Besides the to-be-determined impact on the court, the trade that saw the Utah Jazz send Dante Exum and draft picks to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Jordan Clarkson will have a financial impact as well, which was broken down in a piece by The Athletic’s Danny Leroux.
For the Cavs, Leroux notes they will have Exum’s Bird rights in 2021 when he becomes a free agent, meaning they’ll have an advantage if they want to re-sign him then. For this year, the trade also gives them a bit more breathing room under the luxury tax.
For the Jazz, Leroux points out that Clarkson becoming a free agent this summer will help a Utah team that will be financially strapped, assuming Mike Conley picks up his $34.5 million option, but that the Jazz will also have Clarkson’s Bird rights should they want to re-sign him.
“Still, adding a superior talent who can help the team much more right now (with full Bird rights in case Clarkson works out really well) and opens up spending power in 2020 makes far more sense than sacrificing in the present and likely the future by holding out hope Exum finally lives up to his potential and draft position,” Leroux concludes.
Other links
- It probably won’t surprise you who Donovan Mitchell says is his funniest teammate ever
- The Utah football team arrived in San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl
- Jordan Love ‘one of the most fascinating draft prospects,’ Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer says
And finally ...
Check out this video of when Mitchell and Rayjon Tucker, who the Jazz are reportedly set to sign, squared off in a dunk contest in high school in 2015.