TRADE MARKET – 3 Stars are available CHEAP – Zion Williamson, Ja Morant and Trae Young. Yes or No?
David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, breaks down the enticing landscape of NBA star availability as Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, and Trae Young find themselves on the trade market at surprisingly low prices. Locke weighs the pros and cons of each player, scrutinizing their unique strengths and glaring weaknesses—from Zion’s dominant physical presence and injury risk to Trae Young’s offensive genius versus defensive liabilities, and Morant’s questionable fit and declining efficiency. Which superstar could actually deliver wins for the Utah Jazz, and does any truly offer a path to contention? The episode challenges listeners: Is now the time for Utah to chase a marquee name, or is patience and internal growth the smarter play?
Locke spotlights energizers within the Jazz roster and the value of good team “vibes,” pointing out the infectious effort of Elijah Harkless and the veteran leadership of Kevin Love and Georges Niang. He illustrates how player energy and camaraderie can shape success, using examples from benches around the league. The discussion also provides a close look at the Detroit Pistons’ rebuilding blueprint—centered on Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, and the flexible veteran mix—and how it mirrors a potential long-term strategy for the Jazz. Can Utah strike the right balance between youth and experience to engineer its own rise?
00:00 Introduction
04:24 “Zion, Morant, or Young?”
09:03 John Morant’s Declining Efficiency
10:33 Draft Strategy and Pick Trading
18:55 “NBA Moves Require Patience”
21:35 Energy Sparks Teamwide Effort
24:29 Team Dynamics & Player Impact
28:48 Elijah’s Fouling & Shooting Challenges
30:18 NBA Role Players: Defense & Shooting
32:48 Young Core’s Evolution in Progress
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41 Comments
I’d bring Zion to Zion. Get off of Lauri who seriously jeopardizes our pick this year. This will open up the development of the other guys especially Bailey. Who I don’t think can shine with Lauri getting the volume he gets. Not to say he’d shine anyway as a rookie but I want to develop the young cheap guys as much as possible rather than build up talent which is really close to its ceiling.
If Zion is a boost great if not great. Production from Lauri or his replacement is almost detrimental from my view.
I want top three in the draft or as much of a shot at it as we can get
You talk only about trading picks for one of these 3 players, don't we have to trade player(s) too to match their salaries?
I’m not the least bit interested in any of these stars. Any one of them could be a franchise killer from a personnel standpoint. Maybe it’s just me. Thanks for the show Locke.
Trae is too small, and is a massive defensive liability, which is the last thing the Jazz need – but, yeah a great offensive talent. Ja is just a constant drama show. I don't see his personality type liking Utah at all. Zion I believe has a good heart, but is in the wrong environs. He is showing real effort this year, which is heartening, but to be good, I think we have to believe we can help get his personal life together, which I believe will require being happily married with a family to play for. He actually can play good defense, but has to be motivated to do so, which I haven't really seen in the NBA on any consistent basis. If "cheap" means just taking over his contract, and maybe only giving up the 2027 1st rounder, I wouldn't be opposed to giving him a shot, as long as the Jazz have room under the salary cap. The upside potential is massive. Sometimes all it takes is the right environment like you were saying about Derek White just the other day.
I’d way rather get Jaren Jackson Jr
Helios means sun. I’m not sure what that has to do with basketball or guard play?
I don't think Trae is going anywhere, but I would definitely take a shot on Zion or Ja. That kind of talent doesn't come around very often, and if the plan isn't to unload Markkanen this year then we're not going to be bad enough to get a top5 pick.
We don't have the defense to support any of these offense only guys
Ja would be amazing if our culture could handle him. It would allow key and Walt to play more 2 guard. If we are keeping Lauri I say go for it. Hard no on Zion or Trae
Nope, we need defense. MAYBE on Ja, but definite NO on the other two. Zion doesn’t even play basketball. It’s worse than having Kyrie on the roster.
I could see them sending an offer if we secured a top 3 guy in the draft. Pairing AJ and Trae with ace, Lauri, Walker, Key, etc sounds pretty nice. I’m a pretty hard no though
fat boy slim=NO, Mr. gun toter=NO, Trae (no defense) young=NO
Trae is the only one to make a conference finals 🤷🏻♂️ easy choice here
Every retired NBA player says the first trade is traumatic; certainly, Luka would never have lost the weight if he had stayed in Dallas. So if the ownership, front office is willing to support the head coach when the player rebels against the coach’s instructions… why not.
Focus on securing 2026 top 8 pick. Don't consider upgrade trades until after the next draft lottery. Stick with the plan. Don't leap after high risk trades.
cheap stars in a cheap hotel
Zion makes sense for a flyer picks, like Brice and Cody
Typical feminine mind: NBA teams trading for troubled stars are just like a woman dating a walking red flag thinking, “I can fix him.” Spoiler: you can’t. Chemistry tanks, morale dies, and you're left holding the emotional salary cap.
20:59 but vets arent leaders 🤦🏼 lol. Locke you been wrong since the start in that take. Theres bad seeds, but you need vets.
The only cheap things are you and this podcast, dude.
Ranking the three 3️⃣: Zion then Trae and ja
Ja doesn’t really add much compared to what Jazz already have.
Zion if he plays is a nice value for sure and his contract is flexible.
Trae is complicated. He might be what jazz need to open up the game for all the players. Very good at scoring and assists. Defense sucks so we have to think he helps out score the other team. Hard way to win but still fun 😅
We get lots of free food 🥘
Trey all day
Cheap? Says who?
Dude, that's not a "wonderful, nice" hotel room. Period. No chair? No desk? That's like a Motel 5, man. People have one-hour romances in better rooms,
You should have rejected it, even at the expense of paying for your own room somewhere else. That's ridiculous. Unless you chose and paid for it yourself, then you got what you deserve.
fans in Memphis put shields up, red alert, all hands to battle stations:
— "Do not trade Morant. Make him happy. Do whatever it takes."
"We are Ja … we don't care about anyone else on this team."
Zion fits our team but I am thinking after the nba draft would be the time to build our team for the playoffs.
I'd trade Markkanen for Trae if we also get that 2026 pick from the Pelicans.
my take on this trade or players that can be traded is that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks, the Jazz is moving in a good way with young players who you can teach how you want them to play, it would be a big mistake to trade any of our young guys for older players.
Bring Zion to Zion
Pass on all three, wouldn't be beneficial, the team has good chemistry right now. But if I had to make a choice it would be Zion.
When Zion plays he is fun to watch but with all his injuries I think he's cooked, Trae is the best out of the three and by best I mean hes at least the most professional and most available but he is wayyy too expensive for what he is and what he gives you in today's NBA and Ja is fun to watch but he has regressed to the point both physically and mentally that I don't see him being more than just an occasionally exciting PG with no defense because he is diminutive in size and he has never shot well from three so as he sits right now he is younger version of Russel Westbrook and that doesn't help a team win.
I took the Kevin Love picture after the Jazz win 1st I'm proud to say.
Before I hear your take on the three….I'm going to say Zion is the best and most fitting for the jazz BUT, I don't believe he will EVER stay healthy enough to impact the Jazz play so…no. Morant on the other hand I think is convertible, not sure of his defensive skill but those come cheap too, so I'd say yes Morant. I also have never been and don't see much potential in George like others do. Too slow, mentally quits, and just doesn't start his plays quick enough. He thinks too much which tells me basketball as a PG isn't his natural position. I just wouldn't know how to coach him up to start the plays and start the offense now, not 2 seconds later. So Morant I think would work for the Jazz so much better than George.
Also I like your point Lock on Zion. Question,chow much more of a risk is Zion next year than a elete first round draft pick? Maybe pick him up injured and roll the dice for next year. Love that idea.
Ja
no kessler!!!! buy back collins!!!!!1
I would take Ja Morant because there’s a chance he might mature in the future and just needs a fresh start. Zion is broken beyond all repair and has been his whole career. Trae Young is too big of a defensive liability, he’s too small and always will be.
Ja is my favorite player, I think he'd look good in purple too
Had to add a second comment…. I listen to a “ few” NBA podcasts… no one else says ‘ these 3 are on the trade block’. That is why I try to listen to this podcast… information that no one else is willing to share…
Not interested. Unfortunate that Walker is out for the year but play who we have and get them experience and see where we end up for the draft. Get that pick and then figure out the plan for a good trade or FA (yeah, FAs are hard).
If Ja didn't have the mental issues Id be all in