5 on 5: Trading The #12 Pick

Dennis Lindsey, from June. (Getty Images)

1.  Jazz trade #12, OKC 1st, & Trey Burke to the New Orleans Pelicans for Jrue Holiday

Ben Dowsett: All day, and twice on Sundays. I wrote about Holiday recently, and think he’s a great target for the Jazz. I don’t see New Orleans letting him go this cheap, and think someone like Trevor Booker (at minimum) or another rotation player would need to be involved.

Andy Larsen: I like this idea quite a bit, though wonder if the Pelicans agree to it. While the Jazz love Dante, Holiday is a great replacement for the minutes Burke was using last year, and great insurance in case Exum doesn’t improve. His size fits perfectly in the Jazz’s lengthy defensive system.

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Denim Millward: Where do I sign? Holiday upgrades Utah’s biggest position of need and gives the Jazz a more-than-capable scorer and facilitator. I think the Jazz would jump at this or a similar deal, as it’s a great opportunity to combine the assets that have been compiled and convert them to a tailored fit for the team.

Matt Pacenza: Yes. Holiday is a plus defender who is young and improving – with a shaky injury history. If he stays healthy, he’s almost certainly better than any PG on the Jazz roster. It’s worth $20 million over two years and two middling draft picks to find out.

David J. Smith: Absolutely yes. Holiday would be a major difference maker. While injuries are a concern, he would add an established distributor, shooter, and defender to the mix as a third guard. In this deal, Utah would getting a 24-year old former All-Star for one valuable asset (#12), a late first, and a struggling Burke. You have to do this, if it became a possibility.

2.  Jazz trade #12, OKC 1st, GSW 2017 1st, Rodney Hood, & Trey Burke to the New York Knicks for #4 pick & Jose Calderon

Ben Dowsett: The only way I’d consider this is if it was made during the draft, with D’Angelo Russell still available at 4 – and even then, it’d give me pause. Hood and three first-round picks are a hefty price to pay, both future-wise and right away.

Andy Larsen: To me, this trade only makes sense if D’Angelo Russell is still on the board. Russell projects statistically as an excellent draft prospect, one just as likely to be a star as Towns and Okafor. I suspect, though, that Phil Jackson won’t want to trade his first splash in NYC for a bench of lesser assets.

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Denim Millward: My knee-jerk reaction was a quick no, but the more I consider the deal, the more I think I’d do it. Though the mere thought of giving Hood away this early in his career is stomach churning, this is your home-run swing opportunity to nab a superstar without sending out a key component of your team in return. The only question now is who would the Jazz pick, D’Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay?

Matt Pacenza: Yes, but there is no way the Knicks make this trade. Let’s say Burke-Calderon are a wash (the latter is better, but the former could improve) you’re basically trading the #4 pick this year (someone you’d hope could be an All Star) for four mid-to late first rounders (i.e. bench players.)

David J. Smith: If D’Angelo Russell is available at #4, yes. He is the real deal. For someone like Kristaps Porzingis, not sure I’d swing on this one. If the former, the Jazz would surrender two valuable pieces in #12 and Hood, but three lesser ones for a potential franchise cornerstone. Plus, Calderon would be a very good vet point guard and mentor for Dante Exum.

3.  Jazz trade #12, Rodney Hood, Trevor Booker, & Non-Guaranteed contracts to the Golden State Warriors for David Lee, Harrison Barnes, and GSW #30 2015 pick

Ben Dowsett: Barnes is tempting, but Hood is still a big piece to give up, and Booker is better than Lee at a fraction of the cost. I likely pass and make the pick if this is my best offer.

Andy Larsen: The Jazz did have interest in acquiring Lee at the deadline, but ultimately decided flexibility was the way to go. Barnes is nice, but the Jazz would need to have decided that Lee is the best way to use their FA dollars by June 25th, something that is unlikely. They’ll want to test the waters, at least, in July.

AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

Denim Millward: I’m laughing as I hang up the phone on this one. You’re essentially bailing on Hood’s future potential, trading a key energy guy and beloved cereal enthusiast, and assuming the albatross of David Lee’s contract (albeit expiring), and trading down 18 spots for Harrison Barnes, a guy I like but don’t love. No deal.

Matt Pacenza: No. I’m just not that excited about Barnes. Yes, he’s young, but even as the fourth or fifth option on the Warriors, his PER was only 13. Is he definitely better than Hood? I also really don’t want to watch Lee lumber up the court for $15 million next year.

David J. Smith: Yes. Lee is due $15.5M, but is expiring. While his defense is atrocious, he is one year removed from 18 and 9 – a potentially nice scorer off the pine. The real prize, though, would be Barnes, who has been quietly terrific in the postseason. He has tremendous upside. Losing Hood would sting, but getting #30, too, would be a boon.

4.  Jazz trade #12, OKC 1st, Trey Burke, & Trevor Booker to the Toronto Raptors for Grevis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, & #20 pick

Ben Dowsett: This one is pretty close, but I think I’d do it to add some very cheap shooting in Patterson. Dennis Lindsey and his group have proven they can strike gold on later first round picks.

Andy Larsen: I understand the proposal here: the Jazz would fill two items of need in backup PG and shooting big. But Patterson and Vasquez are not big enough upgrades on Burke or Booker to justify giving up a pick and downgrading from 12 to 20 in a 15 player draft, in my opinion.

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Denim Millward: I can’t say it’s not a fair deal, but I would pass. Utah would essentially would be shipping out a future first and trading down 8 spots for what I surmise to be a decent upgrade at point guard and a very minor upgrade on your front court depth. I don’t know Patterson would fit as well as Booker does in Quin Snyder’s offense, and Vasquez can bolt after a single season, re-opening the point guard conundrum.

Matt Pacenza: Yes, but this one is very close. Both Vasquez and Patterson are decent and on good contracts. The former would pair will with an improving Exum, while the latter is a good third stretch big for the Jazz. If they’re both good additions to the team culture, and the Jazz don’t love anyone at #12, I’d go for it.

David J. Smith: Yes. Vasquez and Patterson would address some of Utah’s offseason needs: improved shooting (particularly a stretch 4), better point guard play, and veteran contributors for depth. The fact that they are on decent contracts helps. In this transaction, #12 would be the biggest loss, but the Jazz could find a nice player at #20 or swing it in another deal.

5.  Jazz trade #12, GSW 2017 1st, Detroit 2017 2nd, Trevor Booker, & Bryce Cotton to the San Antonio Spurs for Tiago Splitter & Patty Mills

**This deal assumes the Spurs strongly believe they will sign LaMarcus Aldridge or Marc Gasol in free agency.

Ben Dowsett: This one would be a no for me. Just too much to give up, and Splitter adds a slightly pricey third big who can’t shoot. I’m not as high on Mills as some, and wouldn’t send two first-rounders plus the rest of that haul for those two.

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Andy Larsen: While I can’t imagine Splitter would be thrilled, this deal fills the Jazz’s needs nearly perfectly with an upgrade at PG and a real, long-term, quality 3rd big. I just don’t think that the Spurs would make a decision this big without having a signed contract from LMA or Gasol, something they can’t have until 2 weeks later.

Denim Millward: Who’s on the other end of this deal? San Antonio? Then no, absolutely not. Have they EVER been on the wrong end of a player transaction? Utah sends out nothing of huge value other than this year’s pick, but I can’t see Mills playing any better elsewhere than he has in San Antonio. I also can’t remember anything memorable Splitter has done this season, other than occasionally look hilariously similar to Butthead of Beavis & Butthead fame.

Matt Pacenza: No. This one is also really tough, but I don’t think Splitter pairs well with Favors and Gobert (the Jazz need their third big to have good shooting range) and I’m just not sure how good Mills is, is anyone? It’s very similar to the Toronto trade, but those two fit better and you don’t have to give up the Warriors pick.

David J. Smith: Probably not, though Lindsey’s San Antonio connection and insights might be a factor in such a trade. Splitter’s contract does not match his production. He also has injury woes and though he would be a capable reserve, he would not stretch the floor. Mills is intriguing, but the Jazz may have a similar, change-of-pace player already in Cotton.