The NBA trade deadline now sits just under a week away, with an abundance of rumors leading up to the looming February 8th date. The Utah Jazz have been no stranger to getting involved in these whispers around the league in recent weeks as they stand as a prime candidate to end up making a play on the market.
However, while this team is geared with an abundance of valued assets and pieces to put in a potential deal, the best move might end up being not making one at all. More developments have continued to surface surrounding which direction the Jazz will end up going this deadline, with an increasing amount of names seemingly being less and less likely to get shipped away.
Any hopes of last year's All-Star Lauri Markkanen getting dealt in a blockbuster have been all but crushed in recent weeks as the Jazz insist on keeping him as an untouchable-level player. However, he's not the only one Utah has heavy intentions to keep on board.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein's substack, the Jazz are becoming increasingly unlikely to trade away Collin Sexton ahead of next week's deadline amid his resurgence as a productive starting guard:
Sexton’s play as a starter has been among the keys to Utah’s 17-9 rebound from a 7-16 start. League sources have this week described Collin Sexton as more unlikely than likely to be moved; he’s averaging 21.6 points and 5.5 assists in 26 starts while shooting 50.4% from the field and 41.7% from 3-point range.
Since being elevated to a spot in the starting lineup, Sexton has been a bright spot across the Jazz's up-and-down season. He's second on the team in points as well as assists, all while posting some really solid efficiency. Within the 27 games he's started in the Utah backcourt, the team has maintained a strong 17-10 record.
Considering how well Sexton has fit in as a reliable scorer and how he's contributing to winning basketball, it's hard to picture Danny Ainge and the rest of this front office being so eager to ship him off. He has two years left after this season on an extremely team-friendly contract, so retaining an impact player like that in Salt Lake City should be a priority.
Instead, veteran guys or expiring contracts would be more realistic contenders on the roster to be involved in a deal to help the Jazz move closer to their future goals. Guys like Jordan Clarkson, Kelly Olynyk, and Talen Horton-Tucker rise to fit that mold and continue to generate interest around the league in these turbulent times.
By this time next week, we'll have our answers on how this Jazz team is looking to continue building this roster heading into this coming offseason and beyond.
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