3 interesting but not great trade proposals for the Utah Jazz

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – DECEMBER 03: Anfernee Simons #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers in action during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena on December 03, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Trade No. 3

Finally, a trade that makes sense. In this trade, the Utah Jazz offer up Collin Sexton and a 2024 first-round pick from Minnesota to get back 24-year-old point guard Anfernee Simons. A trade that makes the Jazz better and gives them an obvious starter for the team. Simons isn’t a perfect point guard, he usually averages just four assists per game at his apex, but may away from Damian Lillard and as a team’s primary ball-handler, he can raise that figure.

Simmons’ near 39% shooting from three-point is also a huge bonus, as the league relies more and more on the deep ball, the Jazz have to keep up, and getting a shooter like Simmons will help. There’s just one problem.

• Jazz get: Anfernee Simons
• Trail Blazers get: Collin Sexton (2024 first-round pick via MIN)

The Trail Blazers won’t make this move. They’re not going to trade away a potential All-Star for Sexton and a potential late-first-round draft pick next season. Simmons is a viable 20-point-per-game scorer and giving him up for relatively little isn’t exactly a great thing.

Sure, Sexton fits better next to Scott Henderson offensively, but it’s not like he’s Klay Thompson, a large-body shooting guard with great defense. They’re both 6’2 and have a similar style of scoring the ball. The big difference however is that Sexton can play off-ball and seems to do just fine with that. Simmons is a pure point guard and plays better as the team’s point guard.

If the Blazers are down, let’s do it.