Bill Simmons Blasts Danny Ainge and Utah Jazz for Trading Away Collin Sexton originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
In a scathing take that has ignited NBA Twitter, sports pundit Bill Simmons has unleashed his frustration over the Utah Jazz’s recent trade of guard Collin Sexton to the Charlotte Hornets for center Jusuf Nurkic.
Posted on Sunday afternoon, Simmons’ tweet (@BillSimmons) declared, “This trade makes ZERO SENSE for Utah which means there has to be a much-bigger trade coming.”
His skepticism targets Jazz president Danny Ainge, questioning the strategic logic behind swapping a dynamic young scorer for an aging big man.
Simmons’ critique hinges on Sexton’s proven value—averaging 18.4 points and 4.2 assists last season—against Nurkic’s perceived decline, especially as the Jazz rebuild with rookies like Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr.
Fans and analysts echo his confusion, with some suggesting the move clears minutes or signals a tanking strategy to protect a future draft pick owed to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Others speculate a larger deal looms, potentially involving key assets like forward Lauri Markkanen and center Walker Kessler.
The trade, first reported by Shams Charania also included a 2030 second-round pick heading to the Hornets, further fueling Simmons’ dismay.
He implies Ainge’s once-celebrated executive acumen, honed with the Boston Celtics, may be waning, a sentiment amplified by Utah’s 17-65 record last season.
Replies to Simmons’ post range from memes mocking Ainge to theories of Kessler heading to the Lakers, underscoring the trade’s polarizing impact.
As the NBA offseason heats up, Simmons’ bold stance has set the stage for intense scrutiny of Ainge’s next moves.
Whether this trade is a misstep or a masterstroke remains unclear, but for now, the Jazz and their embattled president are under the microscope.
Related: Alabama Commit Makes Major Recruiting Announcement
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.