Celtics get PG Donovan Mitchell, SF Juancho Hernangomez; Jazz get G Marcus Smart, G Derrick White, SF Aaron Nesmith, Celtics 1st rd pick and pick swap
Hornets C Rudy Gobert, Jazz 2nd rd pick; Jazz get F Gordon Hayward, F PJ Washington, PG James Bouknight, Hornets 1st rd pick and pick swap
Celtics get a dynamic ball dominant PG to go with Brown and Tatum, and they'd still have Theis and Williams as defensive back stops, Pritchard off the bench and I'd keep Al Horford (that dude's still good). The Celtics would lose some depth (they'll need to fill 2 roster spots), but they'd still have a strong offensive and defensive identity. Losing Smart stings but Mitchell is going to be such an offensive upgrade, this team would be in championship conversation. And they form a good long term core: Mitchell, Williams and Tatum are signed for 4 more years each (making draft picks less valuable or necessary), Brown and Pritchard for 2 more years each. Grant Williams is an RFA that I assume the Celtics will want to keep, while Horford and Hernangomez would be on the way out next summer (though Donovan bestie Eric Paschall should be available for end of the roster money, seems a perfect addition). The Celtics would have a good nucleus for both ends of the court, a young coach that knows what he's doing and a GM that seems as much like family as Danny Ainge (oh yeah: he's with the Jazz now!). If Celtics could get Mitchell for the package I'm laying out, I think they'd take it in a heartbeat. And I think that's actually a pretty good haul for the Jazz.
Hornets get a premiere defensive presence in the middle that's signed long term (and would be a lot more popular on the East Coast) and should mesh just fine with the LaMelo-Rozier tandem that runs the place. Gobert allows Miles Bridges to take another leap defensively making the Hornets a serious contender in the East, instead of a play-in. It sucks to lose PJ but getting Gobert should remove all regrets. It sucks to lose Bouknight but they were already giving more time to Isaiah Thomas, so he's probably already in change-of-scenery mode. It sucks to lose Hayward, but he was so injury-prone that its almost like he was never there (just like in Boston). Getting Gobert gives so much focus to your defense that now LaMelo and Rozier have even more room to freelance on offense. This move guarantees them a bankable star defender for 4 more years and allows the rest of your core to mature in a whole new way (and adds some buzz as a free agent destination, like how about bringing Malik Monk back?). This makes the Hornets a better team and while every 1st rd pick is valuable to the Hornets, this is a deal worth attaching one to.
Jazz would move on from their two biggest stars. But since one of them has to go (as they do not play well together at all), why not split the baby and ship both out for the maximum haul. The Jazz aren't gonna want 1st rd picks (oh, they'll want a few of those), they'd rather have long term contracts, they'd rather have star players or (realistically) rotation guys. So those are the types of players I think they'll be looking for when shopping Mitchell and/or Gobert (and I assume they are shopping both and could actually trade both). The deals I laid out would still give them a good team, signed well into the future, with a bevy of tradeable contracts and while there's enough to continuity to carry forth, I think its a new enough roster that a new coach (*) could craft something totally new. The opening day roster would look like:
PG Mike Conley, SG Marcus Smart, SF Gordon Hayward, PF Bojan Bagdonivic, C PJ Washington
PG Derrick White, PG James Bouknight, SG Jordan Clarkson, SG Nikeal Alexander-Walker, SF Aaron Nesmith, SF Royce O'Neal, PF Rudy Gay, C Udoka Azuibuke
Conley, Bogdanovic, Clarkson, Gay, O'Neal provide stability and continuity, a solid collection of veterans to keep the team humming along. Smart and White are good rotation guys that will play hard, set the tone defensively and become fan favorites. Hayward is already a fan favorite, this is the one fanbase that wouldn't think twice about paying Hayward a shit ton of money. Bouknight and Nesmith are young guys to develop. Washington, Azuibuke, and Alexander-Walker would need to be re-signed next summer, so they've each got a year to earn that next contract (and they're on the clock right away). The two extra 1st rd picks are not likely to be really good picks (top-10 protected, at least, I'd assume) but the Jazz need every talented body they can find (and extra picks do offer a little more wheeling and dealing on draft night).
Is that a playoff team in the West? They'd be a pain in the ass. If you think you're going into SLC on a Tuesday night and picking up a free W, I'd you be wrong. (**)
I think the Celtics would be better with Mitchell in place of Smart, White and Nesmith. I think the Hornets would be better with Gobert in place of Washington, Hayward and Bouknight. I think the improvements in the Celtics and Hornets would merit giving up a 1st round pick (each) to facilitate these roster moves.
Are the Jazz better without Mitchell and Gobert? Are they better with Smart, Hayward, White, Washington, Bouknight, Nesmith and 2 1st-rounders? Probably not. But they would have cost assurance built around what I think would be an entertaining team (a fun team to root for). Also, a new coach with the new team brings a whole new vibe around what will be a hard working, pain in the ass squad.
For the Jazz, either Mitchell or Gobert has to go. Picking which one will not be easy or pleasant. They're assaying the league for offers, I think these offers are realistic and leave Utah with a solid, lovable, rather inexpensive roster that will be a tough out in the West right away. I know: star power in more fun, but more star power just becomes more drama. SLC is a town that would be better served by going for lunch pail basketball lifers that will bust ass for the home fans. Utah has more of a college than a pro vibe, they should build a different kind of team.
(*) Oh, it is worth noting that this rebuild does not strike me as what Coach Quin Snyder signed on for, so at this point I think it would be mutually beneficial to part ways. Snyder is at a point in his coaching career that does not match the phase the Jazz would be going into with these moves I'm describing. If he wanted to stay, that'd be great, but I don't think he'd want that. So I'd let him walk, pay him handsomely, pat him on the back at the press conference and then I'd go hire Frank Vogel.
I've long thought about the Orlando Magic that they would be better served by banking on a coach rather than trying to be a free agent destination (for some reason Orlando is NBA poison) and what good is it to be a lottery pick factory if you don't have the culture, the routine, to properly develop the talent? I think the Utah Jazz are in the same boat: free agents don't wanna go but the fanbase is supportive, so do it Pittsburgh Steelers style and just keep bringing the same coach back every year. If Quin Snyder is down with that, then I'd keep Snyder and let him do his thing forever; I'm just assuming that Snyder has had as much success as he thinks he can have in SLC and is probably looking at other spots (San Antonio, for instance, another example of the kinda place that might keep him around for 20 years).
(**) Two summers ago, OKC very briefly had Ricky Rubio, Steven Adams and Al Horford all at the same time. I know that doesn't win a lot of games but I still wanted to see those guys play together.
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