As the NBA trade deadline begins to get closer and closer, it makes for a good time to propose some hypothetical deals we could see happening during the middle of this season. With several rosters around the league looking to buy or sell some of the assets they have on hand, it could make for a busy next few weeks.
One of the teams that could be more active on the trade market than others could end up being the Utah Jazz. With a front office headlined by CEO Danny Ainge, it would be far from a shock to see a move or two go down to capitalize on this team’s asset pool.
One of those assets may just be a guy like Kelly Olynyk. According to previous reports, the ten-year NBA vet has a ‘robust trade market’ ahead of the deadline, which could set up perfectly for a potential deal surrounding the Jazz’s big man.
With that, here’s a mock deal we could see happening that sends Olynyk to the New York Knicks:
Utah Jazz acquire:
Evan Fournier
2024 first-round pick (via NYK)
New York Knicks acquire:
Kelly Olynyk
Talen Horton-Tucker
For the Jazz, this is a deal that’s based on a look-ahead to the future. Olynyk and Talen Horton-Tucker are both set to be free agents this summer with expiring contracts. If Ainge wanted to claim value on either of them before there becomes a chance to lose them for nothing, it’s a move you’d have to consider.
With Utah now positioned well within the Play-In race as the 10th seed, it’s become increasingly unlikely that their top-ten protected first-round pick due to the Oklahoma City Thunder will convert back to them. If the Jazz wanted to add on to their young core this offseason, a trade back into the mid-to-late first could do just that.
Olynyk has been a valuable veteran piece and contributor during Utah’s recent success, but it’s the long-term implications that matter here. He’s turning 33 years old in April and will likely seek the best chance at winning a championship in his next contract. If a return to Utah was not in the cards for next year, maximizing his value while still possible should be a core focus ahead of the deadline.
Considering Knicks’ center Mitchell Robinson has been designated out for the remainder of the season, New York could entertain bringing in another big to round out their rotation for an aspiring deep playoff push. With their recent deal of Immanuel Quickley to the Toronto Raptors, the bench could benefit from another guard.
Evan Fournier has been a non-factor in the Knicks rotation for some time now and is sitting on a hefty $18 million deal for the next two seasons. If the Jazz can bring him in with a first-round pick attached, especially for this season, it makes sense for a rebuilding roster to do so.
With just under a month to go until the league cutoff hits, expect some trade discussions and rumors involving the Jazz ramping up to follow.
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