Ryan Anderson (Photo : Stacy Revere | Getty Images Sport)
The Utah Jazz has emerged as players in the Markieff Morris sweepstakes, but they could also pursue Ryan Anderson.
The report that Morris was on the trading block again was floated by Yahoo Sports, which revealed that negotiations between the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans have started.
"The New Orleans Pelicans have emerged as a suitor with interest in acquiring disgruntled Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris, league sources told Yahoo Sports."
That trade has yet to materialize, and Utah Jazz site SLC Dunk suggests that their team should try to outbid the Pelicans, if not trade with the Pelicans themselves.
The site mentioned that both Morris and Anderson are "stretch bigs who would be a solid compliment to Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert." Considering the team's options at that position, Trey Lyles and Trevor Booker, Morris and Anderson are definite upgrades at this point.
Booker will become a free agent at the end of the season but Lyles is on a rookie contract and he could actually be good in the future. However, if the Jazz really intend to make the playoffs, they would need some additional push.
One easy trade set-up is sending both Lyles and Booker to the Phoenix Suns for Markieff Morris. That's fair value for the Suns considering that Morris already had a trade demand last summer. While the team has tried to do its damage control, it's still a definite factor on the negotiating table.
However, if there are already talks underway between the Pelicans and the Suns, the Jazz can swoop in as the middle-man and make it a three-way transaction. Booker and Lyles will still go to Phoenix (as it's definite that Markieff has to leave that city) but Anderson will go to Utah, and Morris goes to New Orleans.
This would be a steal for the Jazz, as SLC Dunk suggests, since Anderson is the best player in this transaction. However, Anderson will become an unrestricted free agent and will definitely command big bucks. That's something they need to think about.
But a player like Anderson beside Gobert and/or Favors is a great situation, If the Jazz really want to compete this year, this may be a risk they have to take.
