3 Things the Jazz Should Have on This Year’s Christmas Wish List
The holiday season is upon us, giving us a perfect opportunity to glance at the state of the Utah Jazz. We sit about a third of the way through the regular season with the Jazz at a 12-18 record, good enough for 12th in the Western Conference. Not quite enough for a top-10 seed or a spot in the Play-In Tournament, and not low enough for a premier spot in the draft lottery.
The current situation could be much worse when looking around the rest of the league, but there is a bit to be desired. It leads to some questions concerning what the next steps should be for the franchise as we get deeper into the year.
With that, here are three things the Jazz should have on this year’s Christmas wish list.
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Getting Keyonte George Back to Full Health
One of the biggest highlights of the Jazz’s season so far has been the emergence of rookie guard Keyonte George. We’ve seen an electric start to his NBA career through the first third of the year, averaging 10.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists through 24 games played.
However, George has been forced out of action recently due to a foot injury he suffered vs. the New York Knicks, keeping him out for the past six games. This Jazz team is at its best when the rook is on the floor, so seeing his return as soon as possible would be of great benefit to Utah.
Of course, you don’t want to rush his return, but the sooner he’s back, the better. Guys like Kris Dunn and Collin Sexton have held down the fort in the backcourt very nicely in his absence, but Keyonte is the future of the position.
Given that he’s traveling with the team on their current road trip provides some optimism for his status, so seeing him back in action shouldn’t be too far away. His next chance to come back will be during Tuesday’s matchup vs. the San Antonio Spurs, so we’ll have to wait and see how that inevitably transpires.
Adding a Veteran PG to the Mix
A recent rumor surrounding the Jazz has been their openness to adding a veteran guard to the team, effectively to help assist their facilitating and ball control troubles they’ve managed early through the year. While this roster currently sticks out as one of the youngest in the league, adding some experience couldn’t hurt this team’s growth.
We saw how effective Utah was during their 2022-23 campaign when a guy like Mike Conley was in the fold, being a key contributor to their early success through his role as a floor general. He was ultimately shipped off during February’s trade deadline, but it showed just how impactful a player of his mold could be.
Once trade season rolls around, the Jazz could be a prime candidate to bring on a similar caliber player. It could be a big lift for the development of younger guys like George and Sexton, and may even lead to a better shot at the Play-In.
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Bringing In Even More Draft Picks
When taking a step back to analyze this Jazz team, it’s a roster that is still in the process of rebuilding and retooling. Sure, there are a few cornerstones on hand that can be built around, but any type of deep playoff run or championship aspirations is still a few years away.
It makes the idea of adding a few additional draft assets throughout the season notably appealing. Utah has a nice collection of expiring deals and/or contributing players that could be key pieces in a potential deadline move. Whether that be someone like Kelly Olynyk, Talen Horton-Tucker, or even someone like Jordan Clarkson, the Jazz have options.
If a team with championship aspirations was looking for additional rotational pieces to help contribute, Utah would be a prime destination to look to. And if it results in more draft compensation coming their way, it may be the best long-term route to go.
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