Lakers Monitoring Potential Jazz 'Fire Sale' per Report

NBA franchises will closely monitor where the Utah Jazz are trending this year.

The rumors are starting to roll in regarding the Utah Jazz possibly cashing in their chips early this season. The latest comes from NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic, who wrote that the Los Angeles Lakers will be keeping a close eye on the possibility of a fire sale in Salt Lake City leading up to the trade deadline.

“They’re [Lakers] still evaluating their needs and will continue to monitor the league, including potential fire sales in Toronto, Washington, Utah, Brooklyn and/or Charlotte that could make useful rotation players available.”

“There’s always a chance they strike a move before the February deadline — similar to acquiring [Rui] Hachimura a couple of weeks before last season’s — but a trade is far more likely to come later in the trading window than sooner.”

Indeed, with the Jazz playing themselves out of the playoffs, a handful of players could be finishing the year in a different uniform. Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton, Kelly Olynyk, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Simone Fontecchio are heading that list.

The question from Utah’s perspective is, what would the Lakers be willing to sacrifice? The answer to that question is murky because of the trade that netted Anthony Davis with the New Orleans Pelicans. 

The Lakers can trade the 2024 or 2025 first-round pick, but not both. However, the Jazz won’t be able to acquire either pick until there’s closure on which selection is going to the Pelicans. 

Also, because franchises aren’t allowed to trade first-rounders in back-to-back years, the 2026 round-one pick can’t be traded until the selection owed to the Pelicans is settled as well. In 2027, the Jazz already possesses the Lakers first rounder, but it is top-four protected.

Jazz fans can expect the rumors to keep coming in if Utah’s season continues to spiral in the wrong direction. Where it stands today, it’s assumed that Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, and Keyonte George will remain in Utah, but after that, all bets are off.

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