The Utah Jazz finally did it: they traded Donovan Mitchell on Thursday.
This marked the end of weeks and weeks of rumors about Mitchell’s future, his place in the league, and the road ahead for the Jazz.
But all of this drama actually started before that, when Utah rocked the NBA world by announcing they were trading Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves back in June.
Since then, people have speculated that the team was about to rebuild itself.
Sure enough, it is.
Both Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert made the All-Star team this past season and both are out of Utah this offseason.
Since 1980, this had only happened to one other pair of teammates: Russell Westbrook and Paul George, who were traded from OKC in 2019. pic.twitter.com/oWOrQbeRVc
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 1, 2022
Getting rid of both Gobert and Mitchell during the same offseason is a huge deal, it’s not often that teams move like this.
Both Mitchell and Gobert made the All-Star team in the previous season and now they are both leaving the team.
Since 1980, this had only occurred to one other pair of teammates: the Oklahoma City Thunder traded away both Russell Westbrook and Paul George in 2019.
The Jazz just gave away some huge talent – but they have a plan.
Jazz Giving It Away
The Jazz definitely did part ways with two All-Stars in two months but they got a lot in return for them.
They have earned some strong players (although no one who can truly fill the voids left by Gobert and Mitchell) but they have also added a slew of draft picks to their treasure chest.
If the Jazz really are looking to rebuild the team, they have a lot of tools to do that.
Now, it won’t happen overnight, and fans of the Jazz should be prepared for a season that doesn’t look like the ones that have come before.
It could be a rough road for a while but the distant future might be very bright.
The Jazz always said they’d never send away these two All-Stars unless they got a major haul for them.
It is too soon to tell but it looks like they got what they wanted.
NEXT: Collin Sexton Is Reportedly Likely To Stay With The Jazz