5 trades for the Jazz to solve the Rudy Gobert-Donovan Mitchell impasse
By Alec Liebsch
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have been mentioned in every star trade rumor since the internet was created, but there are good reasons for that: They draft well, make good signings on the margins and have a coaching staff that maximizes players’ strengths.
In addition, they have a lot of salaries that can be put together for a trade of this magnitude. Gordon Hayward’s albatross contract is bad luck, but he does have a $34.2 million player option for next season that can work in a trade like this.
Since the Jazz don’t have much expendable salary to add to Gobert’s hit ($26.5 million next season), matching Hayward’s money becomes difficult. What’s more likely is an accumulation of Boston’s parts.
Jaylen Brown makes $23 million on his own next season, which comes very close to Gobert’s number. That doesn’t really matter though, because there’s little chance Danny Ainge sends away a good, young, team-controlled player for a one-year gamble.
Marcus Smart will earn $13.4 million next season, and none of Daniel Theis‘ $5 million hit for next year is guaranteed. There’s a lot for both sides to play with, a common occurrence in Boston.
Including the above, Utah would also receive the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2020 first-round pick from Boston along with Enes Kanter‘s $5 million player option (let’s assume he’ll accept it) to match money.
The Celtics fill the one major hole in their team: defense against Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid. Losing Marcus Smart may complicate how they hide Kemba Walker, but Gobert’s presence is enough to mitigate that. If Brad Stevens can use Al Horford to hide Isaiah Thomas, he can certainly use Gobert to protect Walker. A lineup of Walker, Brown, Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum and Gobert keeps a top-five offense intact (and arguably enhances it) while bolstering the fourth-best defense in basketball.
The Jazz receive placeholders for the 5-spot while gaining a very good guard in Marcus Smart. Romeo Langford gets to keep developing in the shadows, and ideally takes over for Conley as the second guard when his contract expires. It’s not an ideal return, but it may be the best they get.