Utah Jazz Trade Deadline: What Did Ainge, Zanik Accomplish?
Feb 6, 2025, 6:26 PM | Updated: 6:28 pm
Utah Jazz general manager Justin Zanik and Utah Jazz CEO Danny Ainge talk to journalists during an end-of-season press conference at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus (Credit: Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
(Credit: Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The NBA Trade Deadline transpired on Thursday and for the third straight season, the Utah Jazz were one of the league’s busiest teams.
The Jazz made a total of five trades before Thursday’s deadline, including helping to facilitate two of the biggest deals of the year.
Here’s a look at what Danny Ainge and Justin Zanik accomplished this season.
Recapping Jazz Trades
Swap First-Round Picks With Suns
The first Jazz deal came in late January when the organization sent the least favorable of theirs, the Minnesota Timberwolves, or the Cleveland Cavaliers 2025, 2027, and 2029 first-round draft picks for one unprotected 2031 Phoenix Suns first-rounder.
Related: Did Jazz A Make Good Trade With Suns?
With a slew of young talent already on the roster, the Jazz didn’t feel the need to be locked into three more (likely) late first-round selections and instead chose to swing for the fences with the Suns’ 2031 pick.
Phoenix failed to improve their roster at the deadline, which should give the Jazz more confidence about betting against their future.
Eubanks, Mills For Tucker, Bamba, Second-Round Pick
The Jazz helped kick off the busiest trade week in league history by sending reserve center Drew Eubanks and guard Patty Mills to the Los Angeles Clippers for veterans PJ Tucker, Mo Bamba, and a 2030 second-round pick.
Related: Jazz Trade Eubanks, Mills To Clippers For Second-Round Pick
Moving Eubanks will clear room for the Jazz to rookie Kyle Filipowski and two-way big man Micah Potter more frequently over the final two months of the regular season.
Bamba was waived on Sunday morning, while Tucker was used in a later trade.
Jalen Hood-Schifino, Two Second-Round Picks
The Jazz helped facilitate the most shocking deal of the week as they acquired Jalen Hood-Schifino, and 2025 second-round draft picks from the Clippers and Dallas Mavericks in the Luka Doncic blockbuster.
The @NBA world responds to a weekend blockbuster sending Luka Dončić to the @Lakers and Anthony Davis to the @dallasmavs. The @utahjazz helped facilitate the three-team deal.https://t.co/OAVpb3L4oO
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 2, 2025
The move allowed the Jazz to acquire multiple second-round picks in this year’s draft without sending assets out the door.
Dennis Schroder, Second-Round Pick For Tucker
On Wednesday, the Jazz rerouted the recently acquired Tucker to Miami in exchange for Dennis Schroder (via Golden State) and the most favorable of the Heat or Indiana Pacers’ 2031 second-round picks.
Schroder was used in a later trade.
KJ Martin, Second-Round Pick For Schroder
The final move of the deadline for the Jazz saw the team send the recently acquired Schroder to the Detroit Pistons for KJ Martin, Josh Richardson, and a 2028 draft pick from the New York Knicks, Pistons, or a return of the Jazz’s own pick which had previously been traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Who is KJ Martin, the newest acquisition by the @utahjazz?#takenote https://t.co/TJJqAgoUuI
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 6, 2025
The Jazz will retain Martin for the remainder of the season while giving him a chance to make next year’s roster while waiving Richardson.
What Didn’t The Jazz Do At The Deadline?
While the Jazz were one of the busiest teams making trades over the last week, the moves they didn’t make might be the most surprising aspect of Thursday’s deadline.
The Jazz will enter the second half of the season with John Collins, Jordan Clarkson, and Collin Sexton still on the roster despite weeks of rumors surrounding the three veterans.
The @utahjazz draft asset tracker after the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline.
#TakeNote https://t.co/FCy7v4zvez— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 7, 2025
With a league-wide scarcity of first-round picks on the move, very few mid-to-high-level salaries were exchanged this year outside of the blockbusters that saw Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, Zach LaVine, De’Aaron Fox, and Jimmy Butler change teams.
Both Clarkson and Sexton are under contract with the Jazz next season, while Collins has a player option for 2025-26.
Was It A Successful Deadline?
Though the Jazz’s 2025 trade deadline may have lacked fireworks, it was a successful transition period for the front office.
Over the last week, the Jazz acquired five second-round picks and the ability to audition 24-year-old KJ Martin for the remainder of the season in exchange for reserve center Drew Eubanks and little-used Patty Mills.
While the transactions may not reveal the roadmap to complete the team’s current rebuild, the assets they acquired will help the Jazz formulate their roster in future seasons.
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Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
