It’s extraordinarily difficult, if not downright impossible, to win an NBA championship without stars. Maybe no one knows this more than free-wheeling Utah Jazz CEO Danny Ainge.
As the leader of the Boston Celtics, Ainge put together the trio of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, which won the 2008 title. He made one of the most lopsided moves in NBA history when he sent an aging Garnett and Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets for five players and four first-rounders. He dealt Isaiah Thomas, who was coming off a miraculous postseason run, to the Cavaliers in exchange for Kyrie Irving.
He swapped picks with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2017, giving away the No. 1 selection that became Markelle Fultz to move down to No. 3 and grab Jayson Tatum.
He’s already traded franchise cornerstones Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert since taking over the lead decision-making in Utah. Now, Ainge is loading up to take his next home-run swing.
Utah Jazz rumors: Time to add a “transformative” star
Via Marc Stein’s latest Substack, Ainge believes this offseason is the time to find that mega-trade that would shake up the Jazz and turn them into championship contenders:
We’re ready to go big-game hunting and that hasn’t happened the last two years. Our mindset is that we’re doing only what we can to try to win. … That’s our only objective until we get to July.
We’re looking to find one of those (transformative players).
A few big names have already been mentioned as potential trade options this summer. Mitchell could force his way out of Cleveland, but a move back to Utah isn’t happening. Jimmy Butler could be a fit with the Jazz as a veteran with multiple NBA finals appearances. A possible Paul George sign-and-trade deal to pair him with Lauri Markkanen would make sense.
Trae Young and Dejounte Murray may be even more cemented on the block now that the Atlanta Hawks landed the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft. The Los Angeles Lakers are desperately looking to upgrade their roster around LeBron James (potentially) and Anthony Davis, and Ainge is a master at preying on desperation.
It will be an interesting offseason in Utah. If Trader Danny is scouring the market, there’s a better-than-average chance he finds something to his liking.
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