Ahead of the NBA trade deadline next Thursday, the Utah Jazz have reportedly made another deal.
On Saturday morning, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Jazz are trading veterans Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills to the Los Angeles Clippers. In exchange, the Jazz are receiving veteran PJ Tucker, big man Mo Bamba, a future second round pick and cash.
The trade is occurring on Eubanks’ 28th birthday.
While it stands to reason Tucker will not remain on the Jazz roster, given he is someone who could help a contending team, Bamba is a somewhat intriguing player if he remains.
The fifth pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Bamba has not lived up to the high billing that came with that selection but he has shown occasional flashes of that potential and will be a free agent this summer if his time in Utah doesn’t pan out.
As far as the future second round pick is concerned, while the Jazz own a ton of future first round picks, they don’t have any second rounders — even their own — through 2028.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported that the deal brings the Clippers below the luxury tax, as they are sending out roughly $13.5 million in salary and getting back about $7 million.
The deal also gives the Clippers two veterans in Eubanks and Mills as they make a playoff run should the two stay on the roster.
The deal comes after one the Jazz made on Jan. 21 that saw them trade three future first round picks to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the Suns’ 2031 first round pick.