Would this trade make sense for the Utah Jazz?
The Utah Jazz have a solid defensive team, and that’s mainly because of Rudy Gobert. But they could really use some more help out on the perimeter. They have enough three-point shooting that they could stand to sacrifice some for extra defense.
This is where Marcus Smart comes into play. Smart is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, receiving All-NBA Defensive First Team honors twice throughout his career. This season is no different, and he’s even wracking up a league-leading 2.0 steals per game.
Plus, Utah would also get Dennis Schroder to help replace some of the consistent scoring they’d be losing. He could come off the bench next to Jordan Clarkson and help make plays there. His contract is up at the end of the season, though.
Utah’s starting lineup could look something like Smart, Donovan Mithcell, Royce O’Neale, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Gobert. Obviously, the offense may be taking a hit, but the all-around defense in that lineup is nothing short of spectacular.
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Throw in two second-round picks, and this isn’t a terrible package for the Jazz. They would improve an area of need, thus putting Mitchell and Gobert in the best possible position to succeed. Smart’s perimeter defense would be huge for them.
