The Athletic Predicts Clarkson, Horton-Tucker Pending Options for Jazz
Fans of the Utah Jazz have been patiently waiting for an official verdict on how some of their most key pieces will approach their player options for the 2023-24 season. A time where players have the chance to play it safe by keeping on their existing contract for another season, or taking a swing on the open market to get paid.
It’s a decision four players on the current Jazz roster will have to decide upon in the next couple weeks, and in result, a huge piece of Utah’s entire offseason.
This is an extremely important time in the league for not just the Jazz, but for every team in the association. One opt in one way, and one opt out in another could end up changing the entire trajectory of how a team looks at their offseason as a whole.
As a result of these high stakes, John Hollinger of The Athletic put together a great collective list of how each team's options will likely be approached by both franchises and players.
According to Hollinger, he foresees an opt out from both Clarkson and Horton-Tucker, while Gay and Jones instead both opt in to their deals. He also adds that he sees the Jazz bringing back Kelly Olynyk, being that he has a partially guaranteed contract at the moment.
While it’s nothing set in stone just yet, these all seem like the most likely scenarios for Utah.
- Jordan Clarkson’s worth probably ranges around ~$20 million per year, despite his current contract not reflecting it. Nothing says the Jazz can’t retain him, but it seems as if it’ll be at a higher price tag.
- Once Talen Horton-Tucker was given his enhanced opportunity down the stretch last season, we saw flashes of what could be a great, young offensive-minded guard. However, other teams with cap space may be willing to bank on that potential with a high salary. This makes an opt out for Horton-Tucker an easy decision.
- Rudy Gay at almost 37 years of age likely won’t be getting much more money on the open market at this point in his career. Utah could easily deal his $6.4 million salary as the offseason progresses, but opting in makes the most sense on Gay’s side.
- Damian Jones showed some great strides, especially as a stretch big, for Utah in 2023. However, he was still competing for those backup center minutes with Udoka Azubuike, as well as a solidified spot in the rotation. The smartest move for Jones would be to secure an NBA contract for the next season, and hope for a pay raise next offseason if all goes well.
- Kelly Olynyk was one of the main focuses on offense at points last season. A guarantee of the rest of his contract could either allow Utah to maintain that production into next season, or even use his $12 million salary in a potential trade.
Utah will look to see how these players officially approach these options sooner rather than later, with the deadline on a decision coming June 29th. Then, both Jazz fans and the front office will have a better sense of how this team can be constructed going forward.
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