Ochai Agbaji Considered to be Among Jazz Untouchables

January 27, 2023

The Jazz are looking to make moves ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline, but don’t expect rookie shooting guard Ochai Agbaji to be among them.

According to a source who spoke to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, Agbaji is one of three Jazz untouchables, with the others being forward Lauri Markkanen and rookie center Walker Kessler.

Both Agbaji and Markkanen were acquired from the Cavaliers, along with guard Collin Sexton and a bevy of picks, in the Donovan Mitchell trade.

Agbaji, 22, is 6-foot-5 and was selected with the No. 14 overall pick out of Kansas. He got off to a slow start, but has shown more promise lately with an increase in opportunity. Since the start of January, he has played at least 12 minutes in every game and is generally closer to 20.

Of course, we have heard plenty of names that the Jazz are in fact willing to move — from guards Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson and Malik Beasley, to forwards Talen Horton-Tucker and Rudy Gay, to forward/center Jarred Vanderbilt.

Conley is said to be drawing interest from the Clippers and several others, while Beasley has been linked to the Cavs and Hawks. The Jazz reportedly have made offers for Hawks power forward John Collins.

In 28 appearances, Agbaji is averaging 3.9 points on 49 percent shooting, including 38 percent on 3-pointers.

The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 9.

Markkanen, 25, is 7-0 and averaging a career-high 24.8 points on career-highs of 52 percent shooting and 43 percent on 3-pointers, to go with 8.7 rebounds. The All-Star Game is in Salt Lake City this year and you have to believe Markkanen will be representing the home team in his first season with Utah.

Kessler, 21, is 7-1 and is averaging 7.6 points and 7.2 rebounds and shooting 71 percent from the floor. He was drafted with the No. 22 overall pick this past summer.