With Trade Deadline Nearing, Are Jazz Buyers Or Sellers?
Jan 29, 2019, 5:04 PM
Utah Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey speaks during a press conference about Danté Exum, Derrick Favors and Raul Neto re-signing with the Utah Jazz at the Zions Bank Basketball Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 6, 2018. (Deseret News)
(Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis started a wave of frenzy by announcing his desire to be traded. With the trade deadline a little more than a week away, what should the Utah Jazz do to improve their team?
Cleon Wall and Alex Kirry discussed the madness that Davis caused by expressing his desire to be traded and whether or not the Jazz are players in a potential trade for Davis on KSL Sports’ Jazz Notes podcast.
“Anthony Davis is an interesting piece to anyone’s puzzle,” said Kirry, after his initial reaction that such a trade would be unlikely.
As for how Davis would fit into the Jazz lineup, the speculation wasn’t easy.
“This guy scores a ton,” said Kirry of Davis. “So what does that do? Does that mean, is he a power forward and is Rudy your five?”
Ultimately, Kirry and Wall agreed that such a trade would require the Jazz giving up a whole lot of assets, including prized players like perhaps Jae Crowder and Ricky Rubio and even first round draft picks.
Unfortunately for Jazz fans, Kirry stated that Salt Lake City just doesn’t have the appeal of a team with LeBron James like the Los Angeles Lakers, the perceived front runners for Davis.
Conley, Porter or Hardaway?
As for whether the Jazz will make a more realistic trade, Wall feels there are three potential targets; Memphis’ Mike Conley, Washington’s Otto Porter and New York’s Tim Hardaway Jr.
The problem with acquiring any of those three players is each player’s contract.
Kirry and Wall both confirmed that the potential acquisition of Conley or Porter would make that player the highest-paid player on the Jazz. Both players would carry their own risks and baggage as well.
Hardaway, while not as expensive as Conley or Porter, may be appealing but would be a costly addition for a player who would most likely be relegated to a bench role.
No matter how it works out, it’s always interesting with Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey said Kirry.
Listen and subscribe to the Jazz Notes podcast here.
