5 trades for the Jazz to solve the Rudy Gobert-Donovan Mitchell impasse

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers need a shake-up, and fast. After several years of sustained success that peaked with a conference finals appearance last year, they have taken a major step back this year. Portland is 3.5 games back of the 8-seed out West, and it doesn’t look like they’ll have a chance to make up that ground.

The Blazers have two options: truly go in on Damian Lillard‘s prime, or blow it up entirely. Knowing what we know about NBA teams in small markets, the former is much more likely. Accomplishing that properly will require two types of players around Lillard: shooters to space the floor for him and a rim protector who can roll effectively on offense.

Hassan Whiteside has been yet another great reclamation project for the Blazers, but he’s a free agent this summer in an unpredictable market. Jusuf Nurkic was important before his unfortunate knee injury, but it remains to be seen what the 280-pound Bosnian bruiser will look like when he returns.

Like every other team inquiring about Gobert, the Blazers would be taking a swing for one season and then re-evaluating. Portland has over $414 million committed to Lillard and CJ McCollum; the team must be certain that Gobert fits the puzzle before committing to him too.

If Nurkic is still mostly what he was pre-injury, the Jazz can make great use of him. He’s nowhere near the rim protector or roller that Gobert is, but Quin Snyder has his own history of maximizing role players. Nurkic’s enormous frame can be a deterrent in the right setting while being an offensive force in others.

Trevor Ariza is effectively salary-filler, but he can also fill a role for Utah next season. If not, they can waive him and only eat $1.8 million of the $12.8 million he’s slated for.

Trading with a division rival looks weird, no doubt. But two organizations must do what’s best for themselves, and if the Jazz are forced to trade Gobert, they won’t be allowed to be picky.