Report: Utah Jazz ‘Weighing Trade Possibilities’ For Rudy Gobert

SALT LAKE CITY – Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer reported that the Utah Jazz are “weighing trade possibilities with three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.”

The NBA writer released a story on his latest offseason intel with some info about the Jazz on Tuesday, May 31.

In his article, Fischer detailed his current findings on the Jazz’s offseason plans with Gobert and co-star Donovan Mitchell.

Utah Jazz “Weighing Trade Possibilities” For Rudy Gobert

Fischer reported that the Jazz are looking at the possibility of trading Gobert and “NBA sources have pegged” the Toronto Raptors as a potential landing spot for the center.

He added that there is “much debate both around the league and among Utah staffers” about whether a Gobert trade would help the Jazz improve their deficiencies that have been highlighted in recent postseasons.

Fischer said that a return for the Jazz in a Gobert trade could Raptors wing OG Anunoby, someone who’s already been linked to Utah by “league personnel.”

The word surrounding OG Anunoby’s trade candidacy, featuring Portland and Utah; New York’s options at point guard if they do strike out on Jalen Brunson, latest coaching intel from Charlotte, and more @BR_NBA: https://t.co/Tbr8q0GRRd

— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) May 31, 2022

In addition to the Jazz, the Portland Trail Blazers were mentioned as a team potentially targeting Anunoby.

Donovan Mitchell Update

In addition to Gobert, Fischer released an update on Mitchell.

The fifth-year Jazz guard, who is from the Empire State, has been rumored for years as someone that the New York Knicks covet.

The NBA writer wrote that the possibility of Utah trading Mitchell to New York “remains highly unlikely.”

Fischer added multiple reasons that would make a trade to the Knicks unlikely assuming Mitchell requests out of Utah.

The first reason is that Mitchell is under contract with the Jazz for three more seasons before he has a player option for a fourth year. The second reason is that if the Jazz were to put Mitchell on the trade market, “there’s healthy skepticism” that the Knicks would have the best package to offer Utah and that “Miami that would theoretically center around Tyler Herro plus other salary and multiple first-round picks.”

Earlier in May, Fischer reported that Mitchell was “expected to remain committed” to the Jazz this summer.

Jake Fischer’s Earlier Reports

Fischer has been busy on the Jazz front this summer reporting on what a reconstructed roster might look like.

“It’s of great importance to Jazz governor Ryan Smith that Utah has multiple players in that midseason classic,” sources said in one of Fischer’s earlier offseason reports.

Why hosting the 2023 All-Star Game is crucial context for Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert’s futures in Utah. Which may add Mike Conley into a developing point guard market (hello, Knicks!) already starring Jalen Brunson, Malcolm Brogdon, D’Angelo Russell: https://t.co/U94a1rMiyu

— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) May 11, 2022

After reporting that Mitchell and Gobert were likely to remain in Utah through the 2023 All-Star game, Fischer told Patrick Kinahan on The Zone Sports Network that Mike Conley might be the name the Jazz look to move.

“We definitely talked a lot about Mike Conley trade destinations,” Fischer said, “and I feel like he’s the piece that’s probably the most likely to go out the door based on conversations I’ve had.”

Conley is just 14 months removed from being named a Western Conference All-Star but struggled in this year’s opening-round playoff series against the Mavericks.

The veteran guard averaged just 9.2 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 33 percent from the floor and 20 percent from the three-point line.

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