Predicting 3 big buyers and 3 fire sellers of the 2025 NBA trade deadline
By Dre Gibbs
Seller #3: Utah Jazz
Lauri Maurkenean is their star, so now it’s a matter of finding the right young pieces to grow alongside him. Danny Ainge has done a great job of stashing away picks with big trades. The Jazz trading Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell neted them seven first-round picks over the next five years.
The Jazz should be at the bottom of the standings again, which might be ideal for Ainge with the loaded 2025 Draft Class next year. A minor move similar to the one they made last year of Kelly Olynk, in which they received a first-round pick, could be on the horizon again. Jordan Clarkson is a player that will have value in the eyes of many contenders and might be worth a late first-round pick or multiple seconds.
He’s on a two-year, 28-million-dollar deal, which is team-friendly and allows flexibility with the cap. He averaged 17.1 points per game and is explosive offensively. Clarkson could be a great value add for a team that needs a scoring punch.
Ainge is building an empire of draft capital, and at the deadline, expect him to add to it. At some point, he’ll have to hit on a selection or put together a trade package for a star, but for now, stacking picks is their main priority.