Why The Utah Jazz Do The Deal

In answering why the Utah Jazz would do this deal, it might be easier to look at why they wouldn’t do other ones.

Let’s imagine the Jazz trade Mitchell to the New York Knicks, as is widely rumored. Suppose they land five first-round picks from New York. Ask yourself this question:

What are the odds that any of those picks end up as good as Tyrese Maxey?

Of course, that’s an oversimplification. Trading for a mass of draft capital is about increasing your flexibility as much as accumulating raw talent. Still, the opportunity to land a 21-year-old who already looks like a star might be irresistible to the Jazz.

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Besides, they’ve already got that flexibility. With four new first-round picks from the Timberwolves, one more from the Sixers here, and most of their own selections moving forward, the Jazz have a fine stockpile of draft capital. Sure, it could be better.

It’s just hard to say with confidence that increasing it would be more valuable than Tyrese Maxey.