Utah Jazz Wise To Drive Hard Bargain In Trade Talks

Mar 3, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Jeff Adrien (12) and Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter (0) fight for a rebound in the 4th quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

With just hours to go before the NBA Trade Deadline hits, teams will be hastening their efforts to complete trades in advance of the 3 PM EST end point. One of those teams could be the Utah Jazz, who may be looking to deal embattled big Enes Kanter.

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According to reports, the asking price is high and any trade involving Kanter could be difficult to swing, but for a small-market club looking to make its way in the basketball world (with a roster comprised of intriguing young players), this isn’t a bad thing.

His recent outburst aside, Kanter remains a promising talent—productive offensively, a good rebounder and a hard worker with size and strength to boot. He was also selected No. 3 overall in his draft, with a pick that was part of the compensation received when the club sent their franchise point-man Deron Williams to the Nets.

Given these facts alone, to send him off for a pittance would be folly. Alas, the Jazz are a team that have never been willing to make such a move.

Fans will grow impatient when a deadline comes and goes without the ballyhoo they want or expect, but should keep in mind the fact that their squad is doing what they can to improve. According to Jody Genessy of the Deseret News, all hands are on deck to make sure every option is explored:

The Jazz are trying hard to get a deal done today. Kevin O'Connor is even in town to assist Dennis Lindsey.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) February 19, 2015

Gennessy’s tweets are the Jazz in a nutshell. All is quiet, but the wheels are spinning behind the scenes. The Jazz, as they have for decades, are keeping their cards close to the vest, but remain prepared to throw in should opportunity come knocking.

Earlier this week, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported that the team is willing to look at various forms of compensation as relates to potential Kanter trades:

Executives say Utah has significant threshold for Enes Kanter deal - including young player, 1st rounder, etc - but several teams pursuing.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 17, 2015

Whatever combination of players and/or picks the team receives for Kanter or any other player on the roster should a deal come to fruition, fans can rest easy knowing that GM Dennis Lindsey and his brain trust received what they felt was the best possible offer. If the deadline passes and all of the team’s current pieces remain in place, there simply wasn’t an acceptable deal to be made.

So while I might be willing to take Ersan Ilyasova and a draft pick from the Milwaukee Bucks for Kanter, it’s entirely possible that the franchise values Kanter and his future as an NBA player more than that. It’s also entirely possible that they are accurate in their appraisal of the situation. The Jazz drive a hard bargain and, as such, will usually be content to stand pat.

It’s not always the most exciting way to do business, but it is the wise way.

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