Will Hardy Talks Jazz’s Offseason Approach: ‘Need to Get a Lot Better'

The sentiment around the Utah Jazz this past season was centered around the team exceeding initial expectations. Coming into 2022, the popular opinion was that Utah would find themselves at the bottom of the barrel in terms of the final standings.

Despite being written off by the public, the Jazz caught many by surprise, finishing the season 37-45, while competing for a play-in spot down to the wire.

Most would consider these conditions seemingly as a good step in the right direction for the franchise. However, head coach Will Hardy is anything but satisfied with the results:

“I think because the expectations were what they were going into last year, we overachieved, or whatever people want to say. It's like, 'Oh look at them! Like that's cool, they don’t suck as bad as we thought!’ but, we didn’t make the playoffs, and we didn’t make the play-in. So for us,

we need to get a lot better

."

- Jazz HC Will Hardy,

via

NBA on ESPN

While the general consensus around the state of the Jazz looks to be a long-term rebuild just getting underway, Hardy views it as anything but that. With such flexibility to improve the roster this summer, there may be some more urgency from Will and the rest of the front office to be more competitive next season.

Hardy himself recognizes this, as he continued to comment about some of the discussions he’s had with Jazz executives Danny Ainge and Justin Zanik about the state of the team:

“Danny and Justin are obviously super experienced. We’re having conversations all the time about three first round draft picks, and then the impending free agency with cap space, and how do we try to make out team better? There’s elements where you have to think long-term, like what type of roster moves are good for the team to be sustainable...

We want to be better this year. First and foremost, that’s our goal.

"

- Jazz HC Will Hardy,

via

NBA on ESPN

With the assets on hand for Utah, there’s no doubt we could see an aggressive approach from the front office in the upcoming months, or even weeks. Especially with the history of Danny Ainge’s bold moves as an executive, it’s not hard to imagine.

He’s the puppet master behind the acquisitions of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen for the Boston Celtics in the 2000’s, eventually leading them to a title. He then was the executive in control of eventually trading away KG and Paul Pierce for the picks to select Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Then, most recently, dealing Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert away just one year into his tenure as the CEO of the Jazz.

If Danny Ainge has proven anything in his 20 years an executive, it’s that he’s not afraid to take some shots. Considering the desire within the Jazz organization to get better next year, Utah could be in for an interesting offseason ahead.

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