Why The Utah Jazz Do The Deal 

In the NBA, star power reigns supreme. If you don’t have a clear franchise player, you don’t have a contending franchise – or one with hopes to contend in the future. 

The Jazz do not have a franchise player. Lauri Markkanen is great and having a breakout season. It’s still difficult to envision him leading a championship run at any point in his career. 

Meanwhile, the Jazz are flush with assets, but none of the first-round picks they own are likely to land in the top 3. This team would be well served to bottom out for the rest of the season in hopes of landing one of the top prospects in the upcoming draft. 

It may not be easy. Some will say it’s too late. The Jazz have a much better record than the league’s worst teams.

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Still, any effort to bottom out may be preferable to maintaining their position in the league’s middle. 

Plus, even if they did so, adding these extremely valuable first-rounders from the Lakers is worth the deal. Should the Lakers part with them?