Why The Utah Jazz Do The Deal
As a general rule, half-measures aren’t advisable. Many would argue that if you’re not at the top of the NBA hierarchy, you’re better off at the bottom.
The Utah Jazz may take exception to that rule. This is not an organization that is known for “tanking”. Like many small-market teams, they’d typically rather pivot than take a step backward. This trade allows them to do exactly that.
After all, De’Aaron Fox is already a quality NBA player. He could keep this team reasonably relevant, especially if they retain Rudy Gobert following this trade. With some tinkering and a step forward from Fox, they may not lose much ground here in the Western Conference standings.
On the other hand, if they do, they’re receiving the ninth pick in the upcoming draft and a protected 2023 first-rounder. One could argue that they’re taking a half-measure, but an optimist would suggest that they’re hedging their bets.
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Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs are taking a clear step back to focus on the future. Is that a course of action they’d consider?