In the lead-up to the NBA trade deadline, the Utah Jazz are running out of time. There is growing pressure on this squad to add players to their roster as the much-awaited deadline of February 8th approaches.
Utah is currently in a tight race to make the Play-In Tournament, sitting 24-25 in the Western Conference. This team has a great deal of freedom this time of year, and in the next few days, they may even act as buyers or sellers. It wouldn’t be shocking to see a transfer involving the Jazz veterans, though, given the growing buzz and intrigue around them.
Kelly Olynyk has made headlines lately for his own trade speculations, most notably one involving the Houston Rockets. Olynyk would be a great fit for a younger squad that is looking to add a senior player in the middle of the season. The team is apparently looking for assistance in their frontcourt and to boost rim protection.
That being said, here’s a clever mock trade proposal we came up with that would successfully satisfy the Rockets’ requirements while allowing the Jazz to take advantage of their upcoming contract expiration:
The Jazz would return Olynyk to Houston, his former residence, in exchange for Jae’Sean Tate’s return and a 2028 first-round pick that would be protected. This is a move that will allow Utah to continue to build for the future while avoiding depleting their roster and being competitive in the Play-In race.
Tate had a scorching start to his NBA career in his rookie campaign, averaging more than 11 points per game. However, in his fourth season of play, he has experienced some decline. He’s averaging 4.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists on 47.7/29.2/71.4 splits in 44 games in his 2023–24 campaign.
Even while the numbers are not ideal, the potential (particularly on the defensive end) has been clearly demonstrated in previous years, suggesting that the former Ohio State product could benefit greatly from a change of scenery.
A first-round selection in any trade involving Olynyk would also probably be acquired by the Jazz, based on previous transactions within the association. It makes sense that Danny Ainge would want to see a comparable return for his veterinarian if the Charlotte Hornets were able to acquire a protected first-round pick for Terry Rozier.
