Utah Jazz Trade Deadline Winners & Losers
As expected, the Utah Jazz made some moves at the trade deadline. When it was all said and done, Utah traded three rotational pieces in Kelly Olynyk, Ochai Agbaji, and Simone Fontecchio and, in return, acquired a 2024 late first-round pick, a second-round pick, Kevin Knox (released), Otto Porter Jr., Kira Lewis, and the rights to Gabriele Procida.
Just like last season, Utah prioritized the future over the present and crippled its chances of making the postseason. It may be debatable whether this is the correct path moving forward, but we know as a result of the trades, some parties gained opportunities while others did not.
Let’s examine the winners and losers of the 2024 trade deadline.
Will Hardy - Loser
To no fault of his own, Hardy will most likely miss the postseason for his second straight year as Utah’s head coach. Prior to the roster reshuffle, the Jazz was pacing to make the play-in tournament.
Hardy was finally getting some recognition on the national stage, but that is already becoming an afterthought. Just three weeks ago, FanDuel had Hardy pegged as a 36-1 to win Coach of the Year, and those odds have since increased to 48-1.
It was a long shot either way, but it’s unfortunate that the front office has done Hardy no favors in giving his team a boost to make the postseason. Hardy has a 63 -72 record as Utah’s head coach, which is incredible considering the self-inflicted wounds he’s had to deal with.
Talen Horton-Tucker - Winner
The new Jazz look means Horton-Tucker will have an opportunity to resurrect his career. ‘THT was buried at the back of the depth chart, but he’s back in the rotation thanks to the departure of Fontecchio and Agbaji.
In Utah’s first game since the trade deadline, Horton-Tucker logged 14 minutes, scored seven points, and grabbed four rebounds. It’s a stat line that’s nothing to write home about, but there’ll be opportunities to improve on that down the road.
Horton-Tucker's days are numbered in Salt Lake City, but hopefully, he can parlay this new lease on life into a contract in free agency. Horton-Tucker will need all the help he can get. His stock has to be at an all-time low considering that he wasn't moved at the deadline.
Utah’s Front Office - Loser
I wasn’t a big fan of the moves Utah made at the deadline. Sacrificing the season for two late draft picks feels petty from this point of view. Jazz players and fans getting the rug pulled out from them for two straight years isn’t doing anybody any favors.
It’s one thing to take the foot off the gas for a top-five pick, but this isn't the case for the Jazz. Utah will get their first-round pick back from the Oklahoma City Thunder if they finish in the bottom 10. However, they’ll most likely lose it at some point, and there’s no better time to do it in a year that’s considered a weak draft class.
Taylor Hendricks - Winner
Hendricks has played his last game in the G-League in the foreseeable future. The Olynyk trade cleared the path for him to be part of Hardy’s rotation for the rest of the season.
Hendricks only scored three points in 18 minutes of action in his first game since Olynyk’s departure. On the bright side, he showed some nice defensive flashes, including a swat at the rim on a Kevin Durant drive to the basket.
The biggest positive of the deadline deals is that Hendricks will have an opportunity to expedite his growth and hopefully be ready to be a difference-maker heading into the 2024-25 season.
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