Could the Utah Jazz trade Rudy Gobert this offseason?
You can make the case that the team hardest hit by COVID-19 (thus far) happens to be the Utah Jazz.
Since the hiatus, there have been many conflicting reports about the relationship between Rudy Gobert and Donovon Mitchell (and the rest of the locker room). Even though recent reports have suggested the beginning of a repaired relationship, you can’t help but wonder if it’ll ever get back to where it was before COVID-19.
With the 2019-20 NBA season set to return July 31, how the Jazz performs during the playoffs could very well have a big hand in how they handle the offseason. Specifically, how they handle Gobert’s contract situation. He’s a free agent after the 2020-21 season and will likely be asking for a max extension before next season.
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A Rudy Gobert decision needs to be made by the Utah Jazz
In the event that the Jazz refuse to pay Gobert his max eligible extension, or the simple fact that they want to shake things up after another early playoff exit, there are a number of options on the table for Utah. One of them includes trading Gobert this offseason.
Question is, who could the Jazz target in such a deal? One potential answer is Myles Turner. The Indiana Pacers have two bigs that may not fit together long-term between Turner and Domantas Sabonis.
Of the two players, Sabonis has been the far more impressive one recently. He’s still only 24 years old and is coming off a season in which he averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists per game on 54 percent shooting from the field.
More often than not, he looked like the best player on the floor for the Pacers on most nights. Though, the Pacers could be open to such a deal in the event that they don’t want to be paying big money to two bigs. An expiring Rudy Gobert would lift their ceiling for the 2020-21 season, while also giving them the financial flexibility that they could be seeking heading into the summer of 2021.
It could be a win-win for both teams.
A win for the Jazz
The Jazz wins this trade because they would have a suitor to take Gobert who as great as he can be, is often viewed as a one-dimensional defensive big. They also keep their window open by adding Turner to Mitchell.
Donovan Mitchell and Myles Turner played together for Team USA this past summer, so there’s already a familiarity factor. Turner is instantly an upgrade to Gobert on offense and can make the Jazz better for Mitchell as well.
With Turner, the Jazz would have a center who could now stretch the floor for Mitchell to drive to the basket. Turner can also be an excellent rim-runner and lob threat, whose athleticism translates to a fast pace more suited for Mitchell’s style.
Turner can also deliver defense that is at least comparable to what Gobert gave to the Jazz. It was just last year that Turner was in the running for Defensive Player of the Year and looked like a future defensive anchor.
The x-factor would then be coach Quin Snyder and his staff. The Jazz’s coaching staff would get a shot at investing time into improving Turner. This would help bring more consistency to Turner’s game which is something he hasn’t shown so far.
A Mitchell-Turner duo would give the Jazz a duo that’s under-25 who can change the whole identity for the Jazz instantly.
A win for the Pacers
At the very least, Gobert wouldn’t be much worse of a fit than Turner with Sabonis. If anything the fit might be smoother. Gobert would only work in the paint which would give Sabonis more room to work the mid-range, and 3-point area. Their skillsets wouldn’t overlap as much.
A Gobert-Sabonis frontcourt also gives Indiana’s guards more options in pick-and-roll play. Gobert would have the defined role of rolling to the basket, while Sabonis would operate in the pick-and-pop hitting more jump shots.
Rudy Gobert is also much more of a match for the pace that Indiana plays at, a pace that is slower where Gobert is at his best.
For a team that has a good defense already, Gobert can boost the Pacers to be a really great defensive team. What Gobert gives the Pacers would be more consistent than what they got from Turner on defense. Gobert would be a true defensive-anchor.
The best part of acquiring Gobert is the financial flexibility he will give the Pacers going forward. With star shooting-guard Victor Oladiplo set to be a free agent after next season, a retool could be underway in Indiana. Gobert’s contract would also expire in the same offseason giving the Pacers a lot more cap space and flexibility than paying the rest of Myles Turner’s deal would.
More cap space means the Pacers could look to sign new players or make trades to gain assets if Oladiplo decides to walk.
A true win-win
Not many times in the NBA has a win-win trade been pulled off. Both the Jazz and the Pacers stand in the middle of their conferences and Rudy Gobert’s upcoming contract situation in Utah might’ve just opened the door for the perfect way for both of these teams to continuing moving in the quest for a title.