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Proposed B/R trade sends Rudy Gobert to Portland Trail Blazers

By Jack Simone

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - NOVEMBER 29: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz celebrates a play in the second half during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 29, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - NOVEMBER 29: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz celebrates a play in the second half during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 29, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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Rudy Gobert, Portland Trail Blazers
Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz takes a shot during an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 12, 2021. (Photo by GEORGE FREY / AFP) (Photo by GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images) /

The Utah Jazz won Game 1 of their first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. That doesn’t change the fact that this season has been ugly for them.

With rumors swirling of Donovan Mitchell’s desire to leave, things have felt uneasy in Utah for a while. Even if they do manage to make it out of the first round this year, it may be time to admit that the combination of Mitchell and Rudy Gobert just doesn’t equal a championship.

On April 15, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report released an article detailing five trades that could reshape the NBA this offseason. One of those deals saw Gobert get shipped off to a new city.

That city? Portland.

Proposed B/R trade sends Rudy Gobert to Portland Trail Blazers

Buckley wrote a trade that would send Gobert to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Nassir Little, Greg Brown III, Eric Bledsoe, and two protected first-round picks.

This deal would see the Blazers add a second All-Star next to Lillard, cementing a new duo moving forward in Portland. And for the Jazz, this would be their chance to start fresh.

The Blazers have earned the unfortunate reputation of benign synonymous with bad defense. Well, bringing in a three-time Defensive Player of the Year would certainly be a way to change that narrative.

Meanwhile, the Jazz would likely begin a new rebuild if they were to make this trade. Convincing Mitchell to stick around with these pieces coming back in return for Gobert would be difficult.

At this point, barring a ridiculous championship run, things in Utah seem to have run their course. The same could be said for Portland after last year’s playoffs, and they adjusted accordingly (kind of).

Whether or not Gobert actually wants to be traded is yet to be seen, but this deal would allow him to link up with another All-Star guard in Damian Lillard.

If the Jazz do decide to rebuild, this trade could help out both parties. Utah would get young assets to help them start fresh, while the Blazers would get a second star to put alongside Lillard.

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