Utah Jazz Receive: F Talen Horton-Tucker, G Austin Reaves, G Kendrick Nunn, F Stanley Johnson
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Jordan Clarkson, F Royce O’Neale
In both of the other trades in this piece, we had the Los Angeles Lakers moving Russell Westbrook and his expiring contract. That does feel like the safest way for the team to make meaningful improvements.
That doesn’t mean it’s the only way.
This deal offers a means to a more marginal improvement for the Lakers. They’re landing two useful rotation players from the Jazz. O’Neale is a scrappy defender and a reliable floor spacer, while Clarkson is a sparkplug scorer who’s built to lead the second unit.
The Jazz only make this deal if they’re forced into a rebuild. If Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert are content to stay put and run it back, this won’t interest them. On the other hand, if they move on from one or both as expected, taking a flier on Talen Horton-Tucker’s potential should be well worth the price of the two veterans they’re giving up here.
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This Jazz deal won’t catapult the Lakers back into championship territory. They’ll still need Russ to figure out his optimal role, and Davis to find his shot. If they can accomplish both of those goals, making this deal could push them over the top.
