Top > Sport > 2006 > January > 2006-01-30

Utah Looking to Strike a Deal

One team that is constantly mentioned with connection to trade scenarios is Utah. Even though the Jazz are in the playoff hunt, the right trade can guarantee that the team will not be back in the lottery. Who do you trade? First of all, let?s cover those whom are deemed as untouchables. There is no way on earth Utah will trade the three main pillars of their past and present success: Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, and Deron Williams.

Kirilenko and Memo have been as symbiotic a relationship as Utah?s had since #?s 12 and 32 rode off into the sunset. They are both playing at a very high level?a level that has to make Jerry Sloan and Larry H. Miller inwardly happy. They just need to include consistently leading this young team to victories as part of the equation.

Much has been said of Williams? dramatic decrease in playing time, productivity, and morale. O?Connor did not trade three first-round picks to draft a player who is destined to be a bench player being forced into a different position. He is a wonderful talent who will only get better as he becomes more acclimated to the NBA and to Utah Jazz basketball.

So who do you trade? While Utah brass constantly says that Boozer is staying in Utah, I am sure they are listening to what other teams have to offer. While his trade value may be down due to his never-ending injury, there is and always will be a market for a 18 ppg, 9 rpg power forward who can play with his back to the basket. From Utah?s perspective, I can easily see the need to be patient.