How This Trade Impacts Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz set the precedent of what they are looking for in trades this offseason with the other trades they completed. They traded Royce O’Neale to the Brooklyn Nets for a 2023 first-round pick, which raised some eyebrows and Brian Windhorst brought attention to what their plan could be.

He insinuated bigger trades on the horizon and he was right. Rudy Gobert was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for five players, four draft picks and one swap. Three of the first-round picks are unprotected and one is top-five protected.

Expiring contracts and guys on rookie deals are what the Jazz took back player-wise. Malik Beasley has a player option for the 2023-24 season, essentially making him an expiring deal. Jarred Vanderbilt is the only player signed beyond the upcoming season, but it is a very affordable deal.

So, that is the focus of this trade as well. Evan Fournier is the only player not on a rookie deal heading back to Utah that is signed beyond the 2022-23 season that isn’t on a rookie contract from the Knicks. Derrick Rose has a team option for next season, essentially making him an expiring contract.

In Utah, Obi Toppin and Cam Reddish will have the opportunity to flourish that they have yet to receive in their NBA careers. The same could be said for Dylan Windler if he can earn a rotation spot after battling injuries throughout his career.

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The biggest takeaway from this deal for Utah is the draft capital. Six first-round draft picks, even if some are later in the first round, is quite a haul for any player. They received four for Gobert and will be aiming to receive even more for Mitchell, which the Knicks oblige with.