NBA Trade Rumors: Jazz interested in trading for Patrick Beverley

As trade rumors swirl around the Houston Rockets, the Utah Jazz have emerged as a potential trade partner for point guard Patrick Beverley.

The Rockets were conspicuously absent from the transaction frenzy that has been the 2017 offseason…until yesterday.  Houston GM Daryl Morey simply couldn’t resist the insanity! Sean Deveney of the Sporting News reported yesterday afternoon that the Rockets are actively shopping hard-nosed, pesky point guard Patrick Beverley.

Since then, Marc Stein of ESPN has indicated that the Rockets plan to make huge changes to their roster in an attempt to open cap space and land a star free agent. Amidst the reports coming out of Houston, the Jazz have shown serious interest in acquiring Beverley according to Tony Jones of The Salt-Lake Tribune. Jones noted that Utah’s interest does not mean that the departure of incumbent starter George Hill in free agency is certain.

In any case, Utah’s interest in Beverley makes a ton of sense. Adding Beverley should alleviate Utah’s perpetually problematic backup point guard spot.  If the Jazz can keep their roster intact, he would fit well with Utah’s core players on both ends of the floor. He can effectively play off the ball on offense by providing reliable shooting; on the other side of the ball he’s one of the toughest defenders in the league.

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Of course, Utah’s current roster may not exist next season with the free agency decisions of Gordon Hayward and George Hill looming large over the franchise. If the Jazz decide that Hill’s asking price is too expensive or he simply walks, then Beverley would be a great low cost alternative. No specific details have surfaced about whom a potential trade for Beverley would include. The Jazz definitely have enough low price assets to entice Houston and make a deal happen though.