SLC Dunk - All PostsOur Team Is On The Floorhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/29190/slc-redunk-fv.jpg2024-03-18T21:43:22-06:00http://www.slcdunk.com/rss/current/2024-03-18T21:43:22-06:002024-03-18T21:43:22-06:00Utah Jazz vs Minnesota Timberwolves recap: Markkanen’s return spoiled by the Wolves
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<img alt="NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves at Utah Jazz" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9RWRuFfX0Ou5TZ-qR8ymZHApnaM=/0x0:5525x3683/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73216920/usa_today_22798218.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Timberwolves beat the Jazz back-to-back.</p> <p id="275BjY">The <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com"><strong>Utah Jazz</strong></a><strong> </strong>fall short vs the <a href="https://www.canishoopus.com"><strong>Minnesota Timberwolves</strong></a>. Collin Sexton led the Jazz in points (24) and minutes (37) despite coming off the bench for the 2nd time in a row. Lauri Markkanen contributed 22 points and Keyonte George scored 15 points. Anthony Edwards, who scored 32 points, led the way for the Wolves.</p>
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<img alt="NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves at Utah Jazz" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/80QXOuSigB8hh-T43kFmya8hbR0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25343588/usa_today_22808558.jpg">
<cite>Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="9RkY4K">The Jazz shot alright (0.464/0.438/0.857) but committed 17 turnovers, which is the main reason why the Jazz only scored 104 points. Markkanen and George had 6 turnovers, Sexton had 4 turnovers. The Jazz led by 12 after their hot first quarter but lost the remaining 3 quarters. The Jazz’s offense sputtered against the Gobertless Wolves on Saturday as well. Worth noting that Jordan Clarkson missed both games against the Wolves. While Clarkson has had a bad year, the Jazz desperately need a lead guard who can create well. Clarkson still fits that role better than anyone else on the team (a big reason why the Jazz are mediocre). Will the Jazz’s offensive woes continue to finish the season or will they bounce back to their scoring ways?</p>
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<img alt="NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves at Utah Jazz" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lm0DUK9tDYN8O9JkhpHpJF8c7rU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25343600/usa_today_22808521.jpg">
<cite>Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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https://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/2024/3/18/24105399/utah-jazz-vs-minnesota-timberwolves-recap-markkanens-return-spoiled-by-the-wolves-nbaClint Nielson2024-03-18T13:17:28-06:002024-03-18T13:17:28-06:00Minnesota Timberwolves at Utah Jazz part two, preview, start time, channel, injury report
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<img alt="NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves at Utah Jazz" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nYkmMCkfWePMNwcUamc9w_LT8Io=/0x0:2969x1979/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73216099/usa_today_22798028.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>How will the Jazz fare in a rematch against their last opponent? </p> <p id="pmnhA4">The Utah Jazz (29-38) match up again in Salt Lake City against the Timberwolves (46-21), who stayed in SLC after a 119-100 shellacking of the Jazz on Saturday. Last time, even with their two star big men out, the Timberwolves bested the Jazz behind two stat-studded performances from Anthony Edward (31p/10r/5a/3s/3b) and Naz Reid (22p/12r/5a/2s/2b). We got to see a matchup between NBA old hand and Jazz fan favorite Mike Conley (25p/2r/2a) and his ever more likely heir apparent, Keyonte George (18p/3r/2a), but the Jazz fell behind in the third quarter and never recovered. </p>
<p id="ZTFiqr">We’ll likely continue to see a lot of time for rookies Taylor Hendricks and Brice Sensabaugh, as well as increased minutes for previously end-of-rotation players like Johnny Juzang, Micah Potter, and Jason Preston, with veterans like Lauri Markkanen questionable (and likely not playing) and Jordan Clarkson ruled out. So while hopefully the Jazz keep the fight closer in this rematch through the entirety of the game, don’t necessarily expect too much of a different outcome in the win/loss column. </p>
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<h2 id="ijpAWw"><strong>Injury Report</strong></h2>
<p id="RVmMtS"><strong>Utah Jazz:</strong></p>
<p id="3hmrsQ">Lauri Markkanen - Questionable - Quadriceps</p>
<p id="NfcuaO">Jordan Clarkson - Out - Groin</p>
<p id="ZXiGU1"><strong>Minnesota Timberwolves:</strong></p>
<p id="Pu7rWu">Kyle Anderson - Day-to-day - Shoulder</p>
<p id="uqUkuk">Rudy Gobert - Day-to-day - Ribs</p>
<p id="dsFzf6">Monte Morris - Day-to-day - Hamstring</p>
<p id="dHMBvw">Karl-Anthony Towns - Out - Meniscus Tear</p>
<p id="B6qH00">Jaylen Clark - Out - Achilles</p>
<h2 id="qBHqi8"><strong>Game Info</strong></h2>
<p id="BEOir0">When: March 18 - </p>
<p id="bwflTJ">Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City</p>
<p id="H0Frej">Watch/Stream at: Bally Sports North, Jazz+, KJZZ</p>
<p id="xP4VBi">Listen at: <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.siriusxm.com%2Fsports%2Fnba%3Futm_campaign%3DSXM_NA_BAU%26utm_source%3D2023-11_NA_NBA-SiriusXMNFLRadio.NBA.NBAWebsiteWaystoListen.NA.Logo-NBA2023WaystoListen.Q42023.NA%26utm_medium%3DPartner%26utm_term%3D&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.slcdunk.com%2F2024%2F3%2F18%2F24104947%2Fminnesota-timberwolves-utah-jazz-keyonte-george-anthony-edwards-naz-reid-mike-conley-collin-sexton" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">SiriusXM</a>KSL 1160 AM & 102.7 FM / S: KBMG 106.3 FMKFAN FM / Wolves App / iHeart Radio</p>
https://www.slcdunk.com/2024/3/18/24104947/minnesota-timberwolves-utah-jazz-keyonte-george-anthony-edwards-naz-reid-mike-conley-collin-sextonacheng982024-03-17T19:36:25-06:002024-03-17T19:36:25-06:00The case for the Utah Jazz to trade Lauri Markkanen this offseason
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<img alt="Golden State Warriors v Utah Jazz" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ExoFNbNiVzZ48RyMVjxRThHOkDY=/8x0:4394x2924/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73214252/2024347032.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Is a trade the right move for the Utah Jazz and Lauri Markkanen?</p> <p id="9UGfHp">Lauri Markkanen has played beyond anyone’s expectations in the last two seasons for the <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com">Utah Jazz</a>. Last season was such a revelation he won Most Improved Player and earned a spot on the All-Star team. It was a remarkable season and the major reason the Jazz won more games than anyone predicted. Not expecting to be as successful as they were, the Jazz had to continue dismantling the team to get the most out of their own pick in the 2023 draft. Because the Jazz value their assets and refuse to undersell in a trade, it took time. At the trade deadline, Utah moved Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Mike Conley for a lightly protected 2027 first. It was enough of a move that allowed them to lose more games that season, eventually landing in the 9-spot. Even though it didn’t end with Utah winning the lottery, it ended up being a great draft for Utah. They got a promising young player in Taylor Hendricks with that #9 pick and got the steal of the draft at #16 with Keyonte George. Hendricks looks like a potential game-changer defensively and Keyonte George has shown incredible promise as the future point guard.</p>
<p id="H0LmDy">Fast-forward to this season and the Utah Jazz find themselves in the exact same position. In some sort of deja vu, the Jazz traded veterans at the trade deadline to give their young players a chance to develop while also improving their draft position. That has earned them, you guessed it, the 9th spot in the draft if it were held today. </p>
<p id="x0pG9n">With less than a quarter of the season left, the Jazz must decide how to proceed with Lauri Markkanen. Performing their own version of mid-lottery Groundhog Day is not the best plan for building a championship contender. The Jazz have said that the goal is a championship and that each move is with that in mind. They’re not going to make a move for quick win-now gratification just because losing sucks. And they will look at each player and ask themselves if each player is a potential fit with a championship core.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"What we're trying to do is the development of our team to become a championship caliber team" <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@utahjazz</a> GM Justin Zanik chatted with <a href="https://twitter.com/975Hans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@975Hans</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottyGZone?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ScottyGZone</a> about how draft assets impact the long term goals of the organization. <br><br>Listen to the full interview here… <a href="https://t.co/d9IQn3IvkM">pic.twitter.com/d9IQn3IvkM</a></p>— KSL Sports (@kslsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/kslsports/status/1766216640331653171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a>
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<p id="N9pK8F">This puts the Jazz in a tough situation. Yes, Lauri Markkanen is a good enough player to be on a championship team. But Lauri Markkanen puts the Jazz in no man's land. He’s good enough to lift Utah out of the lowest part of the lottery but not good enough to take the Jazz to the greatest heights of the league. So, what should they do?</p>
<p id="ySCbK4">Since the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-trade-rumors">NBA trade deadline</a>, the Utah Jazz have been losing games exponentially. The priority is now to give Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, and Brice Sensabaugh time on the floor to see what they can do. They want to see if they are championship caliber players. Even though each rookie has shown real promise, it’s difficult for young teams to win while their youth develop. Yes, Keyonte George looks like a potential star, but he needs more time and talent around him to lead a team deep in the playoffs. Taylor Hendricks has also shown real promise defensively, along with showing flashes on offense, but he’s also not there yet. </p>
<p id="Q9tCco">The Jazz have been left with a group of veterans who, combined with their youth, have gone 3-12 since the trade deadline. Only the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com">Washington Wizards</a> have had a worse record <a href="https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-worst-records-since-feb-08-2024">in that same time span</a>. </p>
<p id="XhpNws">If there’s one thing that’s been proven during this timeframe, it’s that the Jazz are much closer to the Wizards and the Pistons than they are to the Nuggets and the <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com">Celtics</a>. Unlike the 2024 draft, which has no prospects with obvious superstar upside, 2025 has some serious stars at the top, like Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, and a slew of others. And <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/2023/12/12/23999459/danny-ainge-utah-jazz-cooper-flagg-utah-jazz-nba-draft-bill-simmons-doc-rivers-podcast">Danny Ainge and the Utah Jazz know it</a>. Knowing that the Jazz have ended at the same spot the last two seasons around pick 9, do they really want to miss out on the top five in a draft again? </p>
<p id="pv1LF8">That brings us back to the Lauri Markkanen question.</p>
<p id="G0Zz0t">This offseason, the Jazz can re-negotiate Markkanen’s contract and <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10106075-nba-rumors-lauri-markkanen-jazz-to-talk-long-term-contract-extension-in-free-agency">work to keep him long-term</a>. The question is, should they? </p>
<p id="YOyn1y">The obvious reaction from Jazz fans to that question is, “Of course they should, you clickbait-eating worm!”</p>
<p id="Ujwqy4">My retort would be, “Hey, I’m no worm!”</p>
<p id="GEvWBH">But this isn’t as easy an answer as you might think.</p>
<p id="qwTR3C">Here are some reasons why the Jazz might consider moving him this offseason.</p>
<h2 id="boXCLm"><strong>The Utah Jazz still need that MVP-caliber guy</strong></h2>
<p id="UdaoRm">We know that Lauri Markkanen is an elite off-ball shooter/scorer, but anyone saying he can be the lead guy on a championship team is not being honest. Can he be a #2 on a championship team? Possibly, but even that is up for some debate. Now, if he’s your #3 scoring option you’ve got something special. </p>
<p id="Os6srF">If you think Markkanen can develop into that, I’m not saying you’re wrong, but he hasn’t shown any real signs that that is a possibility.</p>
<p id="GFY6oc">In his time in Utah, Markkanen has been a completely dependant player on the offense and the players within it to get him the ball.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Highest % of FGM are UNASSISTED (min 15 PPG):<br>1. Doncic—80.1%<br>2. SGA—74.8%<br>3. Trae—71.8%<br>4. Fox—70.3%<br>5. Brunson—67.9%<br><br>Highest % of FGM are ASSISTED (min 15 PPG):<br>1. K. Murray—84.1%<br>1. Markkanen—84.1%<br>3. K. Thompson—83.6%<br>4. M. Turner—83.2%<br>5. MPJ—83.1%<br><br>Takeaways? <a href="https://t.co/x3joEhYv7p">pic.twitter.com/x3joEhYv7p</a></p>— NBA University (@NBA_University) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA_University/status/1762844229213081802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="nrH2Mg">Here are some stats from <a href="http://NBA.com">NBA.com</a> to show what I mean:</p>
<ul>
<li id="yJy7iy">Markkanen averages about 1 post-up per game, scoring 1.02 points per post-up possession. How good is that? 57th percentile. It’s just a little above average.</li>
<li id="T6PyoR">Markkanen averages about .8 isolation plays per game, scoring 1.00 points per possession. How good is that? It’s the 67th percentile, which is very good! You could argue he needs more of these but it’s not an elite number. Markkanen is also not a high level ball handler and even with one of the lowest percent of turnovers while he’s on the floor (12%) he still has an almost even assist to turnover ratio of 2.0/1.3. That likely doesn’t get better if you start running actions through him on a regular basis. But you have to spoon-feed him the ball in these situations, as proven by some of these other statistics.</li>
<li id="1ww6DD">Markkanen is nonexistent as a pick-and-roll ball handler, scoring just .33 points per possession on .2 attempts per game. That puts him in the 1st percentile in this category. It’s not a part of his game at all.</li>
<li id="AuhHFn">Markkanen is surprisingly inefficient as a pull-up three-point shooter. For this season, he’s shooting 20.7% on pull-up three-point shots. Here’s a list of players on the Jazz who are better than Markkanen as pull-up three-point shooters. I’ll stop when I get to Markkanen:</li>
</ul>
<p id="6VauaE">Collin Sexton: 36.1%</p>
<p id="76zvQC">Keyonte George: 35.6%</p>
<p id="9WJgSc">Talen Horton-Tucker: 30%</p>
<p id="uQGzlN">Kris Dunn: 28.6%</p>
<p id="bNOgSg">Jordan Clarkson: 25.4%</p>
<p id="ir8SeT">Brice Sensabaugh: 25%</p>
<p id="ajV1zM">Lauri Markkanen: 20.7%</p>
<p id="93wcRx">Yes, some of those are bailout shots at the end of the quarter and so on, but to be that low is surprising for a player considered one of the elite shooters in the league. It’s just a reminder that, yes, Markkanen is an elite catch-and-shoot player, but he is not a player that runs a pick-and-roll, nor is he a player that likes to pull up from three in a half court situation. These are the things that superstars have to be able to do when you’re looking to win a title. And those are the shots you HAVE to be able to make in playoff situations, especially if you’re the #2 guy on the team.</p>
<p id="czOnFL">So, how do you get that player on the Jazz to pair with Markkanen and Keyonte George?</p>
<p id="6BPtm9">Some are saying you simply trade for that player. The issue with that idea is that historically it’s incredibly rare for that to happen. </p>
<p id="AZ6qdO">Here is a list of NBA champions since the year 2000 and their best player, I’ll also mention how they got that player whether it was draft, free agency, or trade. Some of these were debatable so I listed two for those.</p>
<p id="U3e3ox">2023 - Denver Nuggets - Nikola Jokic - Draft</p>
<p id="kIyKw5">2022 - <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com">Golden State Warriors</a> - Steph Curry - Draft</p>
<p id="HT4wKG">2021 - <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com">Milwaukee Bucks</a> - Giannis Antetokounmpo - Draft</p>
<p id="9zivk3">2020 - <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com">Los Angeles Lakers</a> - LeBron James - Free Agency</p>
<p id="64VSAj">2019 - <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com">Toronto Raptors</a> - Kawhi Leonard - <strong>Trade</strong></p>
<p id="CyWdQN">2018 - Golden State Warriors - Kevin Durant/Steph Curry - Free Agency/Draft</p>
<p id="KKHD6P">2017 - Golden State Warriors - Kevin Durant/Steph Curry - Free Agency/Draft</p>
<p id="cJaWqG">2016 - <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> - LeBron James - Free Agency/Draft (Technically, it was free agency with LeBron returning, but he likely wouldn’t have gone there if he hadn’t been born/drafted there.)</p>
<p id="8vdZRQ">2015 - Golden State Warriors - Steph Curry - Draft</p>
<p id="vEH1ZX">2014 - <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com">San Antonio Spurs</a> - Kawhi Leonard - Draft</p>
<p id="5cP8NR">2013 - Miami Heat - LeBron James - Free Agency</p>
<p id="szweUb">2012 - Miami Heat - LeBron James - Free Agency</p>
<p id="XzgD7d">2011 - <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com">Dallas Mavericks</a> - Dirk Nowitzki - Draft</p>
<p id="GBzRE0">2010 - Los Angeles Lakers - Kobe Bryant - Draft</p>
<p id="9sEIAv">2009 - Los Angeles Lakers - Kobe Bryant - Draft</p>
<p id="Bs3iri">2008 - Boston Celtics - Paul Pierce - Draft (You can debate if it was Kevin Garnett, but Paul Pierce won Finals MVP, so I’m giving the nod to Pierce. It’s also interesting that this was a Danny Ainge team. But if someone wants to say Kevin Garnett, I won’t be mad at that and that does count as a <strong>trade</strong>.)</p>
<p id="Q9GVHq">2007 - San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan - Draft</p>
<p id="c9yEbh">2006 - Miami Heat - Dwyane Wade - Draft</p>
<p id="74sksb">2005 - San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan - Draft</p>
<p id="I0ZRRQ">2004 - <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com">Detroit Pistons</a> - Chauncey Billups - <strong>Trade</strong></p>
<p id="yFIvjO">2003 - San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan - Draft</p>
<p id="4YOMXa">2002 - Los Angeles Lakers - Shaq - Free Agency</p>
<p id="NPpU9Q">2001 - Los Angeles Lakers - Shaq - Free Agency</p>
<p id="1uH2oz">2000 - Los Angeles Lakers - Shaq - Free Agency</p>
<p id="5jlKvp">According to this list, 24 teams have won the title this century. Of those 24 teams, the title winners traded for their best player 2 times, used free agency 9 times, and drafted him 16 times (with the Warriors using a combination of draft and free agency). That means that 8% of NBA title winners have traded for their best player. The Kawhi Leonard trade included a bad situation in San Antonio with Kawhi Leonard forcing a trade. If you consider Kevin Garnett the best player on those Celtics teams, that also involved a player that languished on a Minnesota team unable to add enough talent next to him. Eventually, the Wolves made a trade to do right by their franchise guy that allowed him to join a big three in Boston. Finally, the 2004 Pistons traded for Billups, but I’m not sure it’s clear cut that he was their runaway best player, considering that team had prime Rasheed Wallace and DPOY Ben Wallace.</p>
<p id="qlcRNi">The reality is teams aren’t going to just trade you their MVPs, they either stay with their team, sign supermax extensions, or take deals in LA or Miami. And even the Kawhi Leonard trade that got Toronto their title depended on injuries to Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. Leonard sat an entire season for his injury against the Warriors and then extended his time not playing to force a move. Toronto got him on a discount because of everything that happened, and still had the assets to win a title. If you expect something like that to happen again, I’m afraid you’re more likely to be disappointed than not. After that one season what happened? He went to LA. Shocker! And even if you sell the farm for someone like Luka Doncic, what do the Jazz have left to win a title? They traded Kelly Olynyk, Simone Fontecchio, and Ochai Agbaji and have one of the worst records in the league. Do we think things will improve if they trade their recent rookies like Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, Brice Sensabaugh, or some combination of the three? A theoretical combination of a player like Doncic with Markkanen would be elite offensively but Utah would be in the running for the worst defense in the league year after year. And, again, that is based on the Mavericks deciding to trade their MVP-caliber player.</p>
<p id="f3Mfxj">So, a trade for another team’s MVP in their prime is extremely unlikely. The next scenario is that an MVP player chooses to come to Utah via free agency. Here’s where I give you two seconds to consider that. </p>
<p id="ge444z">(1 second)</p>
<p id="cB90OZ">(2 seconds)</p>
<p id="nAsrou">Yeah, that’s less likely than trading for one.</p>
<p id="0htA15">That leaves the draft, the place where Utah has seen the vast majority of its success. It’s where they’ve drafted an MVP before and the avenue they are most likely to get that MVP player again, which brings us to our next point.</p>
<h2 id="MC1IZN"><strong>Trading Markkanen gives you a great shot at a superstar in a draft loaded with potential superstars.</strong></h2>
<p id="jkkomp">As I mentioned before, since the Jazz traded some rotation vets while sitting Markkanen, Utah has lost at one of the highest rates in the league. People have justifiably complained that they should have done this last year with Wembanyama in the draft. In looking at what the Jazz have done this year, I disagree. Utah has made smart trades, with each of their vets getting acceptable to incredible returns in each move. You don’t get those returns if you rush those moves, and now Utah is loaded with picks that could land high in the draft. Unlike last season, when the Jazz had a roster loaded with rotation players, they only have a handful of vets left they could move for assets. Those vets include Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, and Lauri Markkanen. </p>
<p id="8KMw0R">During the leadup to the NBA trade deadline, we heard that Lauri Markkanen wasn’t untouchable. We also heard different buzz around each of those players. Was Utah already doing the work to make this happen? Perhaps Utah has seen what the ceiling is with a team of Lauri Markkanen and friends and isn’t interested in another finish in the 8-12 range come the 2025 draft. Yes, you could walk the tightrope of trading Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, and John Collins and keep Markkanen. But then you run the risk of winning just enough games again that you miss out on that potential star. Or worse, do you lose trade leverage with Markkanen growing frustrated and demanding a trade? It’s also important to note that with Will Hardy coaching, you will maximize the talent of each player on your roster and win some games you didn’t expect. Let’s also not forget how many players rest on their trip to Utah too.</p>
<p id="uiuMry">Trading Markkanen while his value is so high gives you a chance to gain even more draft capital and even more chances at elite stars in future drafts. Cooper Flagg is the prize in 2025, but if you haven’t heard the name AJ Dybantsa, who is coming in the 2026 draft, you will soon.</p>
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<h2 id="wxjxp1"><strong>Yes, timelines do matter</strong></h2>
<p id="4sUvne">Many NBA people say you don’t need to worry about timelines; you need to add talent when it’s available. That’s great for teams with an MVP-caliber player, but for teams that don’t have that player yet, you have to worry about it. Small-market teams that don’t have free agency as an option can’t afford to use all their cap money to overpay secondary players. Not worrying about timelines and bringing on multiple secondary players is a great way to inefficiently use up your cap space. Let’s say the Jazz made a trade for someone like DeJounte Murray who was <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/2024/2/3/24060875/nba-trade-rumors-utah-jazz-dejounte-murray-atlanta-hawks-deadline">rumored to be connected to the Jazz in a trade</a>. Murray is a fine player, but after a few seasons, you’d have to overpay him to keep him in Utah. That limits what you can pay your rookies from this season and forces you to make trades that get you pennies on the dollar. Just look at Atlanta and John Collins if you don’t believe me.</p>
<p id="MeiItf">Utah has cap space this summer that they’ll need to use. You could rework and extend Markkanen’s contract and find another rotation player in free agency. But would that just keep you in the late lottery? There are more forward-thinking ways to use that money.</p>
<p id="XPTtEc">Maybe you bring on a player with a bad contract that gets you some draft capital back. It’s what Utah did with Russell Westbrook, and now they have a great pick in 2027. Perhaps you trade Markkanen to a team looking for that third star, and you take back more young draft prospects/draft picks that you develop for the future? You can also do what Ainge has done multiple times already and take on distressed assets from teams looking to fix their mistakes. It’s how they got Markkanen in the first place. This allows you to prepare for the money you’ll eventually need to pay your rookies, and you can plan out your spending as you bring on more young assets.</p>
<p id="mVxLFu">The Jazz are walking a tightrope, and the last two seasons have led them to the mid to late lottery. Trading Markkanen and veterans like Collin Sexton are moves that help them have great shots at a superstar in the draft. Those shots in the draft are Utah’s best shot at a future MVP and years of contention for years to come. And isn’t that exactly what the Jazz have said they wanted?</p>
https://www.slcdunk.com/2024/3/17/24083081/lauri-markkanen-utah-jazz-nba-offseason-free-agency-trade-deadlineJames Hansen2024-03-16T22:27:39-06:002024-03-16T22:27:39-06:00Utah Jazz vs Minnesota Timberwolves recap and final score: Anthony Edwards takes out young Jazz
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<p>The Utah Jazz did not have enough to overcome Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves</p> <p id="gL7oWM">The young and developing <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com">Utah Jazz</a> didn’t have enough to stop Anthony Edwards and the <a href="https://www.canishoopus.com">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> and lost 119-100.</p>
<p id="MKWXfW">Anthony Edwards was asked to carry a big load with Rudy Gobert and Karl Anthony-Towns both out and carry them he did. For the game Edwards scored 31 points with 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Every time the Jazz would make a run, Edwards had an answer and would crush any hope of a comeback. </p>
<p id="sjEF1u">The other player that had a big night for the Wolves was former Jazzman, Mike Conley. Conley received a nice ovation from the crowd and then tore the fans hearts out. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mike Conley gets a thunderous standing ovation on his return to Utah</p>— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tjonesonthenba/status/1769176200457674900?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2024</a>
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<p id="bkW7UR">Conley was an incredibly efficient 8/12 from the field and shot 5/8 from three. He ended with 25 points in front of his former team, showing why he was such a nice piece on his former team. </p>
<p id="SqojUD">It was a much more impressive performance for Utah than the score might tell you. The Jazz ran out of gas about halfway through the 4th quarter but were definitely in this game up until then. They were tied at halftime and up by 8 at one point. </p>
<p id="X9XdXd">Keyonte George showed more flashes in the first half but looked gassed by the end of the game. It’s a clear reason why his numbers were rough in this one. But even on a rough night, George put up 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. It’s a good reminder that running the point in the NBA is an exhausting task and especially brutal for a rookie. Going up against the #1 defense in the NBA, even if they don’t have Rudy Gobert, on the back end of a back-to-back is a huge ask. But this will be a great experience for the rookie as he continues his inaugural season. </p>
<p id="KSBmaN">The Jazz also had interesting nights from Taylor Hendricks and Brice Sensabaugh. Sensabaugh had another tough night shooting the three but is showing some nice flashes with his mid-range game. The thing Sensabaugh needs to work on is his ball handling. Multiple times this game the Wolves were able to knock the ball away, or he’d just lose the ball in traffic. He’ll need to hone that handle as time passes, which will be a huge boon to his game. Hendricks had another double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Hendricks is really showing a knack for rebounding the ball, even in traffic, and it’s a great sign for his future. I don’t know if anyone expected him to be an elite rebounder in the draft, but it’s looking like he’s just that. Combine that with his flashes on the defensive end and you have the makings of a nice player for Utah. </p>
<p id="NG7G2t">A few other notes of interest. </p>
<p id="eRa53O">Walker Kessler started and had a promising night! For the most part, Kessler impacted the game in subtle, nice ways. Sure, he had a few miscues, but every player does. But tonight, he had 2 offensive rebounds and impacted the game defensively multiple times. He had plays where he screened off players inside, giving open lanes to Collin Sexton. Right now, the most important thing for Kessler is to build confidence. Hopefully, tonight was a step in the right direction for him. </p>
<p id="GtDC94">Collin Sexton came off the bench in this one. It was a wrinkle that might get forgotten but it did make you wonder if that’s what the Jazz want for him long term? For the game Sexton still had starter minutes with 30:36 and scored 22 points with 10 assists on good efficiency. That type of play is a huge deal for Sexton and the Jazz and shows why he can be a nice player for them going forward in that role.</p>
<p id="30qnI4">One final thing, we got to see Jason Preston again! Preston is doing a great job of showing why he gets so many assists in the G-League. Tonight he had 5 assists in just 12 minutes and so many of them are him making the quick, smart play. The ball never sticks with him and you can see how he can become a nice piece for the Jazz going forward. For the night he had 2 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds in just 12:46 on the floor.</p>
https://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/2024/3/16/24103603/utah-jazz-vs-minnesota-timberwolves-recap-and-final-score-anthony-edwards-takes-out-young-jazzJames Hansen2024-03-16T19:27:43-06:002024-03-16T19:27:43-06:00Isaiah Thomas signs 10-day contract with Phoenix Suns
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<figcaption>Photo by Richard Prepetit/NBAE via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Isaiah Thomas is signing with Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns</p> <p id="tEU9kY">According to Shams Charania, the <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com">Phoenix Suns</a> have signed Isaiah Thomas of <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com">Utah Jazz</a> G-League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">IT is back: 11-year vet and two-time All-Star Isaiah Thomas is planning to sign a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns, sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheAthletic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheAthletic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Stadium?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Stadium</a>. Thomas averaged 33 points on 45 percent 3-point shooting for Salt Lake City in the NBA G League, scoring 30 in four games. <a href="https://t.co/4XrKEINKut">pic.twitter.com/4XrKEINKut</a></p>— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1769147257755254810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2024</a>
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<p id="2wCEah">Like Charania says, Thomas has been putting up big numbers with the Stars and could potentially provide some depth for the Suns as the season progresses.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thomas totaled performances of 32, 30, 34 and 34 points in his four G League games for Salt Lake City, making 25 of 56 three-pointers, and now is set to provide shooting, playoff experience and veteran leadership to the Suns. <a href="https://t.co/VHJWolsx5V">https://t.co/VHJWolsx5V</a></p>— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1769148504310685984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2024</a>
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<p id="rrmzuz">It feels like this story has gone a little under the radar, with Thomas getting minutes within the Danny Ainge-led Utah Jazz organization. Giving him a roster spot on the Stars has definitely helped Thomas gain some spotlight and earned him a look from a veteran team. It may end up just being a 10-day contract, but it could potentially earn him a spot with the Suns next season. Perhaps this was a make-good for Ainge, who famously traded Thomas for Kyrie Irving. It was the right move for Ainge at the time, but it also earned a lot of ire from Thomas fans.</p>
<p id="Vn6vAM">If Thomas makes an impact and gets any additional contracts, Danny Ainge will definitely have been a part of it.</p>
https://www.slcdunk.com/2024/3/16/24103524/isaiah-thomas-signs-10-day-contract-with-phoenix-suns-utah-jazzJames Hansen2024-03-16T11:27:42-06:002024-03-16T11:27:42-06:00Utah Jazz vs Minnesota Timberwolves: Preview, start time, channel
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<p>The Utah Jazz are looking to get back on track ... in getting a better pick</p> <p id="bzY3HV">The <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com">Utah Jazz</a> play host to the <a href="https://www.canishoopus.com">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> on Saturday night, just a day after snapping their most recent three game losing streak with a win vs. the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com">Atlanta Hawks</a>. The T-Wolves coming into this game sitting third in the Western Conference and they will not be easy to beat as they are also fighting for the number one seed in the conference just before the playoffs start. This will be the first matchup out of a two-game mini-series between these two teams.</p>
<p id="HDzYbr">The Wolves are coming off an impressive win at the LA Clippers on Tuesday and have had a few days to rest before the game against the Jazz. Everything seems to favor Minnesota for this game and honestly there are not many flaws that the Jazz will be able to exploit. Minnesota has a great defense and the Jazz sometimes struggle to score. At the same time, the Wolves can score with the best of them, and the Jazz also struggle to play defense. The key to winning this game for Minnesota will be just playing the defense that they are capable of for the full game and not getting complacent.</p>
<p id="84CFvu">Utah comes into this game as an obvious underdog but is still hoping to compete with its young core. Since being inserted into the starting lineup, Jazz rookie Keyonte George has averaged nearly 18 points and has shown a lot of upside. Utah will continue to lean on him and recently returned rookie Taylor Hendricks to lead this team and develop at the same time. This is a great litmus test for these young players to matchup against the kind of team that they are trying to become. The key for the Jazz in this game will be to play as a team and try to score against Rudy Gobert and the T-Wolves stout defense.</p>
<p id="FIdSRv">Both teams are dealing with some injuries to star players and Minnesota may be without former Jazz star Rudy Gobert, who is listed as a game time decision. Meanwhile, Utah may be without the services of Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson who are also game time decisions. Either way, it’s always good to have two Jazz games during the weekend, GO JAZZ!</p>
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<h2 id="166gP3"><strong>Game Info</strong></h2>
<p id="BEOir0">When: March 16th - 7:30 PM MST</p>
<p id="bwflTJ">Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT</p>
<p id="H0Frej">Watch/Stream at: KJZZ, Jazz+</p>
<p id="xP4VBi">Listen at: Sirius XM, KSL 97.5 FM / S: KBMG 106.3 FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio</p>
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https://www.slcdunk.com/2024/3/16/24103189/utah-jazz-vs-minnesota-timberwolves-preview-start-time-channelDLC_Jazz2024-03-15T22:12:25-06:002024-03-15T22:12:25-06:00Utah Jazz vs Atlanta Hawks recap and final score: Jazz down Hawks at home
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<figcaption>Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The youth movement paid off as the Utah Jazz snapped a 3-game skid.</p> <p id="HkHnAh">The Jazz have fully decoupled from the Tyrone Corbin era: Tonight marked the youngest starting lineup in Jazz history, with John Collins, Taylor Hendricks, Brice Sensabaugh, Colin Sexton and Keyonte George. Collins, the elder statesman of the group, led the first quarter effort with 11 points on 4-6 shooting. Atlanta countered with a trio of triples from an even <em>older</em> statesman and former Jazzman, Wesley Matthews. At the end of the first quarter, the Jazz led 34-28 after a Garrison Matthews three was waved off. </p>
<p id="LlCtz3">Johnny Juzang, Taylon Horton-Tucker, and Walker Kessler stretched the lead to as many as nine in the 2nd quarter, but turnovers and questionable shots helped Garrison Matthews, Dejounte Murray, and Clint Capela erase that deficit in about three minutes. The two teams went back and forth throughout the rest of the half, which ended with Atlanta holding a 62-61 lead. </p>
<p id="ArGlyg">The Jazz came out swinging in the third, going up by 4 with this gorgeous bit of work by Keyonte George:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This Keyonte George euro step <br><br>Hawks-Jazz | Live on NBA TV <br> <a href="https://t.co/EZmi3eAIMA">https://t.co/EZmi3eAIMA</a> <a href="https://t.co/ATqAy1QFO8">pic.twitter.com/ATqAy1QFO8</a></p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1768834106329096527?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2024</a>
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<p id="fgSv4l">Despite a 14-point quarter from Brice Sensabaugh, the game remained tight thanks to Wesley Matthews and Jalen Johnson. Micah Potter opened the lead up to 8 when he hit from deep with 2:27 left, but the Hawks stormed back and cut it to a bucket by the end of the period thanks to Dejounte Murray and De’Andre Hunter. </p>
<p id="ojCL4C">Micah Potter, Johnny Juzang, Jason Preston, THT, and Walker Kessler led off the 4th, opening up a 108-99 lead. Potter was particularly impressive, notching 6 points, but Atlanta answered with a 7-0 run of their own, as was the theme throughout the night.</p>
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<p id="e565U5">Will Hardy took a timeout after the Hawks cut it to 106-108, and the Jazz went on a Sexton/Juzang 8-0 run in a matter of seconds, at which point it was Quin Snyder’s turn to call timeout. </p>
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<p id="ougW6F">The Hawks got four back, interspersed with several Sexton bricks/turnovers, before Johnny Juzang finally broke the scoreless streak with a nifty cut inside, and on the next possession Keyonte expanded the lead to 8 with a pretty floater. Dejounte Murray cut the lead to 5, John Collins turned the ball over, and Murray hit yet another three to cut it to two. After a pair of offensive rebounds by the Hawks, Keyonte came away with the ball, took it down the court, drove inside, and lost the ball out of bounds off of Atlanta with 7 seconds on the shot clock and 16 on the game clock. The Jazz fell apart on the inbound, took a shot clock violation, and the Hawks had the chance to win or send the game to OT with 8 seconds left. The rest of the game looked like this:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">End of game defense from Utah. Hawks get it to Dejounte in the backcourt. As soon as he crosses half court Collins doubles. Sexton playing the pass to Johnson, Krejci is open, Jazz stunt and it's a miss. <a href="https://t.co/dDpjQ99Cwi">pic.twitter.com/dDpjQ99Cwi</a></p>— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevejones20/status/1768848828541636640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2024</a>
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<p id="ZmeY4l">Win or lose, this was a game you should be happy with if you’re a Jazz fan. The young guys got a lot of burn and looked good for the most part. The feel-good story of the night was Johnny Juzang and Micah Potter emerging from the G-League: they combined for 30 points on 11-15 shots from the field, including 7-10 from deep, giving the Jazz a 124-122 victory.</p>
<p id="Ezoqen">The Jazz will be in action again tomorrow against Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert, and the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are currently No. 3 in the West. </p>
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https://www.slcdunk.com/2024/3/15/24102565/utah-jazz-atlanta-hawks-johnny-juzang-quin-snyder-keyonte-george-taylor-hendricks-dejounte-murrayDaniel West2024-03-15T13:42:57-06:002024-03-15T13:42:57-06:00Atlanta Hawks at Utah Jazz: preview, start time
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<figcaption>John Collins catches up with his former teammate | Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The battle for draft positioning and the return of coach Snyder to Utah</p> <p id="qBHqi8">From the outside looking in, a game between the 29-36 <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com">Atlanta Hawks</a> and the 28-37 <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com">Utah Jazz</a> may seem unimportant. For the majority of NBA fans, it probably is. In all likelihood, both teams will probably miss the playoffs. The Hawks have only won five of their last ten and are clinging to the final play-in spot in the East. The Jazz have been even worse, only winning two of their last ten games. But this is one of the bigger games the Jazz will have for the rest of the season.</p>
<p id="bm8KM4">With the playoffs in the rearview mirror for the Jazz, fans' focus is likely on the draft. Currently, the Jazz are one game behind the Hawks. In terms of draft ordering, this is good news. I’m not telling you to root for the Hawks, but I won’t be upset with you if you are. In the long run, a Jazz loss to the Hawks gives them better odds at more valuable assets. The Jazz lost to the Hawks in February, so if they lose tonight, the Hawks will also have the tiebreaker over them. It increases the odds of a better pick.</p>
<p id="nwDODC">In fact, it is unlikely there will be many more games this season that are as impactful as tonight’s game. </p>
<p id="SVDzdB">The other big story for tonight's game is Coach Quin Snyder’s return to Utah after eight years as Utah’s head coach. It will be interesting to see how he is received tonight.</p>
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<p id="166gP3"><strong>Game Info</strong></p>
<p id="BEOir0">When: March 15th - 7:30 PM MST</p>
<p id="bwflTJ">Where: Delta Center</p>
<p id="H0Frej">Watch/Stream at: KJZZ, Jazz+</p>
<p id="xP4VBi">Listen at: WQAM 560 / S: WAQI 710. KSL 97.5 FM / S: KBMG 106.3 FM</p>
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https://www.slcdunk.com/2024/3/15/24102046/atlanta-hawks-at-utah-jazz-preview-start-timeJeffthomas1230