Rumored Players On The Block As Utah Jazz Eye Potential Roster Shake-up

The NBA finals might be in full swing, but let’s be honest, with the NBA draft and free agency on the horizon, the drama may be more abundant off the hardwood than on it.

In Utah Jazz country the team is coming off a franchise worse effort at 17-65 that didn’t even result in a top 3 draft pick.

So you could imagine Jazz fans are anxiously seeking that next piece of news that will help wash the taste of disgust out of their mouth.

They somewhat got it when Utah added Austin Ainge, the son of Danny, to be the #1 decision maker of the team just a little more than a week ago as President of Basketball Operations.

Despite a familiar name, Utah officially has a new sheriff in town in Austin who gets to decide who will stay and who will go.

With the power shift, the entirety of the current roster is now on alert when it comes to how the Jazz see their future together working out.

After all, Ainge basically confirmed that the Jazz won’t be trying any sly maneuvers to lower their potential or to hoist their draft odds.

They are going to play to win yet whether that’s with the worst roster in the league guaranteeing losses despite maximum effort, or by going out and landing a key free agent or trade piece, remains to be seen.

One thing can be expected though, and that would be change seems like a given in Salt Lake City.

With such expected change, come rumors and rumors about rumors of rumors.

It wouldn’t surprise me to see a trade hypothetical of just about every player currently under contract for the fighting J-Notes.

In fact, it’s already began.

Starting with Utah’s only rostered All-Star, Lauri Markkanen who is less than a year removed from signing a juicy 5 year, $238 million dollar deal with the Jazz.

Despite the new deal, Markkanen had a down year this previous season, which was to be expected in a system as dysfunctional (purposefully so) as Utah’s was.

Only appearing in 47 games, Markkanen was good for 19 points, 5.9 boards and about 31.4 minutes a night.

He shot 42.3 % from the field and 34.6 % from downtown (both career lows).

Despite the down year, it isn’t hard to imagine Lauri getting back on track with a roster around him that’s trying to compete.

So the Jazz are thus faced with a decision, put trust in Markkanen and build around him, or use his upside as trade leverage to land even more pieces.

The direction with Markkanen may be the most pertinent to determining the franchise's direction, but he is far and away from the only guy on the rumor mill.

Former sixth-man of the year and fan favorite, Jordan Clarkson, is likely to have played his last season in the Mountains next to impact player, Collin Sexton, who could both provide instant impact to a new team.

Agree or disagree with sending either guard away, these guys have been rumored to be trade pieces for years now and this comes as no shock, but the urgency has seemed to increase for Utah to find them a new home.

Sexton was the third leading scorer for the Jazz this year at 18.4 points a night to pair with 4.2 assists in 61 starts.

His ability to provide energy and hustle goes a long way and seems underappreciated on a team that struggled to retain that competitive spirit that Sexton embodies.

Clarkson only mustered 37 games all season scoring 16.2 a night with 3.7 assists and 2.3 turnovers for his worst shooting season in terms of pure FG %.

That said, Clarkson can still be a pivotal bench piece for a team trying to contend, just maybe not for the price that the Jazz are hoping.

Lastly, to prove that anyone on the roster may be movable at this point, the most consistent player of last season, Walker Kessler has reemerged as someone Utah may be listening to offers on.

The third year center was a constant positive for a team low on morale as Kessler averaged career highs in minutes played, field goals attempted, free throws attempted, rebounds, points and blocks.

His average of 12.2 boards was nearly 4 more than his previous high and when added to his 11.1 points a night it made for a double double practically on a nightly basis for the former Auburn big.

Even so, his production mixed with his potential could net the Jazz a pretty penny, something they are clearly open to at least “entertaining.”

Those are just some of the rumors, the gossip and some of the potential trade candidates for a Utah team that seems like a wild card.

The Jazz are a team sitting on a ton of assets who have had their rebuild not go the way they were hoping for three years into it, thus making them a complete unknown in the NBA off season and a team to watch.

Are the Jazz content to “run it back” and continually hope that the next season will net them their best draft selection in franchise history or do they go try and create their own luck by going after big trades/transactions.

What players it ends up impacting is a question mark, but you will still find no shortage of ideas and rumors of who it will be as the Jazz try to add direction to their future plans.

Expect more rumors to come, as this is just getting started.

The NBA draft where Utah holds the rights to the 5^th, 21^st, 43^rd and 53^rd selections will take place on June 26^th with Free Agency opening up shortly after on June 30th.