With the NBA trade deadline approaching on Feb. 9, the rumor mill is expected to heat up rapidly as teams weigh their potential options at this point of the season.
Of course, there are several teams to keep an eye on with the Utah Jazz among them. They have reportedly been active in conversations and have several players on the roster that are registering strong interest around the league.
The Jazz entered the season widely expected to be in a rebuild after trading away mainstays Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell in the offseason. Though they have cooled off from their 19-16 start, the team is still hovering around .500 and is currently in the play-in race in 10th place in the Western Conference.
Their situation is intriguing considering the number of veterans on the roster. They have reportedly made the majority of their team available, including Malik Beasley, Mike Conley, Kelly Olynyk and Jarred Vanderbilt, and will be gauging interest from opposing teams to cash in and add assets and draft capital.
While it remains to be seen which players will be on the move, three players will be staying put: Lauri Marrkanen and rookies Ochai Agbaji and Walker Kessler. The front office has reportedly made them off limits in trade conversations, according to Marc Stein on Substack.
The latest NBA trade (deadline) winds via This Week In Basketball: https://t.co/0PkN4Z81Ki
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 27, 2023
Marrkanen is averaging career highs across the board this season and is on the verge of becoming an All-Star for the first time in his career. Agbaji is emerging as a key player off the bench, while Kessler should be in contention to make an All-Rookie team.
The three players each figure to be cornerstones the team can build around. Markkanen is emerging as a sure-fire No. 1 option and Agbaji and Kessler each look to have bright futures ahead so it is easy to see why the Jazz want to hang onto them.
With over a half-dozen future first-round draft picks in tow, the Jazz will have the ability to add promising young players to the roster for several years to come and that capital could grow before Feb. 9.
