At this point in the offseason, NBA teams are taking stock of their roster. Some teams may have theirs set for the rest of the season. Others may have some changes to make. They may have too many players at one position, or too few at another.
For example. look at the Utah Jazz. This team already had a surplus of frontcourt players. This summer, they added another one. The Jazz made a move for John Collins. Now, they’ve got a logjam of 4s and 5s.
On the other hand, the Houston Rockets didn’t have a true point guard when 2022-23 came to a close. They’d been experimenting with Kevin Porter Jr. at the position. This summer, they added Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson. Now, it remains to be seen what role Porter Jr. will play on the team. Could they send him to the Jazz?
The Trade Proposal
Houston Rockets Receive: F/C Kelly Olynyk, F Simone Fontecchio, 2025 First-Round Pick (CLE via UTA)
Utah Jazz Receive: G/F Kevin Porter Jr.
With that said, some folks aren’t concerned with positional overlap in the modern NBA. Isn’t the NBA positionless? What exactly is the problem here?
Well, positions may or may not overlap. Skillsets still can. For example, between Walker Kessler, Lauri Markkanen, Olynyk, and Collins, nobody is a good perimeter defender. Playing any two of them at the same time is difficult enough for the Jazz. Playing three of them at the same time may be untenable.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Kevin Porter Jr., Utah Jazz & Houston Rockets Updates
The league may be positionless. Rosters still need to make sense. The Jazz have a logjam. They can experiment with big ball lineups, but ultimately, they’ll probably need to move someone. Should they target Porter Jr. to strengthen their backcourt?
Why The Utah Jazz Do The Deal
Actually, Porter Jr. would be reunited with Collin Sexton if the Jazz made this deal. At one time, they were teammates on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Back then, Sexton was generally prioritized over Porter Jr.
That wouldn’t be the case in Utah. Sexton may not be the same player that he was then due to a severe injury. In the meantime, Porter Jr. has blossomed. He may not have worked as a point guard in Houston, but he’s still got a great skill set. Porter Jr. can catch and shoot at an elite level, and he’s a solid shot-creator who can function as a secondary playmaker.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Kevin Porter Jr., Utah Jazz & Houston Rockets Updates
That’s a valuable player. Meanwhile, the Jazz have a void in their backcourt. Jordan Clarkson just finished up a career year, but otherwise, Utah is lacking guards. Should the Rockets really send them one?
Why The Houston Rockets Do The Deal
The Rockets may want to hold off on this deal. They need to see how their current roster gels. With so many young, unpredictable players, it’s hard to identify a single need for this team.
Still, it does feel like they need frontcourt depth more than backcourt players. The Rockets would shift Porter Jr. to the starting off-guard spot – if Jalen Green didn’t exist. The recent lottery pick has more upside than Porter Jr., so they’re likely to prioritize him. With VanVleet and Thompson in town, Porter Jr. feels like the odd man out.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Kevin Porter Jr., Utah Jazz & Houston Rockets Updates
Meanwhile, Alperen Sengun is the presumptive starting big man. Jock Landale will be his primary backup. Yet, neither of those players is a reliable floor spacer. Olynyk is. Reuniting with him would give this team a new dynamic that they may feel they need – after taking stock of their roster, that is.
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