With the Mitchell to Knicks deal currently stalled, I think the Jazz should make a push to trade for Westbrook.
Conley, Clarkson, and Bogdanovic to the Lakers for Westbrook, the Lakers 27 1st round pick (unprotected) and multiple future 2nd round picks (don’t care how many, when or for what value) plus some cash to help offset the immediate buyout.
A.) This gives the Jazz good to great value (depending on that unprotected pick) for three guys who are all 30+ years old and clearly on their way out.
B.) It allows the team to mend some fences with Westbrook by facilitating a quick buyout and letting him go to a team he wants to play for asap.
C.) It keeps the Jazz as the topic of conversation in sports media for having pulled off yet another massive trade this off-season. That also helps to keep the expectations of what they’re eventually going to get from the Knicks sky high.
D.) It can serve as the first domino to fall in the logjam we’re currently seeing. As soon as the Jazz work out a deal with LA, the NY media is going to want some action and attention too. Going ahead with this deal first should put more pressure on the Knicks to match it with their own big move - conveniently teed up and ready for them to pull the trigger.
E.) It also saves the Jazz at least $8.5 million off the salary cap - which can be combined with a Trade Exceptions to add a player in a deadline cap dump to help a team skirt the luxury tax - acquiring another asset in the process.