On Thursday afternoon the Utah Jazz traded guard Donnavan Mitchell, one of the team’s most notable players, to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In return, the Jazz received Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps.
Earlier this off-season, the Jazz dealt Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves, another well-known star during his career with the Jazz. After yet another frustrating playoff showing, tensions were high in Utah heading into the offseason. Reported chemistry issues between Mitchell and Gobert divided Jazz fans everywhere, and it appeared as if one or the other would be shipped off.
As the tension concluded, the Jazz attempted to rebuild, as the once #1 overall seed never managed to reach a Western Conference Finals during the Quinn Snyder era. Snyder also departed this offseason, with Utah hiring his replacement Will Hardy, a former Boston Celtics assistant coach. Jazz executive Danny Ainge and the front office will be looking either to acquire young talent and build a team from scratch or use the picks that they have to obtain another young star to compliment Sexton and Markkanen.
The Jazz season tips off on Wednesday, Oct. 19 against the Denver Nuggets.
