Lakers: THE trade to make with the Utah Jazz if they blow it up

At the time of writing this, the Utah Jazz are down two games to one against the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs despite Luka Doncic being hurt. With a first-round exit, it seems likely that Utah will blow things up and look for change as this roster cannot get over the hump. This is something the Los Angeles Lakers can capitalize on.

Rudy Gobert is the biggest name that Utah would likely look to move this offseason but the Lakers do not have the facilities to trade for him, even if his trade value is the lowest it has been with his playoff woes.

There is a chance that Donovan Mitchell could still force his way out of Utah after the team trades Gobert but if the Lakers don’t have enough for Gobert, they obviously won’t have enough for Mitchell.

However, with both stars being potential trade candidates this summer, the team is more likely to blow it up and that is where the Los Angeles Lakers come in. When looking at Utah, there is one potential trade that could make sense for the Lake Show.

The Utah Jazz trade that makes sense for the Lakers:

The only trade that makes sense for the Lakers with the Utah Jazz is a deal that would land Jordan Clarkson back in Los Angeles. Clarkson, the former Sixth Man of the Year, should be able to be had at an obtainable price and the Lakers have the assets to potentially intrigue the Jazz.

MUST-READ: 3 minimum free agents to bolster the defense next season

Granted, there is a chance that another team can offer more than this package for Clarkson and the Lakers would lose out. This is by no means the ceiling of what Utah can get for Clarkson, but it is good enough.

Talen Horton-Tucker’s trade value is lower than it has ever been but he is still a promising young player that would fit the Utah mold perfectly. Let’s not forget that the Utah Jazz actually wanted to take THT in the 2019 NBA Draft but the Lakers swooped in with a trade and picked him before Utah could get a chance.

With Clarkson’s contract, THT is a fair player for the Jazz to pursue. They are not going to get a high-lottery rookie with another contract for Clarkson and they are not going to get another role player that makes the same amount as that would be a lateral move for the Jazz.

Instead, they get a young player in THT who they at least liked before as well as a future first-round pick. The Lakers would protect it in the top eight just to be safe, but that is still great value for Clarkson.

Meanwhile, the Lakers would get one of the best bench-scoring guards in the entire league who has experience playing in LA and playing alongside LeBron James. His defense is not the greatest but he would fill the hole of needing a true scorer off the bench for LA next season.

Not many teams seem to be interested in THT as a trade chip, so it is important for the purple and gold to jump on a package like this if it becomes available.