At this point in the NBA offseason, there are a lot of rumors. There’s very little action. Welcome to the dog days of summer.
There are plenty of rumors to go around. Damian Lillard is angling to join the Miami Heat. The league doesn’t like how he’s going about it. James Harden wants to join the Los Angeles Clippers. That situation may take some time to resolve as well.
On the other hand, there are some less explosive rumors out there as well. We’re not strictly looking at the fate of superstars. For example, it’s rumored that the Utah Jazz have some interest in acquiring D’Angelo Russell from the Los Angeles Lakers this summer. Here’s a deal that lands him there.
The Trade Proposal
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: F/C Kelly Olynyk, F Simone Fontecchio, 2029 Second-Round Pick (UTA)
Utah Jazz Receive: G D’Angelo Russell
With that said, a recent addition to the Utah Jazz knows all about trade rumors. John Collins was involved in a lot of them for a long time. This summer, the Atlanta Hawks finally moved him.
Collins’ tenure with the Hawks was somewhat strange. At one point, he looked like a future star. Over time, the Hawks gradually made him less of a priority. Eventually, it reached a point where Collins lost all trade value. The Jazz got him at a tremendous discount.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers & Utah Jazz Updates
Now, Collins has a fresh start. Will he make the most of it? It’s hard to say. The Jazz now have an extremely crowded frontcourt. Should they make this deal to clear the runway for Collins?
Why The Utah Jazz Do The Deal
Well, that has to be part of the equation here. The Jazz have a rumored interest in Russell and Kevin Porter Jr. They are both guards. Obviously, this team realizes that they’ve got too many quality forwards.
Is Russell the right acquisition? That’s a difficult call to make. Frankly, any call about the Jazz is complicated. This team was fairly competitive in 2022-23, but they missed the playoffs. Meanwhile, they’ve got an impressive collection of draft capital. Are they rebuilding, or are they contending?
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers & Utah Jazz Updates
Perhaps Russell makes sense either way. At 27, he can be part of the future anyway. Unless the Jazz intend on fully tanking, they could use a playmaking floor general who thrives in the pick and roll. Should the Lakers give up such a player?
Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal
Some Lakers fans may not love this deal. Sure, the Jazz could use a guard. Do the Lakers really have the guard depth to spare Russell? Why are they doing the Jazz a favor?
They’re not. Don’t ask yourself whether the Lakers have enough guard depth. Ask yourself whether they’ve got enough playmaking. When you remember that they’ve got LeBron James on their roster, this deal makes more sense.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers & Utah Jazz Updates
Meanwhile, the Lakers could use a stretch five. Olynyk is one of the best floor-spacing big men in the NBA. He’s also a solid, heady defender. Olynyk is an above-average positional passer as well. All told, this is a good deal for them – if the Jazz’s rumored interest in Russell is even real, of course.
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