Mario Chalmers (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Utah Jazz are reportedly in the mix of dealing for Miami Heat veteran point guard Mario Chalmers, who has been heavily linked with the Memphis Grizzlies in the past 24 hours.
Jody Gennesy, a sports writer who covers the Jazz for the Desert News, posted a message on Twitter that Utah tried to trade for Chalmers during this summer's free agency, but the Heat did not entertain any offers to send the two-time NBA champ to Salt Lake.
Trey Burke, 22, the Jazz only reliable point guard, has been leaning to a hot start, as well as Utah, who have won their last two games against the Philadelphia 76ers and the Indiana Pacers. However, Jazz's only other point guard is Raul Neto, another youngster who has yet to make a solid impact in his rookie season.
The Jazz could certainly use Chalmers' presence in their young core of players, especially with Aussie sophomore Dante Exum out for the rest of the season due to an ankle injury suffered in an international competition this summer. Chalmers being traded could also give plenty of room for sophomore guard Shabazz Napier to develop under the wings of Goran Dragic.
However, reports are indicating that the Grizzlies, who are exploring to strengthen their backcourt position after a shaky start in the regular season, are the ones discussing a trade for Chalmers. According to ESPN, the potential deal would involve Beno Udrih, but there would be a significant discrepancy in matching both guards' salaries.
Chalmers, selected as No. 34 overall by the Heat in the second round of the 2008 draft, has spent his entire NBA career in Miami. The 29-year-old point guard helped Lebron James and Dwayne Wade win back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013. Chalmers has a career average of 8.9 points and 3.8 assists in his seven seasons with the Heat.
Chalmers has been on a lesser role ever since the Heat secured Dragic as the team's starting point guard. He said he have heard his name connected to trade rumors for several months, but the 6-foot-2 guard is poised to prove why he "was a starting point guard" for Erik Spoelstra's in the previous years.
