Utah Jazz Receive: G/F Ben Simmons
Brooklyn Nets Receive: C Rudy Gobert
One-for-one swaps have become increasingly rare in the NBA. Normally, some draft capital is at least exchanged in one direction.
Still, sometimes the tried-and-tested player-for-player formula works. Typically, that’s the case when each player involved either has some weakness that the other team is more equipped to compensate for, or a strength the other team has more of a need for. That feels like the case here.
The Jazz favor Simmons because they’ve got a dire need for perimeter defense. Simmons offers as much as any player in the NBA. They’ll also be happy to add some secondary ball-handling beside Donovan Mitchell. He’s got little help in that regard with this team’s current roster.
Meanwhile, the Nets have less need for Simmons’ playmaking with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the roster. They’ll be happy to add Gobert’s rim protection at the expense of Simmons’ offensive abilities. Ultimately, both players need the dunker spot to operate. The Nets have more use for Gobert’s rim protection than anything Simmons offers.
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We think this swap makes surprising sense for both sides. If either disagrees, there could be another trade that makes sense for both sides.
