The Utah Jazz tend to have a problem. They play exceedingly strong basketball on both ends of the floor. They then typically finish with one of the best regular-season records in the league. Then, of course, come playoff time, they disappoint. Their roster remains pretty similar to years past, so it’s time to look at trades that could vault them beyond playoff disappointment.
Utah Jazz: Three Trade Ideas
Acquiring another great two-way player
The trade: Utah sends Joe Ingles and Elijah Hughes to the Los Angeles Clippers for Marcus Morris.
Morris has been an important piece for the Clippers for quite some time now. With that being said, they look ready to pack it up for the season. Due to this, the Clippers may look to deal Morris to revamp their roster in the offseason.
This season, Morris is averaging over 15 points and five rebounds per game. He’s versatile on both offense and defense, and also brings even more toughness to the Jazz. Utah will have his remaining large contract for the next three years, but this kind of move immediately bolsters the team.
The Clippers get Ingles’ expiring contract here. With that being said, he remains a solid player who they can look to keep in the offseason. Hughes’ contract is also expiring, but the Clippers will have playing time to give to younger players. They can see if they have something with him. Their main motive here, however, is to clear offseason space while the Jazz want to improve right now.
Dealing with a rival
The trade: Utah sends Ingles, Eric Paschall, and a second-round pick to the Portland Trail Blazers for Robert Covington and Ben McLemore.
The feeling is that Portland is ready to hit a rebuild, especially if Damian Lillard gets traded. He’s recovering from an injury now while Portland is reeling, so it may be time to acquire some assets.
Covington is a fantastic “three-and-d” player. His play is down this season, but it seems to be a lack of motivation. Playing for a contender like the Jazz should vault his play once again. Utah also acquires McLemore in this move. Although he may never live up to his 2013 draft selection, he’s enjoying a solid year. McLemore is averaging about nine points per game while shooting over 41 percent from three.
Portland gets Ingles’ big expiring contract here, so they don’t lose up anything compared to Covington’s expiring deal. They also get Paschall, who showed decent potential in the past with the Golden State Warriors. Lastly, the second-round pick is an added asset.
The Utah Jazz go all in
The trade: Utah sends Ingles, Paschall, Udoka Azubuike, and a first-round and second-round pick to the Detroit Pistons for Jerami Grant and Isaiah Livers.
Utah is ready to win a championship right now, so they might as well make an attempt for one of the best players available. Detroit is making Grant available for trade, so his play has been a little off this season. With that being said, he averaged over 22 points per game last season. Grant can play both forward positions, shoot the three at a high level, and play decent defense. He’s the final piece in the puzzle for the current Jazz starting five.
Detroit, of course, acquires Ingles’ expiring contract to make the money work. They free up space for the offseason but also acquire two young players whom they can offer playing time to. Of course, the picks are likely all Detroit wants too.
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Main Image: Embed from Getty Images
