Again on Sept. 1, the Jazz and Cavaliers shocked the NBA with one of many greatest trades in latest reminiscence. 

Utah traded three-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers for guards Ochai Agbaji and Collin Sexton, ahead Lauri Markkanen, future first-round picks, and future first-round draft swaps.

“Ochai, Lauri, and Collin are thrilling younger gamers, and we’re thrilled so as to add them to our roster,” Jazz Normal Supervisor Justin Zanik mentioned in September. “We imagine that they match the Jazz tradition and hard-nosed, aggressive model of basketball we have constructed right here in Utah. They provide us versatility and athleticism on each ends of the ground as we develop towards the long run. We look ahead to our followers attending to know them.”

It despatched shockwaves all through the league because it elevated Cleveland to one of many higher tiers of the Jap Convention whereas, on the time, showing to finalize Utah’s roster that may put them among the many worst groups within the NBA (in accordance with many lease pundits). 

As an alternative, the other has occurred — a minimum of for the Jazz. 

Whereas the Cavaliers are among the many higher groups within the NBA, Utah has been the largest shock of anybody within the league and are getting reputable All-Star play from Markkanen. The Jazz have thrived underneath new head coach Will Hardy’s offensive system, and there was no larger benefactor than Markkanen. 

For the primary time since that monumental commerce, Markkanen and the Jazz are shall be squaring off with Mitchell and the Cavaliers. Tipoff is about for five p.m. MST in Cleveland. 

As a Jazzman, Mitchell’s accolades are inarguable, as certainly one of solely two gamers from the 2017 Draft to be named an All-Star in three of their first 5 seasons (Boston’s Jayson Tatum is the opposite).

He has averaged 23.9 factors, 4.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per sport on 44.1% taking pictures from the ground and 36.1% from three-point territory. Amongst his profession accolades, Mitchell received the 2018 Slam Dunk contest, was First-Staff All-Rookie, and was named the Western Convention Participant of the Month in December 2021.

Whereas Mitchell has mentioned just a few instances that he is discovered happiness enjoying the sport once more since becoming a member of Cleveland, present Jazz gamers and former teammates of his, Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson, do not take that personally. 

They perceive that the NBA is a enterprise and are merely completely satisfied for his or her former operating mate. 

“I do not actually interpret it in any dangerous method in any respect,” Conley mentioned. “I feel whenever you’re successful and also you’re profitable, when you may have a profession 12 months and also you’re enjoying nicely, you are having enjoyable. I am certain he had that very same enjoyable when we had been enjoying very well, like all of us did.”

“I feel that ain’t no shot at us,” Clarkson added. “Perhaps it was one thing he simply did not have enjoyable with. Perhaps he simply discovered a brand new love, a unique facet, or a imaginative and prescient of the sport. It is probably not, like I mentioned, a shot at us. We had a good time, we simply did not obtain what I felt like we needed to by way of successful the championship.”

Whereas Mitchell is completely satisfied, Clarkson and Conley are as nicely. 

Clarkson can also be having a profession season, averaging career-highs in scoring and assists, whereas Conley has emerged as arguably essentially the most important participant on the roster as a consequence of his expertise and talent to regulate the sport. 

“We’re all having enjoyable now,” Conley mentioned. “I feel all people who’s been transferring round and in several areas or the identical location, we’re all having a superb time, we’re all having fun with basketball.”

“We’re all completely satisfied,” Clarkson added. 

STATS
Utah (17-15, 6-10 away / No. 8 Western Convention)
Offense
*117.2 Factors Per Sport (No. 5 in NBA)
*115.7 Offensive Ranking (No. 4 in NBA)
Protection
*116.0 Factors Per Sport (No. 23 in NBA)
*114.1 Defensive Ranking (No. 25 in NBA)
Particular person
*Lauri Markkanen: 22.3 factors | 8.3 rebounds | 2.2 assists | 42.0% 3P-shooting
*Jordan Clarkson: 19.9 factors | 4.6 assists | 3.8 rebounds | 34.4% 3P-shooting
*Malik Beasley: 14.4 factors | 3.8 rebounds | 39.8% 3P-shooting
*Mike Conley: 9.8 factors | 7.4 assists | 35.6% 3P-shooting

Cleveland (20-11, 14-2 dwelling / No. 3 Jap Convention)
Offense
*110.5 Factors Per Sport (No. 24 in NBA)
*113.0 Offensive Ranking (No. 12 in NBA)
Protection
*104.6 Factors Per Sport (No. 1 in NBA)
*107.0 Defensive Ranking (No. 1 in NBA)
Particular person
*Donovan Mitchell: 29.5 factors | 4.6 assists | 3.9 rebounds | 42.4% taking pictures
*Darius Garland: 20.8 factors | 8.0 assists | 37.9% 3P-shooting
*Evan Mobley: 15.1 factors | 9.3 rebounds | 1.3 blocks
*Jarrett Allen: 13.7 factors | 10.3 rebounds | 1.3 blocks

KEY MATCHUP
*Jordan Clarkson vs. Donovan Mitchell
— As talked about above, two of the largest beneficiaries from the Utah-Cleveland commerce have been Clarkson and Mitchell. Clarkson — one of many premier sixth males within the league — has taken over Mitchell’s spot within the beginning lineup and ran with is, exhibiting off his playmaking abilities that few knew he had. In the meantime, Mitchell has elevated his sport to a different step with career-highs is sort of each taking pictures class. 

INJURY REPORT
Utah
OUT | Kelly Olynyk (left ankle sprain)
OUT | Collin Sexton (proper hamstring pressure)
OUT | Johnny Juzang (G League – Two-Means)
Cleveland
OUT | Mamadi Diakite (G League – Two-Means)
OUT | Isaiah Mobley (G League – Two-Means)
OUT | Ricky Rubio (left knee ACL surgical procedure) 
OUT | Lamar Stevens (proper knee soreness)
OUT | Dean Wade (left shoulder sprain)
OUT | Dylan Windler (proper ankle sprain)

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Time: 5:00 p.m. MST
Location: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse / Cleveland, OH
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: The Zone Sports activities Community