Ex-jazz reporter gets brutally honest about Utah’s chances of trading Giannis Antetokounmpo

With Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors rekindling, the prospect of him joining the Utah Jazz has emerged. The prospect is tantalizing, and the Jazz have a pretty enticing package for the Greek Freak, but one ex-Jazz reporter is questioning a trade in the near future.

Athletic’s Tony Jones (who now covers the 76ers) abandoned any hope of a Giannis-Jazz union when asked about it.

Okay, so this isn’t the most surprising news. The Jazz have never traded for established superstars over the years. Antetokounmpo would leave the Bucks (he still hasn’t officially filed) believing his new team would start winning immediately. If the Jazz were to trade for him, it wouldn’t necessarily happen right away, especially if they gave up the farm for him.

Walker Kessler (should he not be included in a potential deal) will not play the rest of the season, which has helped make the Jazz one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. Utah would need both him and Giannis to turn around Utah’s fortunes. Not to mention he would have to go through the Western Conference war zone.

The Jazz might be better off drafting their Giannis

While Antetokounmpo is a nice thought for the Jazz, it has always felt like a gamble that Milwaukee would trade him to Utah. There’s no telling if he would want to stay unless it was a guarantee the Jazz would win a title with him. Getting him would certainly put them in the title conversation or close to it, but there are too many excellent teams in the West right now and it would be unfair to say a Jazz title is guaranteed.

The Western Conference playoffs will be a buzzsaw as always. It’s not out of the question that the Jazz won’t try to add an established star to their improving core, but to join the conversation they’ll need more than just the two-time MVP to get there.

Utah definitely wants to see some progress from here on out. The best way to get this is to include a Giannis type in the draft, as they typically do. Some might think this implies the Jazz need to tank. Utah has the right to do whatever it wants as far as draft intentions go, but the Jazz found their best players through draft steals.

Even if they don’t end up with the high pick, the Jazz can still get their Giannis in the draft. You might think this is wishful thinking, but everyone should remember that the Greek Freak was not a high lottery pick when he entered the NBA.