Jazz's Massive Mitchell & Gobert Trades Were Wise Moves In Hindsight
As the NBA moves toward the second round of the 2023 playoffs, the Utah Jazz have the benefit of hindsight on their blockbuster trades of last summer. After all the moves and an uncertain future for the franchise (even with the stockpile of draft picks), the Jazz entered the 2022-2023 season with the lowly Vegas odds of 24.5 wins.
The Jazz more than overcame those odds, winning 37 games and came up only three games short of the play-in tournament. Utah not only achieved so much as a team, but it also added individual accolades.
Lauri Markkanen had a breakout year as an All-Star, earned the Most Improved Player Award, and is predicted to be announced All-NBA. Walker Kessler finished as a finalist in the Rookie of the Year voting and will also likely be a part of the All-Rookie team. Most of these successes are thanks to first-year head coach Will Hardy.
When Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were traded in separate deals last summer, many fans and analysts were questioning the direction of the franchise and whether it was worth restarting the climb to relevance. There were also questions as to whether the Jazz could ever find and retain impactful players of Gobert and Mitchell's value.
Nine months later, Jazz fans can feel assured that those decisions and the masterwork of Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, were the best for the franchise going forward. The two superstars are both looking at 3-1 deficits in their respective playoff series.
There isn’t much to speculate with Gobert as his season with the Minnesota Timberwolves has been much less than expected. Donovan Mitchell has had an MVP-caliber season but has fallen short in the postseason once again.
The Jazz may have moved on from some of the best talent the franchise has seen but hindsight reveals that the team's future is much brighter than expected. And the two former superstars may not ever be enough to carry their new teams to a championship, no matter where they are.
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