MIAMI — The Dante Exum era in Utah has come to an end.
The Utah Jazz have agreed to trade the young point guard to the Cleveland Cavaliers for guard Jordan Clarkson (14.6 points/game) in an effort to boost their bench scoring. Cleveland also gets two future second-draft choices in the deal, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who first reported the news.
The Jazz organization offered no immediate comment on the report.
Drafted in 2014 as the No. 5 overall pick, Exum’s career has been fraught with injuries that never allowed him or the team to realize his potential. In March, he suffered a partial tear of his patellar tendon that required surgery and hours of intensive rehabilitation over the ensuing months. He returned in November playing in spurts but never broke into the regular rotation.
Touted for this athleticism, defense and point guard skills, Exum first suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that cost him the entire 2015-16 season, then a shoulder injury cut short his 2017-18 season, followed by a bone bruise and subsequent ankle sprain last season prior to the right-knee injury.
The trade will hopefully give the former lottery pick a fresh start with a new team.
This year, Exum appeared in 11 games averaging 2.2 points, but he hasn’t played in the last five games due to a coach’s decision. Last year, he signed a three-year, $33 million contract extension.
Clarkson, a six-year NBA veteran, was also drafted in 2014 but in the second round by the Washington Wizards before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played parts of four seasons before being traded in 2018 to Cleveland, along with Larry Nance Jr. for Channing Frye, Isaiah Thomas and a first-round draft pick. Clarkson is in the final year of his contract that pays $13.4 million this season before expiring this offseason, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Upon learning of the news, Utah guard Donovan Mitchell spoke highly of his long-time teammate Exum and wished him well with his new team.
“That’s my guy! It’s moments like this you always remember that it is a business,” Mitchell said. “He’s a guy that’s been such an incredible spirit having gone through what he went through injury-wise and all that. I wish him all the best. I loved him as a teammate, a great teammate, a great dude. He’s a guy that was always lighthearted and always in a great mood. We’re definitely going to miss his presence.”
“This is the first time he’s been traded so this is something new for him. All the guys are going to miss him for sure,” Mitchell added. “I just wish him the best of luck man and to stay healthy because he’s a guy that really puts the work in behind closed doors that people don’t see. He puts in a lot a lot hours and I respect him and I love him for that.”
Center Rudy Gobert also expressed disappointment and fondness at hearing his teammate would be departing.
“He’s my guy. We spent six years together. It’s sad to see him leave, but hopefully he’s going to have a good opportunity there (in Cleveland) to be able to show what you can do.”
The Jazz are also cutting ties with another role player. The Athletic’s Tony Jones reported that Utah waived forward Jeff Green, who it signed in the offseason. Green averaged 7.8 points and 2.7 boards in just over 18 minutes a game off the bench. The 11-year veteran played forward and occasionally center in a reserve role but was unable to find consistency scoring the basketball, something the Jazz sorely need.
ESPN’s Wojnarowski reported the Jazz will pick up Bucks’ G League guard Rayjon Tucker, 22, and sign him to a multiyear contract. He played collegiately at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. The contract will be fully guaranteed for the remainder of the regular season and partially guaranteed next season. Details of the contract have not been disclosed.
Contributing: Joe Coles