Jazz HC Will Hardy Sends Foreboding Message to the Team
The 2023-24 season for the Utah Jazz is trending in the wrong direction, and head coach Will Hardy isn’t having it. Prior to the Portland Trail Blazers game on Wednesday night, Hardy didn’t mince words on what his expectations were moving forward.
"The only two things that I care about are play hard and pass,” Hardy said. “We're at a point now where if you're not willing to do both of those things, you cannot play for the Utah Jazz. We have had pockets where that's been our identity, and we've had pockets where we have wavered."
Hardy’s words fell on deaf ears as the Jazz fell to the last place Trail Blazers, 121-105. Utah committed 16 turnovers in the first half and was never within striking distance from start to finish. At the post-game press conference, Hardy doubled down on the statement he had made the previous day.
"If you’re gonna wear a Utah Jazz jersey, you have to give a s*** about the Utah Jazz,” Hardy said.
Interestingly enough, Hardy played his starters until the finish of Portland’s game, even though the contest was out of reach. That’s another message sent to his starting five: they didn’t deserve to get the night off.
It appears Hardy has issues with some of his players, and changes are coming soon, but what are they?
Regarding players who aren’t known for passing the ball, it could be a handful of candidates. In fact, Lauri Markkanen only has one assist in his last seven games, but he is Utah’s biggest offensive threat. It’s safe to say his spot in the rotation is safe.
Talen Horton-Tucker, Collin Sexton, and Jordan Clarkson are the first names to come to mind when reading Hardy’s comments. However, if we’re being honest, this is who these players have always been.
The trio are ball-dominant guards who thrive in creating their own offense but aren't facilitators and don’t space the floor well for others. In other words, Utah’s guards just don’t complement each other.
Jazz fans can expect some trades to happen sooner rather than later, with Horton-Tucker and Clarkson being the two most likely to be moved. In Clarkson’s case, he can't be traded until January 7. The former Sixth Man of the Year signed an extension in which Utah has to wait six months before becoming eligible for an exchange.
Also, taking a look at Clarkson’s contract, it was certainly structured in a way where Utah didn’t have plans of keeping their most tenured player long-term. The Jazz front-loaded his contract, making it more team-friendly on the back end. Clarkson makes $23.4 million in year one but then averages $12.4 million over the next three years.
Also, the emergence of Taylor Hendricks, Josh Christopher, and Brice Sensabaugh in the G-League is more reason to reshuffle the roster when an opportunity knocks. Moving Kelly Olynyk, Horton-Tucker, and Clarkson would open up the door for the trio to get much-needed live reps at the NBA level.
Time will tell which players ultimately get moved, but Jazz fans can expect something big to happen once Clarkson becomes eligible, if not sooner.
Stay tuned.
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