The 2022 NBA offseason marked the end of an era for the Utah Jazz. For a few years now people have been clamoring for them to shake up the roster. They did that and more this offseason, as the roster is almost unrecognizable from the one they had the last few years.
Gone are franchise cornerstones Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. They were traded in blockbuster deals to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers, setting the wheels in motion for what could be a lengthy rebuild in Salt Lake City.
With less than two weeks until training camp, there are still plenty of moves that Justin Zanik and Danny Ainge could look to pull off. The roster is currently at 17 players, a number that will need to be pared down to 15 by the time the regular season rolls around.
In need of some consolidation, it is fair to assume that at least some of the veterans that remain on the roster will be on the move in the coming weeks. One of the players that have been mentioned as a trade target is Bojan Bogdanovic.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bojan Bogdanovic, Utah Jazz & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The scoring forward would be a nice addition to teams looking to compete for a spot in the postseason or contend for a title. He has the most robust market of any of the veterans remaining on the roster and according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers are still engaged in trade talks centered around him.
“League sources indicate a market for Bogdanovic at the very least, of which there is significant interest for the 6-foot-8 shooting forward. But, the Jazz at this point don’t appear to be particularly close to a trade that could land them even more assets and consolidate the roster, although there are ongoing talks with the Los Angeles Lakers.”
The Lakers are not alone in that pursuit, as three other teams are reportedly showing interest in Bogdanovic as well; the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns. Expiring contracts and draft picks are reportedly on the table in discussions.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bojan Bogdanovic, Utah Jazz & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
If the negotiations for Gobert and Mitchell are any indication, the Jazz will be looking to get back as much draft compensation as possible. The player return wasn’t nearly as important to them as securing as many unprotected first-round picks.
Bogdanovic may not field an unprotected first-round pick on his own, but with a potential bidding war brewing, you never know what could happen. Utah may find themselves able to secure even more than they thought they would for the veteran forward.
