When most people see the New York Knicks and the Utah Jazz linked, it would be for the Knickerbockers rumoured desire to trade their plethora of picks for Donovan Mitchell, but with a young, impressive forward named Obi Toppin waiting in the wings, most Knicks fans want to see him take over the starting role. It’s more likely than not that New York start the season with Julius Randle at the four, but if the Jazz want to pair a great shooter with size and a handle with Donovan Mitchell, there’s no one that fits the playmaking bill better than the 2020/21 All-NBA star.
His value certainly dipped after an average 2021/22 campaign (where he still put up 20/10/5), but it was the attitude problems and the lack of effort on the defensive end that hurt his stock more than anything. This is where the Jazz can slide in, and trade for Randle at his lowest value, while using some of the picks acquired in the Gobert trade, as well as opening up the log-jam at the guard position.
The Knicks may not look to part with Randle for scraps, but if the Jazz are happy to offload some first round picks and a talented name or two like Malik Beasley, Leandro Bolmaro or other young players acquired in the trade, there’s a possibility that the Knicks take that deal and look to use all those picks to acquire a star. His fit alongside Mitchell, Bogdanovic and Mike Conley isn’t the worst, and if he can get back to form away from the spotlight in Utah, the Jazz may be on the precipice of taking the next step forward.
Utah Jazz</a> have traded away two starters from their 2021/22 squad, that being All-Star Rudy Gobert, and the much smaller trade of Royce O’Neale, and heading into the upcoming season, they need to replace both of those players in the lineup. In the Gobert trade, the Jazz were able to get back a kings ransom of picks, as well as four players. Unfortunately for the Jazz and the depth chart the way it’s currently constructed, all of those players exist from the 1-3 spot on the court, and if they are to replace Gobert or O’Neale, they may need to use some of that draft capital that they just acquired.</p>
<p>We’ve done a post outlining which <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2022/07/11/3-power-forwards-the-utah-jazz-could-target-in-a-trade/2/"https://thejnotes.com/2022/07/09/3-starting-center-options-utah-jazz-2022/">center’s the Jazz could use to replace Rudy Gobert</a>, but O’Neale was also a valuable part of this lineup in 2021, so he will need replacing too, and if Utah can find a power forward that pairs well with <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2022/07/11/3-power-forwards-the-utah-jazz-could-target-in-a-trade/2/"https://ca.global.nba.com/players/#!/donovan_mitchell">Donovan Mitchell</a> on both sides of the ball, it could be a move that helps them take the next step in the playoffs. There’s a chance that none of these players are actually available, but based on Utah’s needs and draft capital, they can outbid any other team and convince these teams to part with their power forwards, and if they have a desire of competing in 2022, these are the three names that they’ll need to target if they wish to make a deeper, more well rounded starting lineup.</p>
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Julius Randle</a> at the four, but if the Jazz want to pair a great shooter with size and a handle with Donovan Mitchell, there’s no one that fits the playmaking bill better than the 2020/21 All-NBA star.</p>
<p>His value certainly dipped after an average 2021/22 campaign (where he still put up 20/10/5), but it was the attitude problems and the lack of effort on the defensive end that hurt his stock more than anything. This is where the Jazz can slide in, and trade for Randle at his lowest value, while using some of the picks acquired in the Gobert trade, as well as opening up the log-jam at the guard position.</p>
<p>The Knicks may not look to part with Randle for scraps, but if the Jazz are happy to offload some first round picks and a talented name or two like Malik Beasley, Leandro Bolmaro or other young players acquired in the trade, there’s a possibility that the Knicks take that deal and look to use all those picks to acquire a star. His fit alongside Mitchell, Bogdanovic and Mike Conley isn’t the worst, and if he can get back to form away from the spotlight in Utah, the Jazz may be on the precipice of taking the next step forward.</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/2022/07/11/3-power-forwards-the-utah-jazz-could-target-in-a-trade/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. An athletic four with plenty of upside </a>
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John Collins</a> hasn’t scratched the surface of his potential playing alongside Trae Young, he’s still been quite productive in his short career with the Hawks, and if the Jazz can pry him away from Atlanta by helping them recoup some of the first round picks they gave up to land Dejonte Murray, then it’s a great move for both sides. Sure, Collins and Young have great chemistry, but right now, the Hawks have given away a lot of draft capital, and if this thing doesn’t work out with Young/Murray/Collins, they’ll be left with a bleak future beyond those players.</p>
<p>The Jazz won’t be able to land Collins for scraps, but if they can offer however many first round picks makes them comfortable, than landing the ultra-athletic Collins, who has potential as a stretch-four with playmaking skills could really help this team going forward. His defense isn’t anywhere near the level of the O’Neale/Gobert front-court that the Jazz have featured over the past year or two, but his offensive abilities and upside are way higher than either of those men, and that may fit this team much better.</p>
<p>Collins has been rumoured to be available for a while now, and if the Jazz can find the right deal, along with Mitchell, Bogdanovic and the talented bench that Utah possess, this could be a team that has potential to do some damage when it matters most in the next few seasons.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">