What’s this feeling in my head? Whiplash? Dizziness? The Utah Jazz are not finished making last-second moves before the Feb 5 trade deadline after an eight-player swaperoo that sent Clayton, Hendricks, Anderson, Niang, and three firsts to Memphis in exchange for Jaren Jackson Jr, John Konchar, Vince Williams, and Jock Landale.
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Of that return, I really hope you didn’t get too attached to Landale.
In what was ultimately revealed to be a three-team trade,
the Utah Jazz have dealt newly-acquired 30-year-old center Jock Landale to Atlanta in exchange for cash considerations, while the Cleveland Cavaliers chipped in, sending Lonzo Ball and two second-round picks Utah-bound — the final second-rounders that Cleveland had available to trade, according to Jake Fischer.
Much like with Landale, I really hope you didn’t jump at the opportunity to buy a Lonzo Ball jersey, as the Jazz are expected to waive the former second-overall pick before he ever suits up in Utah.
The Utah Jazz front office is waist-deep into the trade deadline hokey-pokey. You put your Landale in, you take your Landale out, you put your Lonzo in, and you trade them all about.
Cleveland is gentrifying its roster with James Harden (who was recently swapped for Darius Garland), Keon Ellis, and Dennis Shröder. Atlanta walks away with lighter pockets, but a deeper frontcourt with Landale, who was enjoying a career-best season in Memphis prior to being moved.
Historically, this move is reminiscent of the last time Utah waived a point guard from Cleveland. Do you remember the time that former MVP Derrick Rose was included in the trade that sent Jae Crowder to Utah? Rose was waived immediately, much to the delight of this hospital patient, who was quick to remind everyone that the former All-NBA guard was well past his prime.
Let’s hope that Lonzo Ball, another oft-injured and declining point guard, doesn’t drop a 50-ball on the Jazz with his next team.
Utah comes away with two second-round picks, proving that their recent trade for Jaren Jackson Jr does not mean the Jazz plan to win now and win at all costs — just as patiently as the rebuild began, Utah has no intention of prematurely chopping the timeline. Draft capital collection and deliberate personnel decisions will define the coming years of Utah Jazz basketball; there is nothing short-sighted about Utah’s franchise reconstruction.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
