The Nets could be an ideal trade partner for the Utah Jazz
With recent reports suggesting the Utah Jazz might be looking to tear it all down, Donovan Mitchell has emerged as the most valuable chip in the 2022 NBA offseason. The Jazz initially appeared adamant they will not trade the superstar guard, but rumors have been swirling and the front office may have changed their mind.
Utah Jazz: The Nets could be an ideal trade partner
The New York Daily News created this mock trade that involves a retooling Brooklyn Nets squad and the Utah Jazz, but it seems rather complex and unrealistic with too many moving parts.
While the Jazz do receive several role players and an unstable star to stay relevant, the real treasure is the four first-round picks. That being said, the proposed trade is simply too unrealistic.
The trade works, but it is a headache to look at and is more of an armchair GM move. At the end of the day, I like things that are simple and straightforward. I would much rather see the Jazz try and stay afloat for one more season, and if that doesn’t work then Utah can tear it all down.
The trade I’m proposing is as follows:
Jazz Get
Ben Simmons
Seth Curry
2023 1st round pick via HOU
2028 1st round pick via BKN
Nets Get
Donovan Mitchell
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Utah adds some much-needed perimeter defense and facilitating, and retains elite scoring threats in Bagdonovic and Jordan Clarkson while adding Seth Curry. The Nets get one of the best shooting guards in the league to pair with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, assuming they don’t get moved.
In the event that Ben Simmons remains a basket case and Utah needs to totally retool, they still have the picks from the Royce O’Neale and Gobert trades, and gain two more firsts in the process. In the event it doesn’t work, perhaps Simmons can be flipped at the end of the 2023 season for another pick.
This trade banks heavily on Utah shifting towards a rebuild, but it allows them to stay competitive in the near future. The Jazz don’t have to tank to rebuild, so fans should be all over this deal.
