JAZZ MOVES UP TO NAB MITCHELL, SENDS LYLES, PICK (LYDON) TO NUGGETS
The Utah Jazz acquired a 1st-round draft pick in 2017 (No. 13 overall, combo guard Donovan Mitchell) from the Denver Nuggets for combo forward Trey Lyles and a 1st-round draft pick in 2017 (No. 24 overall, combo forward Tyler Lydon).
What does it give the Utah Jazz
Great move here by the Jazz. While Utah is losing a promising and super-solid big man prospect in Lyles, Mitchell has a chance to be an NBA star. Moreover, Mitchell fills a pressing need for the Jazz, that being a young and potentially top-tier guard to help complement the team's more-established frontcourt. The likes of Dante Exum and others just haven't panned out as planned, so Mitchell is another try. He has arguably as much athleticism and raw upside as any player in this draft class.
What does it give the Denver Nuggets
Solid maneuver by Denver. Despite being a team without a clear identity, the Nuggets do have a lot of young talent; and they add to that depth here. While neither of Lyles nor Lydon necessarily projects as a major star, they're both talented (and Denver brass scouts big men well, as evidenced by them drafting risng star Nikola Jokic 41st overall in 2014). Plus, if the Nuggets lose star Danilo Gallinari this off-season to free agency, Lyles and Lydon can step in an show what they can do.
Fantasy impact
Mitchell has the talent to be a star--eventually, if not right away--so it's worth using a last-round fantasy pick on him in standard single-season fantasy leagues. Neither of Lyles nor Lydon looks likely to play a major role with Denver in the coming campaign, but a lot can still change this off-season. Keep both of them on the fantasy radar, regardless.
