Why The Utah Jazz Do The Deal

In some ways, this entire deal hinges on the Utah Jazz’s interest. Their view of Ben Simmons could be the factor that determines whether this goes through or not.

After all, Simmons is a polarizing player. Some observers surely still view him as a franchise cornerstone. Others would dismiss him as a liability. The truth is, Simmons is complicated.

He’s one of the best defenders in the entire NBA. Simmons is a rare player who can truly be said to guard 1 through 5. He’s also one of the best passers the league has to offer.

Unfortunately, that skill is mitigated by his lack of shooting. In this league, it’s difficult to function as a lead ball-handler without a jump shot. Furthermore, a combination of physical and mental health factors has rendered Simmons’ reliability a question mark.

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With that said, if Simmons were willing to adjust his game and able to get on the floor, this feels like a great deal for the Utah Jazz. They’d be landing a highly useful player as well as a mountain of draft capital. If they see Simmons as a cornerstone, this is a great way to trigger a rebuild.