The Utah Jazz just pulled off a big trade in the NBA, acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr. and sending away a few players and three future first-round picks. There's more in the trade than that, but that's the big news of the trade. For Badger fans, this is relevant because John Tonje was a second-round pick of the Utah Jazz in the most recent NBA Draft. He was signed to a two-way contract but has yet to be called up for the Jazz.
He's played 18 regular-season games for the Salt Lake City Stars (the G-League affiliate), waiting his turn to see NBA minutes. However, this trade may have just messed some of that up. Or did it?
BREAKING: The Memphis Grizzlies are trading star forward Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. to the Utah Jazz for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ax6oQpZx0S
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2026
Former Badger John Tonje just watch a bunch of pieces shift around him on the Jazz
The interesting part of the trade is that while the focus is on big men like Jackson, the Jazz traded away one guard but added two others in the deal. That's not ideal for Tonje, who's hoping to get a chance on the NBA roster.
According to Chris Bengel of PrizePicks, the new depth chart now has five shooting guards on the Utah Jazz roster. That would put five players ahead of Tonje, theoretically. Maybe not realistically, as Tonje is seen as a developmental piece and they'd rather have him play for the Salt Lake affiliate than ride the bench for the Jazz. So he could be above some of those players, but it's hard to know. The numbers are certainly more crowded than they were before.
ESPN, though, sees this as a move that sets up next season: "This is an aggressive move that indicates Utah's strong desire to be competitive next season after a frustrating four years of rebuilding since the franchise's last playoff appearance." That would be good news for Tonje, as the Jazz have always looked ahead to next year for Tonje.
The one thing that Tonje can hang his hat on is that he's doing a great job in the G-League. He's the leading points per game player for the Salt Lake City Stars (among qualified players) at 18.1. That means he's close, but it may now be a next year plan, or maybe that was the plan all along for him and the Jazz.