s newest all star, drafted in 2010, was acquired through a trade back in 2004! (Thank goodness for the New York Knicks) The Deron Williams trade gave the Jazz a head start on a rebuild that they refused to actually begin gave the Jazz some great pieces to move forward with. And the Enes Kanter trade allowed Rudy Gobert to emerge as one of the best centers in the league.

I don’t suspect the Jazz will be making any serious adjustments this year, but they are in a position to make a small move or 2. Dennis Lindsay currently has 13.6 million of cap space to work with, meaning he could bring in another piece or take on a salary dump to add future assets.

Owing no future picks to other teams, here are the future draft picks the Jazz currently hold: 2017 first rounder (GSW), 2 2017 2nd rounders (2 least favorable from DET, GSW, and NYK), 2018 1st rounder (OKC), 2021 2nd rounder (WAS), and 2022 2nd rounder (SA).

With all of that in mind, let’s get to the fun part. Real fake trades!! Keep in mind some of these are much less realistic than others.

Trade #1

Utah Jazz Receive

• Taj Gibson

Chicago Bulls Receive

• Jeff Withey

The Bulls are likely to be aggressive to get under the cap in order to avoid being repeat offenders. The Jazz could be opportunistic and turn an (under utilized) end of the bench player into much needed power forward depth.

Trade #2

Utah Jazz Receive

• 2nd round draft pick

Minnesota Timberwolves Receive

• Shelvin Mack

With Zach Lavine out for the season, the Timberwolves could be looking for point guard help. Mack is the likeliest to be traded on the Jazz, probably netting a simple 2nd rounder in return. You could maybe talk me into Jordan Hill as cheap insurance at power forward.

Trade #3

Utah Jazz Receive

• Ed Davis

Portland Trail Blazers Receive

• Shelvin Mack

The Trailblazers spent a LOT of money in the offseason and it hasn’t worked out. Next year they will have 4 players eating up about 84 million of their cap space. They’ll need to trim anywhere they can, but could also shore up a current weakness in backup PG. The Jazz could go after Davis or get more aggressive and go after Aminu. My hesitation would be committing to any money beyond the end of this season.

Trade #4

Utah Jazz Receive

• Jimmy Butler

Chicago Bulls Receive

• Derrick Favors, Rodney Hood, Dante Exum, 2017 1st rounder (own), 2018 1st rounder (OKC)

Ok now I’ll just do some for fun trades. (By the way- by no means am I advocating for a Favors trade) Bulls hit the reset button and get a good start on a rebuild. The Jazz go all in on the next 3-4 years by adding one of the best SG’s in the game. Hill, Butler, Hayward, Lyles, Gobert. Who cares what the bench looks like?

Trade #5

Utah Jazz Receive

• Anthony Davis

New Orleans Pelicans

• Derrick Favors, Rodney Hood, Dante Exum, 2017 1st rounder (own), 2018 1st rounder (OKC), 2019 1st rounder (own)

Similar to the Bulls trade, but throwing in the extra pick. Would this ever happen? Of course not, but just imagine Anthony Davis next to Rudy Gobert for the next 4 years...

Honestly, I doubt the Jazz make a move this year. If they do it will be a fairly small one that won’t influence the roster a ton. They have a lot of good things going right now, and I doubt DL wants to make any significant change that could throw this season off its current course.

If you have any adjustments or trades of your own, post them in the comments!