Winners and losers of the Utah Jazz’s latest trade

Utah Jazz</a> finally made a deal after months of waiting, although it wasn&rsquo;t the blockbuster we all expected. Instead of dealing Donovan Mitchell, the Jazz made a small move, sending newly acquired <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2022/08/25/winners-losers-of-the-utah-jazz-latest-trade/2/"https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Patrick-Beverley/Summary/1684">Patrick Beverly</a> <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2022/08/25/winners-losers-of-the-utah-jazz-latest-trade/2/"https://thejnotes.com/2022/08/24/utah-jazz-finalizing-trade-with-los-angeles-lakers/">to the Lakers</a> for <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2022/08/25/winners-losers-of-the-utah-jazz-latest-trade/2/"https://www.nba.com/player/1629659/talen-horton-tucker">Talen Horton-Tucker</a> and <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2022/08/25/winners-losers-of-the-utah-jazz-latest-trade/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnsst04.html" ref="nofollow">Stanley Johnson</a>.</p> <p>Horton-Tucker is a slightly overhyped 21-year-old who played valuable minutes for the Lakers at shooting guard during their disappointing season. He was seemingly a franchise cornerstone moving forward, but the Lakers opted to win now instead, trading for Beverly, a defensive-minded veteran.</p> <p>Stanley Johnson was the eighth overall pick in 2015, but he has played for the Lakers, Raptors, Pelicans, and Pistons. He is an undersized forward who has been slowly improving his jump shot and is a fairly underrated swiss-army knife player. He was a reach at the eighth pick but has carved out a decent career.</p> <h2>Utah Jazz: Who won the trade?</h2> <p>The Jazz got to unload an aging player and get two youngish pieces to perhaps build around moving forward. The Lakers got a solid backup to Russell Westbrook, although there is <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2022/08/25/winners-losers-of-the-utah-jazz-latest-trade/2/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4htEvURGco%22>a lot of animosity</a> between the pair that stems back to 2013.</p> <p>The trade seems mutually beneficial for both parties. The Lakers can keep their championship window open for just a little longer, and the Jazz are starting to get younger as they head towards an inevitable rebuild. While neither team is a clear winner or loser of the deal, some individuals have found themselves wrapped up in the chaos.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2022/08/25/winners-losers-of-the-utah-jazz-latest-trade/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span>&nbsp;The winner of the deal </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_89667" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-89667" src=https://thejnotes.com/2022/08/25/winners-losers-of-the-utah-jazz-latest-trade/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1999,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1365324479.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1999" srcset="https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1365324479.jpeg 1600w, https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1365324479-768x960.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 17: Jordan Clarkson #00 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against Stanley Johnson #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena on January 17, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)</p> </div> <h3> Winners</h3> <h4>Patrick Beverly</h4> <p>Beverly probably did not want to play in Utah. He’s a brash, loudmouth, pest on the court. He’s fit for bigger markets or teams who are competing and value him in the playoffs. The Jazz are neither of those things, and he has a new home, returning to LA. This time, of course, in purple and gold.</p> <p>As of now, he is second on the Lakers’ depth chart, although that might change soon. A career backup and defensive player, he has carved out extreme success as a gritty player who doesn’t mind being in the trenches. He’s more suited for a win-now team, rather than helping to mentor the next generation of Jazzmen.</p> <h4>Mike Conley</h4> <p>When Patrick Beverly came to town, there was a lot of doubt surrounding Mike Conley. Both are aging stars who want to contribute in some way or another, and there was really no reason to keep them both around. One was going to go.</p> <p>Conley ends up staying, and I think that move makes more sense for anyone. Conley strikes me as the wise grandfather type who is exactly the veteran leader the young Jazz could use, and Beverly is a fearless competitor who isn’t afraid to make enemies to win. All in all, everyone is where they are supposed to be.</p> <h4>Stanley Johnson</h4> <p>Johnson has never really found a home for himself. In seven seasons, he’s played for four teams. He was only a starter for one season, on the 9th place 2017-18 Pistons, and he has never averaged more than ten points. He is a do-all player, but he isn’t a master of anything.</p> <p>Getting another fresh start ought to do him good. Aside from 48 games as a Laker with LeBron James, he has never really played alongside a top-tier star. Donovan Mitchell may distract from him a little, giving his career the boost it needs. Plus, on a depleted Utah roster, Johnson may get more playing time than he’s ever had.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2022/08/25/winners-losers-of-the-utah-jazz-latest-trade/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The losers of the trade </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_89666" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-89666" src=https://thejnotes.com/2022/08/25/winners-losers-of-the-utah-jazz-latest-trade/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1371160215.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1371160215.jpeg 1600w, https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1371160215-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 16: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass the ball against Royce O’Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena on February 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)</p> </div> <h3> Losers</h3> <h4>Talen Horton-Tucker</h4> <p>For some reason, the Lakers have placed immense value on THT. They led Alex Caruso walk last summer in free agency, opting instead to develop THT. The Lakers made him untradeable,e placing insane value on him, and eventually traded him for a career role player.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Reminder that the Lakers refused to include THT in a trade for Kyle Lowry. <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2022/08/25/winners-losers-of-the-utah-jazz-latest-trade/2/"https://t.co/IRfMw4OOaA">pic.twitter.com/IRfMw4OOaA

<p>— StatMuse (@statmuse) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2022/08/25/winners-losers-of-the-utah-jazz-latest-trade/2/"https://twitter.com/statmuse/status/1562644467274125313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>August 25, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2022/08/25/winners-losers-of-the-utah-jazz-latest-trade/2/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div> <p>Horton-Tucker is a 27% three-point shooter and he is not great on defense. Maybe a change of scenery will help, but the Lakers seemingly gave him all the help he could ever want. Donovan Mitchell and Jared Butler will probably be ahead of him on the depth chart, and all the hype surrounding him may leave. He benefited heavily from playing in LA, and now he heads to a small market in what might be a culture shock.</p> <h4>Russell Westbrook</h4> <p>It’s been noted that Patrick Beverly and Russell Westbrook hate each other. And now they need to play on the same team. Or do they? Maybe the Lakers think Beverly is more capable, which means Westbrook will either be benched for the first time in his career, or he will get bought out.</p> <p>Westbrook is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. If you don’t like him, I see why, but he is a statistical anomaly, MVP, and nine-time All-Star. If this is the end of his career, it’s rather sad, and I can’t help but feel bad for him.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Reacting to a horrible mock trade" data-url="https://thejnotes.com/2022/08/24/reacting-to-the-worst-possible-utah-jazz-mock-trade-for-donovan-mitchell/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2022/08/25/winners-losers-of-the-utah-jazz-latest-trade/2/"https://thejnotes.com/2022/08/24/reacting-to-the-worst-possible-utah-jazz-mock-trade-for-donovan-mitchell/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Reacting to a horrible mock trade </a> </div> </div> <p>The Lakers made their bed when they traded for him, and now they’re looking for a way out. I don’t think they owe him anything, but this is a rather insulting way to enter the 2022-23 NBA season.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">