Report Utah Jazz Trade Key Star To Dallas In A Blockbuster Trade

Is Josh Giddey going to wear a Utah Jazz jersey come playoff time?

The No. 6 pick in the 2021 NBA draft, Giddey, would play for the Jazz the following season if ESPN’s Bobby Marks had his way. In a recent piece, Marks identified Giddey to the Jazz as one of the more interesting trade possibilities that may, and perhaps even should, be made throughout the league this offseason.

Marks floated a straightforward trade.

Giddey, who stands six feet eight inches and weighs 210 pounds, would be sent from Oklahoma City to Salt Lake City in exchange for draft capital; more precisely, the Jazz would forfeit the No. 10 pick in the forthcoming 2024 NBA draft and the Thunder’s top-14 protected pick in the 2025 round to the Thunder. Giddey, a former lottery selection, would sign a four-year contract in Salt Lake City and become a restricted free agency after the 2024–2025 NBA season. Giddey’s salary for the upcoming season is projected to be slightly over $8 million, or roughly 6% of the current salary ceiling.

It’s easy to see why Marks finds the trade appealing. Giddey is a young, gifted player who has established himself as a reliable NBA starter at the age of 21. Giddey is also a versatile player who can play small forward, shooting guard, and point guard at his 6-foot-8 height.

Giddey’s effectiveness as a facilitator decreased this past season, going from over six assists per game to under five, but he was still the most effective scorer of his career, with an effective shooting percentage of.523 and a 3-point shooting percentage of.337. This helped the Thunder finish the season with the best record in the Western Conference.