Utah Jazz Receive: G Russell Westbrook, 2027 First-Round Pick (LAL), 2029 First-Round Pick (LAL) 

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Mike Conley, G Malik Beasley, F/C Kelly Olynyk 

Of course, the opposite is true as well. You’ve got to make money in order to spend it. 

To extend the analogy, NBA teams need quality players in order to accumulate quality assets. For example, look at the summer the Jazz just wrapped up. 

In total, they received 7 unprotected first-round picks and 2 swaps, in addition to some quality young players, for Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.

Now, this team is set up nicely for the future. 

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Mike Conley, Utah Jazz & Los Angeles Lakers Updates

With that in mind, many expected the Jazz to tank this season. So far, they haven’t. At 19-18, the Jazz have been a middling team in 2022-23.

Does this deal push them far enough to the bottom?