Project a realistic star trade for the Jazz for the 2024-2025 season.

[HadAnEffectHere]

The Jazz explained their team building strategy to the local media after the deadline, saying that they're basically just in a holding pattern until drama happens and a star becomes available that they can get.

... I'm not really sure about this strategy in large part because I don't think we have very good assets other than Markkanen (who if we trade... there's not much of a team left) and because Utah is a pretty unappealing destination. Jazz fans constantly have hoped for Luka to ask for a trade... But if he does, he would pretty obviously be traded to the Thunder for Jalen Williams and a bunch of picks and prospects? Trae Young could ask for a trade... But he would probably get moved to the Spurs. Maybe Donovan Mitchell could get traded... But he's not coming back to Utah...

So the challenge is: Write up a fair trade for both Utah and the other team in which Utah acquires a star.

You must follow the conditions

1. Lauri Markkanen is not in the deal
2. The star is under 30 years old
3. The star cannot enter unrestricted free agency until at least 2026.

You must explain

A): Why the team would trade away this star
B): Why would this star want to play in Utah long-term
C): Why would OKC or the Spurs not outbid the Jazz for this star

I've tried this challenge myself and it's... Very hard actually.

[penbeast0]

How do you define a star? If it's a 20 point+ scoring threat, Washington has expressed a willingness to move Kyle Kuzma who would team well with Markannen and probably cost two 1sts (Washington would take back less valuable contracts to make the money work). He has a very favorable contract, but Washington is a long way from contending.


Why would OKC or SAS not outbid Utah? Kuzma is neither terribly efficient as a scorer nor has he played good defense this year so he's a polarizing figure and opinions on his true value differ widely.

[HadAnEffectHere]

How do you define a star? If it's a 20 point+ scoring threat, Washington has expressed a willingness to move Kyle Kuzma who would team well with Markannen and probably cost two 1sts (Washington would take back less valuable contracts to make the money work). He has a very favorable contract, but Washington is a long way from contending.


Why would OKC or SAS not outbid Utah? Kuzma is neither terribly efficient as a scorer nor has he played good defense this year so he's a polarizing figure and opinions on his true value differ widely.

Kuzma also fits the "would want to stay in Utah" condition well as... He played in Utah for three years, lol

But not a huge Kuzma fan personally so I'm not sure we will go there..

[Godaddycurse]

Ingram or Zion? I can see a 3 way where utsh sends picks, NOP gets another player and Utah gets ingram

[bkohler]

I think trading for an established star trade is probably not going to happen. Instead I think it’s more likely to take a few cracks at players with star potential that for whatever reason are not hitting their potential in their current situation or where financial situations make people move off someone.

Heres a few examples I could see:
Darius Garland / Evan Mobley
Trey Murphy
Cade Cunningham
Cason Wallace
Peyton Watson

Or stars who are on the backend of their careers:
Anthony Davis
Jimmy Butler

[basketballwacko2]

I don't really see anyone who would fit this criteria, maybe Trae Young if the Hawks decide to rebuild and keep Murray and trade Young. I'd say if the Hawks miss the playoffs even the play ins I could see them rebuilding.

[Wolveswin]

Towns.

Kind of along the lines of Bridges to Rockets that was discussed to death this trade deadline.

Towns

FOR

Remaining Wolves 1sts/swaps back AND then the plus…

Hendricks? Maybe Wolves see him as forward of future next to Reid (as Gobert ages out). And picks to third team for PGOF for Wolves.

Jazz pair Towns and Markkanen shooting (damn sexy) and jam a defensive savant at the 3, 4, or 5 (with both shooters having positional flexibility).

[kds92]

Luka would be the crown jewel, but that seems unrealistic. A few more realistic options below but don't consider them stars.

Herro: Jazz need playmaking and Heat would want an upgrade at the guard spot (i.e. Mitchell) - would be a 3-team deal
Giddey: Jazz get a young playmaker whose value is low - would be a 3-team deal if Lauri's not dealt
Reaves: Lakers may consider using Reaves to get their 2027 1st back allowing them to trade 4 firsts + 3 swaps this summer

Excluded Kuzma and Poeltl who both went to Utah because the PF/C spots seem locked up.

[HadAnEffectHere]

Ingram or Zion? I can see a 3 way where utsh sends picks, NOP gets another player and Utah gets ingram

Ingram seems like the most realistic guy if the Pelicans underwhelm and need to dodge the tax. He's probably not good enough for the Thunder or Spurs to use their assets while being kind of a star.

[babyjax13]

Cunningham makes the most sense to me.

George + Hendrick + 2-3 1sts. Or sub a pick for George if Detroit is fine on guard depth.

[winforlose]

Towns.

Kind of along the lines of Bridges to Rockets that was discussed to death this trade deadline.

Towns

FOR

Remaining Wolves 1sts/swaps back AND then the plus…

Hendricks? Maybe Wolves see him as forward of future next to Reid (as Gobert ages out). And picks to third team for PGOF for Wolves.

Jazz pair Towns and Markkanen shooting (damn sexy) and jam a defensive savant at the 3, 4, or 5 (with both shooters having positional flexibility).

This could only happen if the Wolves have a first round exit in the playoffs. Otherwise the Wolves run it back.

[HadAnEffectHere]

Cunningham makes the most sense to me.

George + Hendrick + 2-3 1sts. Or sub a pick for George if Detroit is fine on guard depth.

I don't think Cunningham has anywhere near this value. He's probably worth like one late lottery pick. Cunningham also has no star potential (unless he suddenly turns into a 40% three point shooter on high volume) because he's so unathletic and with not incredible skills.

[Kizz Fastfists]

It really does depend on what you are calling a star player. I don't think Utah has the assets to land a true star player. Jerami Grant be an option. Cade Cunningham might be an option if the new Detroit GM wants to move him for assets for their rebuild, but I think they would get outbid. Dejounte Murray could be an option. Maybe Portland is willing to move Ayton and he could play next to Lauri.

When I look over Utah's picks they don't jump out as that valuable. If they get lucky with the ping pong balls that could change as they might then be able to use a top 4 pick in a deal for Trae if Atlanta is willing to move him and rebuild around Murray and Johnson. They have picks from Cleveland and Minny, and swaps, and a top 4 protected LAL pick after LeBron will likely be gone which means the LAL one shot pick might not convey. Cleveland is a good and young team so there is no reason to expect them to not continue being a top 4 team in the East. Minny only has one player, Conley, you expect to decline/retire in the near future so they should continue to be top 4 in the West.

Utah's best bet is actually to trade Lauri this off-season for a young player or two along with more picks. A total reset does them more good then trying to add a star with their current assets. Their unwillingness to bottom out seems like it will hurt them more than help them unless they get really lucky and land a top 4 pick. If they do get a top 4 pick are they really better off trading for a star instead of drafting a potential homegrown one? Does adding a fringe star like Grant or Murray really move the needle for them? I really don't like Utah's approach. They'll have about $30M in cap space this off-season and John Collins' big contract to trade as salary matching. I just don't see how they land the multiple players they would need to catch up in the West. The Spurs already have Wemby and potentially two top 10 picks in this year's draft which could put them ahead of Utah by '25-'26 with very little chance of Utah catching them, OKC, Minny or Denver before Lauri is past 30 and starting to decline.

[winforlose]

Trae Young fits nicely. Young has 2 more years of team control and a player option 3rd year, but I am not sure he will trigger it and risk 48 million unless he knows he will get another max.

1. Trae Young will be available because the Hawks are dropping hints that they will make him available. They failed to get the return they wanted on Murray and don’t want to run it back.

2. Why not Utah. Trae will go where success and winning are. Don’t forget that a star player resigning will always have an incentive for a new max with bird rights (the extra year.) Worst case he demands a trade and you get a sign and trade with a huge value star and replace him with a different star or a ton of value that gets you another star soon after.
3. The Spurs don’t have the assets to outbid Utah. They could return the picks and swaps of Atlanta and allow ATL to tank. But Utah’s war chest is so full of picks and young players that Utah can give away a significant overpay and still be fine.

[HadAnEffectHere]

Trae Young fits nicely. Young has 2 more years of team control and a player option 3rd year, but I am not sure he will trigger it and risk 48 million unless he knows he will get another max.

1. Trae Young will be available because the Hawks are dropping hints that they will make him available. They failed to get the return they wanted on Murray and don’t want to run it back.

2. Why not Utah. Trae will go where success and winning are. Don’t forget that a star player resigning will always have an incentive for a new max with bird rights (the extra year.) Worst case he demands a trade and you get a sign and trade with a huge value star and replace him with a different star or a ton of value that gets you another star soon after.
3. The Spurs don’t have the assets to outbid Utah. They could return the picks and swaps of Atlanta and allow ATL to tank. But Utah’s war chest is so full of picks and young players that Utah can give away a significant overpay and still be fine.

Nah, the Spurs have way better assets than the Jazz with their own picks, the Bulls' 2025 pick, the Mavs 2030 pick, the Hawks picks, Sochan, and Vassell. Their assets are also specifically valuable to the Hawks. It's very difficult to see any way the Jazz get Trae Young if the Spurs want Trae Young.

[winforlose]

Trae Young fits nicely. Young has 2 more years of team control and a player option 3rd year, but I am not sure he will trigger it and risk 48 million unless he knows he will get another max.

1. Trae Young will be available because the Hawks are dropping hints that they will make him available. They failed to get the return they wanted on Murray and don’t want to run it back.

2. Why not Utah. Trae will go where success and winning are. Don’t forget that a star player resigning will always have an incentive for a new max with bird rights (the extra year.) Worst case he demands a trade and you get a sign and trade with a huge value star and replace him with a different star or a ton of value that gets you another star soon after.
3. The Spurs don’t have the assets to outbid Utah. They could return the picks and swaps of Atlanta and allow ATL to tank. But Utah’s war chest is so full of picks and young players that Utah can give away a significant overpay and still be fine.

Nah, the Spurs have way better assets than the Jazz with their own picks, the Bulls' 2025 pick, the Mavs 2030 pick, the Hawks picks, Sochan, and Vassell. Their assets are also specifically valuable to the Hawks. It's very difficult to see any way the Jazz get Trae Young if the Spurs want Trae Young.

So assume the Spurs get a top 3 or 4 picks in this draft. Unless they win the lottery 2-4 are not normal quality 2-4 and the players themselves might not be as appealing as you think (weak draft.) If the Spurs do win the lottery, do they really trade away the number 1 pick instead of trying to pair him with VW. As for their own picks being more valuable, if they have VW and Young they won’t be a bottom team. If they also add this years pick they will be a playoff team (or at least play in.) Suddenly the Jazz, Cavs, and Wolves picks look a lot better by comparison. Moreover, you could move Walker Kessler who is a budding Gobert type rim protector and that is instantly worth more to the Hawks than Schohan or Vassell. Plus you can literally pay 7 firsts or more, don’t overlook the power of an overpay.

[HadAnEffectHere]

Trae Young fits nicely. Young has 2 more years of team control and a player option 3rd year, but I am not sure he will trigger it and risk 48 million unless he knows he will get another max.

1. Trae Young will be available because the Hawks are dropping hints that they will make him available. They failed to get the return they wanted on Murray and don’t want to run it back.

2. Why not Utah. Trae will go where success and winning are. Don’t forget that a star player resigning will always have an incentive for a new max with bird rights (the extra year.) Worst case he demands a trade and you get a sign and trade with a huge value star and replace him with a different star or a ton of value that gets you another star soon after.
3. The Spurs don’t have the assets to outbid Utah. They could return the picks and swaps of Atlanta and allow ATL to tank. But Utah’s war chest is so full of picks and young players that Utah can give away a significant overpay and still be fine.

Nah, the Spurs have way better assets than the Jazz with their own picks, the Bulls' 2025 pick, the Mavs 2030 pick, the Hawks picks, Sochan, and Vassell. Their assets are also specifically valuable to the Hawks. It's very difficult to see any way the Jazz get Trae Young if the Spurs want Trae Young.

So assume the Spurs get a top 3 or 4 picks in this draft. Unless they win the lottery 2-4 are not normal quality 2-4 and the players themselves might not be as appealing as you think (weak draft.) If the Spurs do win the lottery, do they really trade away the number 1 pick instead of trying to pair him with VW. As for their own picks being more valuable, if they have VW and Young they won’t be a bottom team. If they also add this years pick they will be a playoff team (or at least play in.) Suddenly the Jazz, Cavs, and Wolves picks look a lot better by comparison. Moreover, you could move Walker Kessler who is a budding Gobert type rim protector and that is instantly worth more to the Hawks than Schohan or Vassell. Plus you can literally pay 7 firsts or more, don’t overlook the power of an overpay.

Walker Kessler projects out to be a Jakob Poeltl tier player, probably worth like a mid to late lotto pick depending on the strength of the draft class. He's definitely comparable to Sochan in value.

[winforlose]

Nah, the Spurs have way better assets than the Jazz with their own picks, the Bulls' 2025 pick, the Mavs 2030 pick, the Hawks picks, Sochan, and Vassell. Their assets are also specifically valuable to the Hawks. It's very difficult to see any way the Jazz get Trae Young if the Spurs want Trae Young.

So assume the Spurs get a top 3 or 4 picks in this draft. Unless they win the lottery 2-4 are not normal quality 2-4 and the players themselves might not be as appealing as you think (weak draft.) If the Spurs do win the lottery, do they really trade away the number 1 pick instead of trying to pair him with VW. As for their own picks being more valuable, if they have VW and Young they won’t be a bottom team. If they also add this years pick they will be a playoff team (or at least play in.) Suddenly the Jazz, Cavs, and Wolves picks look a lot better by comparison. Moreover, you could move Walker Kessler who is a budding Gobert type rim protector and that is instantly worth more to the Hawks than Schohan or Vassell. Plus you can literally pay 7 firsts or more, don’t overlook the power of an overpay.

Walker Kessler projects out to be a Jakob Poeltl tier player, probably worth like a mid to late lotto pick depending on the strength of the draft class. He's definitely comparable to Sochan in value.

Kessler has already made more 3s in 2 years than Poeltl in his whole career. That shot if developed to 33% is more than enough to dramatically increase his value. Kessler is averaging 2.5 blocks per game for his career, Poeltl is averaging 1.4 this year and 1.3 for his career. Kessler has a very bright future. But the biggest difference is Kessler is 22 and in year 2 of his rookie deal. Don’t underestimate the value of a long term team control player.

[hcsilla]

Cunningham makes the most sense to me.

George + Hendrick + 2-3 1sts. Or sub a pick for George if Detroit is fine on guard depth.

If I'm the Pistons, I would do this. Not sure about the Jazz since I'm not convinced that Cunningham is the ideal target (for them).

Interesting and reasonable trade anyway.

[Ball4life32]

Trae Young fits nicely. Young has 2 more years of team control and a player option 3rd year, but I am not sure he will trigger it and risk 48 million unless he knows he will get another max.

1. Trae Young will be available because the Hawks are dropping hints that they will make him available. They failed to get the return they wanted on Murray and don’t want to run it back.

2. Why not Utah. Trae will go where success and winning are. Don’t forget that a star player resigning will always have an incentive for a new max with bird rights (the extra year.) Worst case he demands a trade and you get a sign and trade with a huge value star and replace him with a different star or a ton of value that gets you another star soon after.
3. The Spurs don’t have the assets to outbid Utah. They could return the picks and swaps of Atlanta and allow ATL to tank. But Utah’s war chest is so full of picks and young players that Utah can give away a significant overpay and still be fine.

Hawks have called Trae untouchable, they haven’t been dropping any hints about trading him. There was zero reason to sell low on Murray at the deadline when he’s locked up until 2028.

Trae is the reason the hawks have a top 10 offense 4 years in row. They will not move him and tank without their picks. Their offense is fine, (7th in offensive efficiency) they need to find a way to get better defensively….