With the Utah Jazz missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year, their future in the competitive Western Conference looks bleak. Utah finished with the fourth-worst record in the West, and they do not appear to be in championship contention anytime soon. However, they do have the tenth pick in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft and several players who will attract trade interest from teams around the league.
Given Utah’s status as a bottom-feeder in the West, this offseason is an ideal time for a complete rebuild. The Jazz have multiple players they can trade for young talent or future picks, including Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Collin Sexton, and Jordan Clarkson. There are also rumors that they are open to trading their center, Walker Kessler, who just completed his second NBA season. The rebuilding process should begin with Markkanen, one of their standout players over recent seasons.
With these players on the trading block, many teams are expected to engage in trade discussions with Utah this offseason. A contending team acquiring one of the Jazz’s players could bolster their championship prospects for next season. For the Jazz, the returns from these trades could set the franchise on a positive trajectory.
Here are three potential mock trades for the rebuilding Jazz to consider this offseason.
Orlando Magic
Magic add size while Jazz add another 2024 first-rounder.
The Orlando Magic were a surprise team last season, finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference standings and pushing the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the first round of the playoffs before being eliminated. With their rebuild seemingly complete, the Magic can now focus on addressing their weaknesses this offseason. A primary target is adding another big man to pair with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
Orlando currently lacks a seven-footer on their roster, but trading for Utah’s Walker Kessler could fill that gap. Kessler is a reliable inside scorer, averaging 8.1 points and shooting 65.4 percent from the field last season. He also brings strong defensive capabilities, with averages of 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game, which would complement the Magic’s already strong defense.
To acquire Kessler, the Magic would likely need to trade a young player and a first-round pick. They could trade Jett Howard, who saw limited playing time last season in Orlando, along with their 2024 first-round pick, the 18th overall selection. Given the relatively weak 2024 draft class, trading a mid-first-round pick for a promising young center like Kessler would be a strategic move for the Magic. Additionally, Orlando could explore acquiring other players from the Jazz to enhance their three-point shooting.
For Utah, acquiring Howard would bring in a young forward who was the 11th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Howard played only 18 games during his rookie season in Orlando, but he would likely see more playing time in Utah. The Jazz would also gain the 18th pick in the 2024 draft, providing them with another young player or the option to package it with the 10th pick to move up in the draft.
The New Orleans Pelicans are aiming to revamp their roster around Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum this offseason following their first-round playoff sweep by the Oklahoma City Thunder last year. Rumors suggest that New Orleans may move on from Brandon Ingram, which would create another gap in their starting lineup.
Another area that needs addressing is the point guard position. The Pelicans used McCollum as their primary point guard last season, which didn’t work as well as they had hoped. They are likely to seek a point guard this offseason, and Utah’s Collin Sexton could be a fitting addition.
Sexton, who can play both guard positions, shared point guard duties with Keyonte George in Utah last season. In 78 games, the 25-year-old averaged 18.7 points and 4.9 assists while shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three. Adding Sexton would allow McCollum to return to his natural shooting guard role from his Portland Trail Blazers days. Sexton is a reliable scorer and a decent defender, and at 25, he still has room to grow. With Sexton in the lineup alongside McCollum and Williamson, and whoever they might acquire in an Ingram trade, the Pelicans could be strong contenders in the Western Conference next season.
The Jazz would likely demand one or two young players and draft picks for the 25-year-old guard. The Pelicans have these assets and should be willing to make the trade. A potential deal could involve Dyson Daniels and EJ Liddell, two players who have not had much court time in New Orleans. The Pelicans could also trade their 2026 first-round pick, which is a swap with the Milwaukee Bucks. By trading these assets, the Pelicans would gain a starting point guard in Sexton, who could be crucial for their future success.
For the Jazz, acquiring Daniels would bring in a player with significant potential who could serve as the backup point guard to Keyonte George while he develops. Liddell, who spent last season in the G-League after missing his rookie season with a torn ACL, would also join the team. Additionally, the 2026 first-round pick would aid Utah’s future rebuilding efforts.
The New York Knicks face a significant offseason ahead. Despite their second-round playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers last season, the Knicks demonstrated their potential as a formidable team in the Eastern Conference, provided they stay healthy. Jalen Brunson has emerged as one of the league’s top point guards, and the rest of the lineup ranks among the best in the NBA when at full strength.
Last season, the Knicks’ playoff run was hampered by the absence of Julius Randle, who missed the end of the regular season and the postseason due to injury. With some cap space and trade assets available, the Knicks have the opportunity to bring in another star to complement Brunson this offseason. Adding a key sixth man like Jordan Clarkson could be crucial in their quest to win their first championship since 1973.
Clarkson, the 2020-21 Sixth Man of the Year, had a down season in Utah, playing only 55 games, the fewest in his ten-year career. After starting all 61 games for the Jazz in the 2022-23 season, he returned to the sixth-man role last season, which led to a drop in his scoring average to 17.1 points per game from 20.8 the previous season. His three-point shooting also dipped to a career-low 29.4 percent. A new environment might help the 32-year-old return to his peak form, and New York could be the right fit.
The Knicks showed interest in Clarkson at last season’s trade deadline but instead traded with the Toronto Raptors for OG Anunoby. With Utah now looking to move Clarkson, the Knicks are expected to make a move. To acquire Clarkson, New York might trade a young player and a first-round pick, possibly offering Jericho Sims and the 25th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The Knicks have both the 24th and 25th picks and are likely to trade one.
Adding Clarkson would provide the Knicks with a key scorer off the bench, a role they lacked last season. This would also allow head coach Tom Thibodeau to rest some of his starting guards, a factor that hurt the Knicks in the playoffs.
For the Utah Jazz, trading Clarkson for Sims and the 25th pick would give them a young center who could replace Kessler if traded. Sims, who had limited playing time last season due to Isaiah Hartenstein’s emergence, would have more opportunities to develop in Utah. Additionally, the 25th pick could be used to move up in the draft or to select a promising young player for the future.
As the Utah Jazz do not appear to be in contention for championships in the near future, this offseason is an ideal time for them to start a rebuild. With players like Markannen, Clarkson, Sexton, and Kessler attracting interest from teams looking to boost their championship chances, Utah’s rebuild could begin with the 2024 NBA Draft, where they hold the 10th overall pick.
