NBA Free Agency 2019: 5 potential destinations for D’Angelo Russell
1. Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz typically aren’t a high-profile free-agent destination, but they could change that reputation this summer.
Derrick Favors’ $16.9 million salary for 2019-20 is fully nonguaranteed until July 6, and only $3.44 million of Kyle Korver’s $7.5 million salary is guaranteed until July 7. If the Jazz waive both of them and renounce the rights to all of their free agents, they could create somewhere in the neighborhood of $37 million in cap space, giving them plenty of room to afford Russell.
If the Jazz waive Korver, they could hypothetically bring Favors back on a slightly cheaper contract and still have enough cap space left over for a Russell max. If Russell were willing to settle for slightly less than the max, Utah would have an even easier time squeezing him in.
Tony Jones of The Athletic reported the Jazz do “have interest” in Russell, “but only if he becomes an unrestricted free agent or if it’s clear the Nets wouldn’t match an offer sheet.” Much like the Pacers, the Jazz likely don’t want to risk tying up their cap space for 48 hours only to see the Nets match their offer sheet for Russell.
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The Jazz badly need a second offensive creator, as Donovan Mitchell can’t handle those responsibilities single-handedly anymore. He and Russell could be interchangeable in on- and off-ball roles, which would make them a challenging offensive duo to stymie.
In early June, Ricky Rubio said the Jazz had let him know “that I am not a priority for them” (via Mychal Lowman of SLC Dunk), which suggests they’ll be searching for a point guard this summer. With Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker unlikely to head to Utah, Russell may be the next-best thing on the free-agent market.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Basketball Insiders.
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