Jazz HC Will Hardy's Coach of the Year Odds Revealed
Although a long shot, Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy is still in the conversation for NBA Coach of the Year. According to DraftKings, Hardy is currently listed at 100-1 odds to receive the award that will be given out in May.
Sacramento’s Mike Brown is the heavy favorite at -600 followed by Joe Mazzulla (+350) of the Boston Celtics, and Mike Malone (+450) of the Denver Nuggets.
The record may not show it, but Hardy has done his best work post-All-Star break. The Jazz have been able to stay relevant despite losing four rotational pieces via trade and dealing with injuries to starting backcourt Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson. Since the trade that gutted its roster, Utah is 4-5 and only a half-game removed from the play-in tournament.
Utah will be getting some much-deserved rest following Monday night's 119-115 loss to the Miami Heat. The Jazz won’t resume play until Saturday when they face the Celtics in Salt Lake City, followed by four of their next five games at home.
The break should give Clarkson enough time to be ready to roll, which is crucial if Utah wants to make a run at a playoff berth. The Jazz will also need major contributions from their bench moving forward.
Talen-Horton Tucker and Simone Fontecchio are the ones that have taken advantage of the recent roster reshuffle. In the month of March, Horton-Ticker is averaging 17.8 ppg, while Fontecchio has contributed 12.7. The pair is showing that they can be solid rotational pieces, and Hardy is a major reason for their recent development.
'THT' has a player option of $11 million next year, and how he performs over the next 13 games will go a long way toward shaping his future with the Jazz. Fontecchio is locked in for next year at $3 million, and being part of the rotation is giving the Jazz brain trust a nice sample size to determine his fate.
Either way, Jazz executive Danny Ainge has to be elated with what Hardy has done with the development of Utah’s young roster in year one.
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