"The framework of the trades that landed Jaren Jackson Jr. in Salt Lake City on Tuesday and Anthony Davis in Washington on Wednesday, was the same: sending out expiring money, largely middling draft capital (save for Memphis landing Phoenix's unprotected 2031 selection), and getting back talented players on contracts that featured little interest around the league."
"Jackson is a "unicorn" rim-protecting, floor-spacing big man who much of the league covets. Davis, although he has regularly missed time with injuries, is a 20-10 machine when he does play and can be an imposing defensive presence in his own right. But in a league where teams are looking to build depth and lean into youth and athleticism, rostering borderline All-NBA big men making more than $50 million per season is a tough sell."
Several tanking franchises have begun prioritizing immediate roster competitiveness over further lottery accumulation by acquiring high-impact but expensive veterans. Utah and Washington used expiring salary and modest draft assets to acquire Jaren Jackson Jr. and Anthony Davis, respectively, while protecting top-eight picks. The moves reflect beliefs that the 2026 draft is stronger, the 2027 class is weaker, free-agent options are limited, and prolonged tanking has practical limits. Teams with relatively clean cap sheets can absorb large salaries, whereas many franchises hesitate to carry borderline All-NBA big men earning over $50 million.
Read at ESPN.com
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