Why The Utah Jazz Do The Deal 

There’s no questioning why the Utah Jazz would do this deal. The real question is, why haven’t they done the version of it that doesn’t include the Nets yet? 

Perhaps the Lakers are holding out for Kyrie Irving. 

After all, there’s no reason to think the Jazz would decline two highly valuable first-round picks in exchange for Conley and Bogdanovic. The Lakers are old and volatile – there is every reason to hope they’ll be a lottery team by 2027, let alone 2029. 

Moreover, we know general manager Danny Ainge loves first-round picks. Between Gobert and Mitchell, he collected seven of them in addition to two pick swaps this summer.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets & Los Angeles Lakers Updates

We have to assume the Lakers are holding this up: In the meantime, all we can do is anticipate it.