A new team joins NBA Trade Watch

Along with the Chicago Bulls and the Toronto Raptors, expect to hear lots about the Utah Jazz between now and the Feb. 8 trade deadline

The Utah Jazz were a wholly unexpected .500 team as late as Feb. 25 last season ... even after trading away Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.

This season?

The Jazz entered Thursday night’s road date with Portland sporting a better record than only six teams in the league and, as a result, have emerged as a team to monitor as the Feb. 8 trade deadline dribbles closer.