NBA Trade Rumors: 3 players the Utah Jazz are targeting ahead of the trade deadline

The NBA trade window will close next week ahead of the annual NBA All-Star Event in North Carolina.

The trade deadline will come into effect on Thursday at 3 pm (Eastern Time), and this leaves teams around the league with just four days to make major changes to their rosters ahead of the business end of the 18/19 NBA season.

The moves that will be made by NBA teams over the next few days have the potential to shape the remainder of the season, and trades will be especially critical to teams in the Western Conference.

The West is currently home to an intense battle between a number of teams who are bidding to secure the final few playoff spots, and the Utah Jazz are among those jostling for a postseason berth.

The Jazz have enjoyed a solid start to 2019, although there is a general belief that the team will add one or two players before the deadline, and here we will look at the players that the team is currently targeting.

---

#3 Aaron Gordon

During the 18/19 season, the 23-year-old is averaging 15.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest

Aaron Gordon is currently in his fifth year with the Orlando Magic, and during the 18/19 season, the 23-year-old is averaging 15.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest. Due to Gordon's impressive form, Desert News is reporting that the Jazz may consider making a move ahead of the deadline:

A player who the Jazz were rumored to like at the draft a few years ago is Aaron Gordon. The Magic have a glut of big men, so they don’t need Favors, but a point guard is a huge need. Would the Jazz give up Rubio to secure Gordon? If not, then getting a third team would be necessary.

Despite the Jazz's apparent interest in Gordon, the Magic have pinned their future prospects on the development of the young forward, and the team will be reluctant to trade Gordon away.

Nevertheless, if the Magic suddenly chooses to dump salary in the final days of the window, then the Jazz may have a longshot to acquiring Gordon.

---

#2 Mike Conley

Conley has been with the Grizzlies since 2007

Reports around the NBA last week suggested that the Memphis Grizzlies were finally willing to part with Mike Conley, and Tony Jones of The Athletic has reported that the Jazz may make a move for Conley ahead of the upcoming trade deadline:

According to sources, the Jazz have expressed interest in Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley. Does that mean the Jazz will for sure actively make offers? Not necessarily. But it does mean if circumstances align, the Jazz may have interest in throwing their hat into the ring.

Conley has been with the Grizzlies since 2007, and so far this season he has averaged 20.3 points, 6.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game. Nevertheless, Memphis have once again struggled to compete in the West, and in a bid to free up cap space, the franchise looks to be open to trading away their long-serving point guard.

#1 Otto Porter Jr.

There is no questioning that Porter Jr. is the type of player who would immediately boost the Jazz's playoff prospects

The Washington Wizards are enduring another underwhelming season and the team faces an uphill battle to make the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Due to this, a number of the Wizards roster has been linked with a move ahead of the trade deadline, and The Athletic last week reported that the Jazz were interested in bringing Porter Jr to Utah:

Depending on how the next week to two weeks shape up, the Wizards could look more aggressively toward moving Otto Porter. The Utah Jazz have been an interested suitor for Porter, league sources said.

Porter Jr. has this season averaged 12.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game and the 25-year-old is contracted to the Wizards until 2021.

There is no questioning that Porter Jr. is the type of player who would immediately boost the Jazz's playoff prospects, although Utah must also be willing to take on his huge contract that is worth $55 million over the next two seasons.