- Here's a list of the biggest Utah Jazz trades in franchise history.
- Jeff Hornacek leads the list of players Utah received through trade.
- Other notable players the Jazz acquired were Deron Williams, Al Jefferson, and Lauri Markkanen.
The Utah Jazz have been one of the most consistent contenders in basketball odds, as they transformed into a perennial playoff team. They even made back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 1997 and 1998; unfortunately, Utah was defeated by the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls to stop the Jazz from lifting the coveted Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
Because of this, the Jazz are among the 11 NBA teams that have never won a championship. Since then, Utah has been active in the trade market, recruiting players that would greatly help their ultimate goal of winning a title. But among the massive trades that the franchise made, which are considered the biggest? Here’s a top-four list.
Jeff Hornacek
Aside from Karl Malone and John Stockton, who are part of the top NBA duos of all time, Utah added another reliable player to their roster in the 1990s through Jeff Hornacek. Hornacek was acquired by the team from Philadelphia in 1994. The team also received Sean Green and a second-round pick for Jeff Malone and a first-round pick.
The 6-foot-4 guard became a mainstay in the starting lineup that ultimately helped the Jazz qualify for the NBA Finals and playoffs throughout his entire stay with the team. Before retiring in 2000, Hornacek finished his Utah career with 14.4 points, 4.0 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in 477 games across six-and-a-half seasons.
Deron Williams
In 2005, Utah gave up three draft picks (two first-round picks in the 2005 draft and a future second-round pick) to Portland and acquired the rights for the third overall pick. The franchise used that pick to select Deron Williams. The Jazz envisioned him as the next great point guard of the team since Stockton, and Williams lived up to that expectation.
The 6-foot-3 guard out of Illinois became Utah’s leading playmaker, helping the team secure four straight postseason campaigns from 2007 to 2010. Williams also became a two-time All-Star, averaging 17.3 points, 9.1 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 439 games. He was sent to the New Jersey Nets in 2011.
Rudy Gobert
The Jazz made another massive trade during the draft night in 2013. Utah reached an agreement with Denver to acquire their 27th overall pick Rudy Gobert for their 46th pick Eric Green and cash consideration. The 7-foot-1 center from France has since become a legendary defensive player and a walking double-double machine.
Gobert piled up the accolades in nine seasons with Utah by becoming a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, three-time NBA All-Star, and an All-NBA 2nd Team selection in 2017. The French National team member finished his Jazz stint with averages of 12.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 611 games.
Rudy Gobert receives a tribute in his return to Utah 👏 pic.twitter.com/j4X7NcXsWl
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 10, 2022
Lauri Markkanen
Utah officially hit the rebuild button when they decided to trade Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2022 offseason. In return for the three-time All-Star, the Jazz received a haul of players and drafting picks: Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round picks, and two pick swaps.
Many thought that this move would see Utah become a cellar-dwelling team; instead, they discovered a new star in Markkanen. The Finnish forward was given the keys to the team, as he led the Jazz in scoring during his first season in 2022. The 7-foot power forward averaged a team-leading 25.6 points with 8.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Markkanen also bagged the Most Improved Player award and was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game in 2023.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen is the recipient of the George Mikan Trophy as the 2022-23 Kia NBA Most Improved Player.
Full voting results and award history: https://t.co/Su6kMftXQC pic.twitter.com/AWvB9MODlZ
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 24, 2023
4 Biggest Utah Jazz Trades
| Year | Player Acquired | Trade Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Jeff Hornacek | Jazz received: Jeff Hornacek, Sean Green and a second-round pick / Sixers received: Jeff Malone and a first-round pick |
| 2005 | Deron Williams | Jazz received: Deron Williams / Blazers received: two first-round picks and a second-round pick |
| 2013 | Rudy Gobert | Jazz received: Rudy Gobert / Nuggets received: Eric Green and cash consideration |
| 2022 | Lauri Markkanen | Jazz received: Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round picks, and two pick swaps / Cavaliers received: Donovan Mitchell |
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