The NBA has released the calendar Last week, the Utah Jazz got perhaps the best schedule to land a top-5 lottery pick next season. It may not be the toughest schedule, but a closer look shows the perfect scenario for the Jazz this season.
The Jazz won’t have a winning record in January like last season, or start 10-3 like they did two seasons ago. calendar does not lend itself to this kind of departure.
This season, the Jazz will play 11 games before the trade deadline against teams that did not make the play-in tournament last season. That includes two games against the Memphis Grizzlies and two against the San Antonio Spurs, both of whom are expected to take a big step forward this season.
That means it’s reasonable to expect the Jazz to have fewer than 10 wins at the trade deadline this season, assuming they play seven games against similar competition and 41 games against teams they’re likely to lose to.
The Jazz could win a few of those 41 games through injuries, workload management, or a hot shooting night, but there’s no guarantee they’ll win their other seven. And if Danny Ainge really wants this team to sink, the Jazz will have to manage their workload in the games they have a chance to win, too.
If the Jazz are around the 10-win mark by early February, they will very clearly be in selling mode. Walker Kessler is already embroiled in trade rumors, and Jazz veterans will likely be offered to suitors or even traded. Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson and John Collins are all names to watch in trade rumors.
If their season goes off the rails early, the Jazz could finally have their worst season ever, which could secure them a top-5 pick and a potential generational talent to build on. It may not sound like fun for this year, but it could make the Jazz a title contender in the years to come.
