Utah Jazz: Danny Ainge Takes Control!

Utah Jazz: Danny Ainge Takes Control!

The Utah Jazz last summer hired the former general manager who won a title with the Celtics. Ainge was in control of the Celtics for two decades, and now he is the man in charge of the rebuilding Jazz team. His first move was trading Donovan Mitchell for Lauri Markkanen. Markkanen, which panned out and became an All-Star and Most Improved Player. And another move he made was trading Rudy Gobert for five draft picks. That is a stereotypical Ainge deal where he gets a shit ton of draft picks. This mid-season, the Utah Jazz could trade a lot of players for future assets.

Lauri Markkanen is special. Last season, he averaged 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. His performance earned him the Most Improved Player award and a starting spot in the All-Star game. He is an incredible scorer. This season, he is averaging 23 points and 8 rebounds per game, shooting 48 percent. Lauri has great footwork and is good in the post. The All-Star is 37 percent from the three-point line, which proves he's a threat beyond the three. Teams like the Pistons and OKC Thunder should look to make a move for Lauri. He can raise the playing floor for any team. Danny Ainge will be able to get a good amount of assets from any team that needs a power forward. Markkanen is only 26 years old and entering his prime, so he will be on the radar of a lot of teams. Along with Lauri, Jordan Clarkson will be up for trade this mid-season.

 One of the best six men of the year over the past few years has been Jordan Clarkson. He is a spark off the bench, which every team would want. Clarkson is a guy who can create his shot with ease. He is great at shooting at mid-range and can carry the offensive load with the second unit. Clarkson is a microwave; he can get hot as fuck when coming off the bench. So far, he is averaging 17 points per game and 5 assists. Now that the team has traded away Immanuel Quickley, Teams like the New York Knicks would love to get Clarkson. The Bucks could use him as another scoring option. The Suns could use him to control the second unit. The Miami Heat get another scorer, and the Lakers could have another option off the bench. Clarkson is one of the most valuable guys on the team, along with Colin Sexton and John Collins.

 John Collins has a lot to prove. He has aspirations of becoming an NBA All- Star and now he has the chance to. His run with the Atlanta Hawks ended on bad terms. He was only traded for the second-round pick and Rudy Gay. So far this season, he is averaging 13 points per game and 8 rebounds on a 64.5 true shooting percentage. While I do not think Collins can ever be a star, if he becomes less stubborn, he can be a decent role player. But it seems like he isn't willing to accept that. Collin Sexton is another player who has a lot to prove.

Collin Sexton, since signing with the Jazz, has found himself in a good role. No longer is he trying to fight with Darius Garland for the starting line-up. Sexton is averaging 16 points per game on 57 true shooting percentages. Sexton is in the Rozier range of point guards. If Sexton continues playing, the team may move him in the future. He is one of the many role players they can move.

 Simone Fontecchio was on a tear against the Mavs, where he dropped 24 points on 10-16 shooting. The rookie Keyonte George is one of the best rookies this year. Walker Kessler is a double-double off the bench. Kelly Olynyk is a proven playoff riser, and Kris Dunn is a good defender. The Jazz have one of the best benches in the NBA. Danny Ainge and Will Hardy have done a good job rebuilding this squad. If there are other teams around the league, you must be picking up the phone to try to make a trade. The future is bright in Utah.

Utah Jazz are one of the most consistent franchises in the NBA. Danny Ainge has one hell of an eye for talent. He was the one who drafted Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The future of the Jazz is scary, and soon the team could be contenders. Utah are in a great position to sell this season. They could get a shit ton of assets if they play their cards right.

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