The Utah Jazz are currently the hottest team in the NBA as winners of six straight games and eight out of their last 10.
They have worked their way back into the playoff discussion at 25-28 and are only three games out of the No. 8 seed in the western conference.
That apparently is not stopping them from reportedly being one of the more active teams on the trade market as a seller and a buyer.
According to The NBA Show podcast on The Ringer, virtually anyone is available on their roster other than Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer also said that the Jazz have been one of the most aggressive teams in trying to acquire Avery Bradley from the Los Angeles Clippers.
Two players who seem most likely to be dealt before the deadline are athletic wing slashers Rodney Hood and Alec Burks.
With the trade deadline coming up in a few days, here is what's going on with Jazz shooting guard Rodney Hood – https://t.co/1FSmB5OF1w
— Tony Jones (@tribjazz) February 5, 2018
Hood is drawing a ton of interest and should be a player the Jazz are able to move for some value with his ability to shoot and score the ball at 6’8″ (although not consistently). Hood is averaging 16.8 points per game on 39.7% shooting from three-point range.
Burks may be harder to move with his inefficiencies on both ends and $11.5 million in guaranteed salary next season.
You can also expect Joe Johnson to be bought out after the deadline because of his struggles and unhappiness in Utah.
It makes sense to move Hood if you don’t plan on bringing him back as a restricted free agent this summer, but only if you get another solid young player in return or any kind of 1st round pick in my opinion.
The Jazz may decide to ride out their current chemistry for the remainder of the season and retool in the off-season. Their biggest questions appear to be if Ricky Rubio is still their point guard moving forward and if they will finally move on from Derrick Favors and get more of a stretch four to pair with Rudy Gobert.
