The Utah Jazz are still in the middle of a rebuild, but their young talent makes them play-in contenders for the Western Conference.
So I’m going all-in on a youth-led Jazz playoff appearance in 2027.
Look, I know it’s far-fetched. But as a fan of the Dolphins and Jazz, I understand the false guarantees of hope. Let me live a little, okay?
2018 seems like eons ago. Utah had built a solid core around offensive star Donovan Mitchell and defensive stalwart Rudy Gobert–it looked the Jazz had nowhere to go but up.
Fast forward four years and Mitchell landed in Cleveland, Rudy in Minnesota, and Utah entered its’ full, much-needed rebuild. Which isn’t to say the Jazz were bad. The Gobert-Mitchell pairing just didn’t work out. In order to get a better team, Utah had to let go of their premier talent in exchange for draft capital. Three first round picks and Collin Sexton. Ochai Ogbaji’s thrown in there but he didn’t pan out in Utah.
I feel like I’m leaving something out…oh. Right. Lauri Markkanen. Markkanen’s been an important piece over the last four years. The feeling’s been mutual for the seven-foot sniper, who’s averaged career-highs in points and shooting efficiency. He’s proven to be a player the Jazz can build around, despite injuries have hampering his performance. Even still, 26.7 PPG ain’t bad.
Let’s not forget the acquisition of Jaren Jackson Jr. via trade in early February. Jackson’s the yin to Markkanen’s yang: a defensive force capable of locking down the paint and mid-range. The former DPOY-winner’s capable of producing offensively. Before going down to a knee injury, Jackson Jr. put up 22 PPG in three games for the Jazz. A small sample size, but hopefully a sign of things to come.
Utah’s recent draft classes has brought in gobs of talent. Let’s start with Keyonte George–a playmaking offensive-oriented guard that can run Will Hardy’s fast-paced offense. He’s struggled with efficient shooting at times, but his playmaking’s gotten better since his inaugural year in The Association. Isaiah Collier’s not a bad second choice either, although his shooting is less efficient than George’s. Where he lacks in efficiency, Collier more than makes up for in natural playmaking ability.
Pairing Jackson Jr. with former-Memphis pick Walker Kessler could be a lethal combination. Like Jackson, Kessler was bit by the injury bug early this year with a torn labrum. He’s a defensive nightmare for teams looking to score inside. Kessler’s added six wins on his defensive efficiency alone and has improved his offensive game since coming into the league. Hopefully this torn labrum won’t affect his game long-term, but who’s to tell?
Oh yeah. Ace Bailey. A high-upside wing with solid measurables to boot. I understand there was some Draft Day drama surrounding the 19-year old from Rutgers, but some hard lessons need to be learned. Ace has fit in nicely with Utah’s core. Bailey certainly has areas to improve upon; for one, his efficiency and shot IQ need to improve. Bailey’s averaging 12 FGA to 5 makes per game. If Kyle Filipowski and Cody Williams keep trending in the right direction, the Jazz have a solid young core to help Markkanen.
…is Will Hardy the right coach, and how are injuries going to impact this incredibly hot take?
For starters, it’s way too early to tell if Hardy’s the man for the job. Hardy was brought onto steer the Utah ship in the right direction but, as every journey, there are swells and bumps along the way. I think Hardy’s fast-paced offense can work if Hardy finds a way to utilize the paint more. With George and Bailey to run the break, Kessler and Jackson Jr. need to be utilized inside for a much more balanced approach. You’ve already got a floor-spreader in Markkanen. A one-two punch of outside shooting with hard-nosed interior play could mean success for the Jazz.
And, of course, injuries. Kessler and Jackson Jr. went down with season-ending injuries before their seasons in Utah could fully develop. Markkanen’s currently sidelined with a hip injury that could sideline him the rest of the season. This is where depth players like Brice Sensabaugh, Collier, and Williams will step in. Jusuf Nurkic was a surprisingly good addition in Utah, but he too went out for the season with nose surgery.
Free agency can be used to acquire more depth pieces–Robert Williams could be a helpful free agency acquisition, and I’m all-in on Quentin Grimes being a 3&D specialist for the Jazz. But to tie it all together, I think efficiency should take precedent over skillset. The Jazz already have a good young core making their mark in Salt Lake City. The problem isn’t acquiring superstars; it’s tying it all together.
Can the Jazz compete with the Thunder for the #1 seed? Absolutely not. Right now, I’m banking on the Jazz to be an 8 seed or even a play-in contender. Which is far better than anything they’ve been over the past two seasons. False hope is still hope, am I right?
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