Jazz Looking to ‘Build a Contender as Quickly as Possible’ at Deadline
When the Utah Jazz took on their franchise-shifting rebuild two summers ago, the long-term goal for the front office was simple: constructing a roster that has what it takes to reach the heights of winning an NBA championship. It's something every team in the association aspires to achieve, but few can accomplish.
However, with blockbuster moves to ship off their two All-Star talents, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, for a haul of valuable draft selections, this team made a true commitment to making those dreams come true in the coming years.
Looking ahead to this season's NBA trade deadline, it's apparent that the ultimate focus for Utah has yet to shift an inch.
Those intentions were made clear on a recent episode of The Lowe Post. According to NBA insider Ryan MacMahon, the Jazz's main priority at this year's trade deadline is honed in on the big picture rather than making a move solely for their Play-In hopes:
"I think last year gives a very clear indication that the Jazz aren't going to go all in for the Play-In. They are trying to build a contender as quickly as possible. That's exactly what Danny Ainge, Justin Zanik and Ryan Smith told me last year. Nothing has changed there. If they land in the Play-In, great, but that is not going to be their goal. That is not going to be what guides them in the days leading up to the trade deadline."
The Jazz are right in the weeds of the Play-In Tournament with their 25-26 record, good for 10th place in the Western Conference behind the Los Angeles Lakers. While seeing Utah jump into postseason play would be a welcomed sight, it's clear that isn't the priority for Danny Ainge and Co.
A lot of conversation has surrounded Utah amidst the looming trade deadline with speculation on what direction the front office will take this team. They have what it takes to be buyers on the market, but could also opt to sell off some pieces to continue to pursue future assets for their championship hopes soon to come.
MacMahon also addresses the sticky draft pick situation for the Jazz, with their first-rounder for 2024 being top ten protected to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He notes while it may be a factor to watch, it won't play any significant role in their approach ahead of the trade deadline:
"They owe their first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder from the Derrick Favors salary dump; that is top-ten protected. They'd have to do some pretty serious tanking to get into that. I don't think that's going to guide anything, that's just something to note there."
Whether the Jazz make a play and trade for a big name like Dejounte Murray or Kyle Kuzma, send off valuable veterans like Jordan Clarkson or Kelly Olynyk, or even stand pat at the deadline, there's always a method to Ainge's madness. While there could always be some moves that inevitably raise some eyebrows at the moment, fans can rest assured knowing there is one common goal in mind.
The Jazz remain one of the most intriguing teams to keep a keen eye on across the next 72 hours. The NBA trade deadline lands on Thursday, February 8th, where there's strong possibility we could see some significant change taking place around the league.
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