Breaking down Utah's biggest problem, best- and worst-case settings, and dream view.
The Big Question: Who is the potential of the Dance?
What ought to have been the Utah Jazz's second significant repair in memory was marred by the trade of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell for a number of draft picks and fresh talent. They always lost their way, with the exception of Lauri Markkanen, who became an All-Star. They won 12 of their first 18 activities of the 2022-23 time, eventually finishing 12th in the Western Conference, too great to secure franchise-altering raffle odds.
Same goes for last season, when they won 31 games behind a cast of veterans ( Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson and John Collins ), none of whom is a Franchise Guy, and their draft selection fell to 10th.
They have taken five people in the first round of the previous two documents — Taylor Hendricks, Keyonte George, Brice Sensabaugh, Cody Williams and Isaiah Collier — plus Kyle Filipowski, the 32nd overall pick in this history June's document, and we are questionable if any of them is a potential star. George has flashed the most probable, though he shot less than 40 % from the area last year. We will see about this year's group.
Or we may discover about this year's class. Because Markkanen's new contract extension prevents the Music from pursuing a trade, even if they choose, he is included in the Jazz's strategy for the upcoming year. Watson, Clarkson and Collins remain, also. If we have learned something from third-year mind coach May Hardy, he will move into his veterans. It sounds crazy, but he is too fine a coach, and they will win more games than they should.
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You see, Utah is trying to navigate two timelines, just neither of them is quite good. Markkanen is 27 years older. His contract runs through the 2028-29 season, when he will make$ 53.5 million at the age of 31. Do we believe that anyone on the roster will grow enough to match Markkanen's level? Does the Estonian star even want to stay around long enough to find out? This feels like an endless pursuit of stupidity.
Consider Walker Kessler, for instance. In 2023, the 7-footer made the All-Rookie First Team and qualified for the Rookie of the Year award. He was named to Team USA's 2023 FIBA World Cup squad. But what did the Music do? They moved their 22-year-old facility to the bench, where he was less successful. Utah's defense was 3.8 items per 100 valuable possessions much when Walker was on the jury and 4.8 items per 100 non-garbage property worse when Collins was on the ground, per Cleaning the Glass.
How many of Utah's other prospects will have their development stunted by veterans who might make the team a little better this season but may not even be on the roster if and when the team is any good?
And to what end?
In a Western Conference this crowded, the Jazz wo n't make the playoffs this year. Their priority should be to find out who among their recent draft picks is going to be part of their future, and they cannot discover that without playing them — a lot. One benefit to leaning into a youth movement is that they might just lose enough games to secure a top-five pick for the first time in more than a decade.
Best-case scenario
Markkanen is completely committed to the tank's embrace by Utah. Hardy consistently plays everyone under the age of 25, and only a select few outshine their coaches with inspiring displays of leadership. Markkanen is excellent, but he is insufficient to carry a group of unproven players to 30 victories. The Jazz find trade value for Clarkson, Collins and/or Sexton. They secure enough lottery combinations to land a future star at the top of the draft. Oh, and both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Minnesota Timberwolves are mediocre, giving a group of promising young prospects two more unprotected first-round picks.
If everything falls apart
In order to get rid of Derrick Favors ' contract and avoid paying the luxury tax, the Jazz traded their top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder in July 2021. What would you think if they did n't pick them this year? More of the same would suffice. Another hot start. Another misguided reason to believe they can make the play-in tournament, only to realize too late that they should have tanked. And we are here again with no answer to the same question next season: Who is the future of the Jazz?
Fantasy spin
One of the fantasy draft board's top values is Kessler. Whether he's being showcased for a trade or not, Kessler is trending to be a low-end double-double threat who will be among the league leaders in blocks per game.
I like Sexton as an early ninth-rounder. When he joined the starting unit last year, Sexton provided seventh-round value. All signs point to him resuming that role, so fantasy managers are getting him at a nice discount.
George avoided a severe knee injury, and it looks like he'll be playing in Utah's final preseason game. George is a solid option for points leagues and could outperform his ADP in category formats if he can improve his efficiency and reduce his turnover rate. The volume is a question mark until the vets are traded, but Henderson is a late-round flier who offers some defensive upside and 3s. — Dan Titus
2024-25 schedule
Season opener: Oct. 23 vs. Memphis
Complete schedule
Over/under win total: 29.5
Play the kids. Take the under.
More season previews
East: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, and Washington Wizards.
West: Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, and more.
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