How This Trade Impacts Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz came into the offseason possibly looking to shake things up. They earned the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, finishing with the best record in the NBA. Utah had the home-court advantage throughout the postseason, but it ended up not mattering.
The Jazz was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Clippers. What made that elimination even worse was the fact that Kawhi Leonard was injured during Game 4. Heading back home against an opponent without their best player, Utah was in an advantageous spot but couldn’t get the job done. They lost Games 5 and 6 and were sent home early.
Shaking things up and getting some salary relief was discussed. Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Ingles and Royce O’Neale were mentioned as possible trade candidates. In this deal, Bogdanovic and Ingles are sent to Golden State for Andrew Wiggins and Juan Tuscano-Anderson.
Wiggins gives Utah a little more youth and burst on the wing. He came into his own with the Warriors last season, developing his 3-point shot and become more of the two-way player people thought he would be when he was the No. 1 overall pick in 2014.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: This Spurs-Jazz Trade Is Centered Around Thaddeus Young
He is a defensive upgrade on Bogdanovic and Ingles and gives Utah another player capable of being a go-to scorer for them. Wiggins will help take pressure off of Donovan Mitchell offensively and be the team’s defensive ace on the perimeter.
Tuscano-Anderson provides the team with some solid depth on the wing as well. He does a little bit of everything and has shown he can hold his own when given the opportunity.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: This Spurs-Jazz Trade Is Centered Around Thaddeus Young
Utah is taking on some money in the deal, but Wiggins’ contract does expire following the 2022-23 season. He would help balance the team and give them a true two-way player, something they do not currently have on the wing.
