Trade No. 5 – Utah Jazz
The Minnesota Timberwolves trade Andrew Wiggins to the Utah Jazz, in return for Joe Ingles, Thabo Sefolosha, and Grayson Allen.
In this case, the Jazz would be supplementing Allen as a first round pick, which gives the Wolves two rookie workhorses in Josh Okogie and Allen. Aside from the rookie, Ingles fills Wiggs’ spot pretty seamlessly in a micro sense, and Sefolosha would come off the bench to get some solid minutes when Covington needs a break.
The Jazz have been doing very well with their defensive star in Rudy Gobert and their upcoming – hopeful – superstar Donovan Mitchell. However, the absence of Gordon Hayward leaves the Jazz without a solid wing to depend on for the future next to Mitchell, and because the Jazz aren’t getting a high lottery pick anytime soon, putting stock in Wiggs makes sense.
Utah, in a weird way, does seem like the perfect home for Wiggs, who needs a transformation going into the pre-prime of his career.
Ultimately, the Jazz and Wolves could be stuck in the western conference mud after this deal, so it may not be worth it for either franchise. But alas, the Jazz get a hopeful star and the Wolves get cap relief for the next several summers, so maybe it works.
Our next deal is with a team out of California who desperately needs a solid wing, and they haven’t been quiet about it.