Rumors are swirling around the Utah Jazz already while the NBA playoffs are still in full swing. The Jazz were eliminated in the first round of the postseason, and it is becoming clear that they don't have a roster capable of making a Finals run. This has led to speculation that one of Rudy Gobert or Donovan Mitchell will be traded over the offseason.
Gobert is the likelier candidate to be traded. Utah wants to build a winning roster around Mitchell. They want to add a more offensive-minded star to complement him, and dealing Gobert away could lead to that happening. Gobert was recently linked to Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, and Toronto Raptors.
Dealing Gobert and his massive contract away won't be easy. The big man is owed roughly $170 million dollars over the next four seasons. Regardless, there are teams that would not want to miss the opportunity to add one of the best rim protectors in the NBA.
Chris Kirschner of The Athletic recently discussed Atlanta's viability as a destination for either Rudy Gobert or Donovan Mitchell. But can the Hawks and Jazz make a trade work?
The Perfect Hawks-Jazz Rudy Gobert Trade
Atlanta's DeAndre Hunter is the starting point for this trade.
Are the Hawks a potential destination for a Utah star?
Atlanta should be interested if either Donovan Mitchell or Rudy Gobert is made available, @ChrisKirschner writes.
“And I’ve heard the Jazz like De’Andre Hunter’s game.”
More: https://t.co/klnGFOGvvF pic.twitter.com/jzvvDBDp1A
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) May 9, 2022
Utah reportedly is interested in Hunter, so he could be the player who provides the Hawks with a leg up compared to other potential Gobert suitors.
But it would obviously take more than De'Andre Hunter to make this deal come to fruition. So what might a trade look like between these teams?
The Athletic laid out a perfect trade scenario that would make sense from a financial perspective. The following is an excerpt from their article discussing the details of a Rudy Gobert to the Hawks trade:
“If Mitchell or Gobert became available, I’d say the latter is the likelier option for the Hawks to land. There’s just been too much buzz in league circles with Mitchell to the Knicks if he were to come available. With Gobert, both Charlotte and Atlanta would make sense as a possible destination. A package of Hunter, Clint Capela and Jalen Johnson plus picks could work salary-wise for Gobert, or if the Jazz would rather want the long-term cap space, Danilo Gallinari could replace Capela.”
Clint Capela is a formidable center. No, he won't provide the same production as Gobert, but he also is not a bad alternative for a starting center. Jalen Johnson and picks would help entice Utah to pull the trigger on the deal centered around Hunter.
The Jazz don't have to trade Rudy Gobert or Donovan Mitchell, and some reporting suggests they will not trade either. But the duo has been unable to lead Utah to a deep postseason run during their time together. A fresh start is the best option for all parties involved. Gobert would be able to star alongside Trae Young in Atlanta, Mitchell would gain a new crop of players to lead, and the Jazz could focus on building a winner that doesn't revolve around Rudy Gobert being a co-star.
The deal makes sense for the Hawks as well, who have dealt with their own postseason struggles. They could use the defensive help. Gobert's offensive numbers could also rise with an elite distributor in Trae Young dishing him the ball.
It will be interesting to follow the Jazz and Hawks this offseason and see if they can swing a Rudy Gobert trade.
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