The sands are running out for the Utah Jazz’s tenured duo of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. The writing was on the wall after the tandem suffered NBA playoff heartbreak year after year.
Infamously cold executive Danny Ainge was brought into Utah to either build a contender around the two stars or detonate the core in the most spectacular and shrewd way possible.
After the Jazz’s latest postseason stinker, a first-round defeat at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks — a team that played without their best player, Luka Doncic, for three out of six games — there’s no doubt that Utah needs to shake up their roster. What could be questioned is to what degree?
Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert’s relationship is probably beyond repair and trading at least one of them will be the quickest way to craft another title contender around the other.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best & Worst Trade Destinations For Jazz Star Rudy Gobert
But which All-Star will Ainge elect to keep and which will he swap for parts? Or perhaps he believes that a completely fresh start is the best way forward for the franchise? Either player or both, could force his hand by demanding a trade.
Other teams in the league are reportedly preparing for the inevitable break-up, whether it be Ainge’s choice, Mitchell’s, Gobert’s, or all of the above.
If Mitchell is to be traded, here are some of the best and worst possible landing spots for his new team.
