Report: Jazz’s Clarkson & Olynyk ‘Frequently Mentioned’ in Trade Rumors
The Utah Jazz sit in a very intriguing position when it comes to the looming NBA trade deadline. Since being pinned as a prime candidate to be sellers on the market to continue building for the future, the team has gone off on a 15-4 record in their past 19, jumping up to 9th place in the West and effectively questioning the idea to pitch a fire sale of the roster.
However, even as the team continues their extended winning stretch, it seems the front office still might be in the business of shipping off one or more of their veteran guys.
According to a report from NBA insider Marc Stein’s substack, Jordan Clarkson and Kelly Olynyk are names “frequently mentioned” as potential movers ahead of the deadline:
The reality is that the Jazz, with Danny Ainge in charge as team CEO, are likely to listen to trade pitches on pretty much anyone on the roster, but Utah’s unforeseen surge up the standings makes its trade deadline intentions even harder to read.
It has become one of the more popular questions in league circles as the deadline draws near: How will all the recent winning impact Utah’s trade deadline business? Kelly Olynyk and Jordan Clarkson are the Jazz veterans most frequently mentioned as potential trade targets before the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
For a team that once seemed destined to make a roster shakeup, their winning stretch makes such a decision a bit difficult to enact. Now that the Jazz are well within the Play-In hunt, it’d be hard to tear this team down and break up the core that’s seen this recent success.
Instead, the front office could opt to do some work around the edges to keep this team competitive, while also planning for the long-term implications. By sending off older guys like Jordan Clarkson and Kelly Olynyk, it could do just that.
Clarkson has been vital for the Jazz second unit since transitioning back to his sixth-man role. Still, his team-friendly contract and the role he could fill on a contending roster around the league could present some considerable value for Utah to capitalize on. As for Olynyk, his expiring contract could be a perfect fit for opposing teams that could use his size, shooting, and playmaking ability as a rotational piece.
As the trade deadline inches closer and pressure keeps building, expect traction to continue to build on the trade status surrounding these two guys and potentially even more in the coming weeks.
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