The 2024-25 NBA season is quick approaching and in contrast to the earlier two years, the Utah Jazz the entrance workplace units the expectations of its followers early on. On the finish of the 2023-24 season, Jazz CEO Danny Ainge informed reporters that Utah was able to go “large sport searching” this offseason. Nevertheless, except for just a few quiet free agent acquisitions, it has been a comparatively quiet summer season in Salt Lake Metropolis.
Throughout media day on Friday, Jazz basic supervisor Justin Zanik addressed the shortage of pursuit of an All-Star caliber participant through commerce or free company this offseason. In response to Zanik, the alternatives weren’t there for vital enchancment and Utah will focus its power on the youth motion for the approaching yr.
“You have seen how issues evolve within the offseason,” Jazz basic supervisor Justin Zanik mentioned. “On this group, we’re extraordinarily aggressive in pursuing any means essential to make this a championship-caliber group. When these alternatives current themselves, we’re prepared. There weren’t any.
“And so, to take a seat there and do nothing, we determined our plan was to focus completely on our younger guys and the very best participant on our roster, Lauri Markkanen.”
Zanik’s assertion was music to the ears of the Jazz fan base, which has its eyes on securing a prime 5 end within the 2025 NBA Draft. Led by Cooper Flagg of the College of Duke’s 2025 draft class is loaded with “face of the franchise” expertise and is perhaps the very best probability to draft a participant higher than Utah’s present finest participant, Lauri Markkanen.
So what do Zanik’s statements imply for Jazz gamers who will not be part of the long run? The 2 names that stand out are John Collins and Jordan Clarkson. Each gamers have contracts that run by means of the 2025-26 season and the times in Salt Lake Metropolis must be coming to an finish.
Nevertheless, the contracts of each gamers are tough to promote within the present commerce market, and it’s not excluded that the Jazz may make use of each gamers for the complete season. This does not bode properly for a group the place participant growth and draft positioning take precedence over profitable basketball video games.
Jazz head coach Will Hardy might be challenged to play youthful gamers over veterans who want minutes to money in on their subsequent contract. When the rubber meets the highway, is it believable?
We cannot know the way severe the entrance workplace is concerning the youth motion till we see how Hardy decides to distribute the minutes. Nevertheless, it seems that Zanik is setting the stage for a season through which the pursuit of a top-five choose will take precedence from the beginning.
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