2023 post trade deadline...the tank finally appears to on

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/498894/can-uta...h-draft-picks/

Markkanen can be an upper-level No. 2 player on this team but the Jazz need to find a superstar and that might come by landing a top pick.

he's looking more and more like he could be the guy. Need to find guys that fit around him. Sexton has put up star type numbers in the league already himself as well. Kessler, Ochai...

The draft does seem to be the way that the Jazz are going to build but they are expected to have around $60 million in cap space. However, building a title through free agency is tough.

the 60 million and picks puts Ainge in position to be in the middle of anything that happens. If Beal or whoever becomes available they could make a move

Building through the draft, plus using these picks as leverage in trades, is going to be the best chance that the Jazz have to win its first NBA title in franchise history.

won't matter if Hardy chooses to play guys like Clarkson

they'd be in the thick of things right now if they had Gobert. They lack D and rebounding and no matter what anyone says Kessler isn't Gobert. He could be but he isn't

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Ryan Miller: Collin Sexton will miss another week with a hamstring strain.
– via Twitter millerjryan




Andy Larsen: Jordan Clarkson out tomorrow due to a right thumb sprain. Collin Sexton remains out, too.
– via Twitter andyblarsen

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Former Warriors player Ekpe Udoh signed with Japanese team Kyoto Hannaryz for the remainder of the 2022-23 season.
– via Alberto De Roa @ *********

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https://saltcityhoops.com/sc7-lauri-...ompwatch-dunn/

Raw number increases speak more loudly. But the usage jump — from 19.5% last year, to 23.6% over the first part of this season, to now 28.1% over his last 26 games — is significant. The Jazz are adjusting to life without Mike Conley’s pick-and-roll wizardry, and Jordan Clarkson has entered his annual winter shooting funk, so Markkanen has existed more as a pure #1 option in recent weeks. Usage in the 28-plus realm is superstar territory, and Markkanen has managed to climb his way into that stratosphere without sacrificing per-shot efficiency at all.

the winter funk that goes 24-7 365 you mean?

Nobody foresaw this sharp a turn in the Finn’s career trendline, but they clearly believed he was capable of more than he was tasked with in Chicago and Cleveland. In fact, at least part of the logic behind last fall’s Bojan Bogdanovic-for-Kelly Olynyk trade was that it would create opportunities for Markkanen to push the envelope on his personal development. However you feel about that trade in a vacuum, it’s hard to deny that it also gave Markkanen some head room he might not have had with Bogey still on the roster.

I thought with Kessler and Udoka they needed a vet center, Bojan wasn't a great fit for this team. He can score and shoot. Little else.

Now that Walker Kessler has played 25 games as a starter, I was interested to see how some of his metrics are holding up against top-flight opposition. His defensive rating went from 107.0 as a reserve to 116.1 in the starting five — 9.1 points worse per 100 possessions. On the bright side, his DRtg since All-Star is a stingy 94.9, but he can’t play all his games against the Spurs and the Thunder.

a long ways from Gobert still

On the other hand, Frank Jackson has yet to log a Jazz minute, and Utah still does have one other roster spot it can fill if it chooses to. In the short term they have chosen to prioritize some ball handling, with Sexton ailing, but I still wouldn’t be surprised to see them take a longer-term shot, using their remaining MLE to sign a prospect to a longer deal with some team options and guarantee triggers. Several overseas leagues are still ongoing, so it’s possible that they’re stalling to see if someone they like wants to jump on a plane before the NBA season is done.

They're under the tax so I imagine they'll end up with at least 15. Might be waiting for more buyouts as they continue today. Dunn will get at least 1 more 10 day. Frank might too with Sexton out. I'd be looking wing though. They have bigs and guards

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2023/2/28/23...chio-kris-dunn

Right now, with the lack of time he’s spent with the Jazz this season, the bad wrist sprain that kept him sidelined for more than a month, and the way that this roster is constructed, I could see the Jazz keeping him on a two-way contract for another season if he’s amenable to that situation.

we'll see. They need wings. Had his moments with the Stars but they will look to upgrade there I'm sure

The Jazz are probably going to have some injuries and some more guys that are taking some days off through the final 20 games of the season, so it would be nice if Juzang could get a little more run with the Jazz just to get a little more data on him. But, if this is all we know, I think it’s definitely worth keeping him in the development program.

we know quite a bit. Only Frank Jackson looked great with the Stars. You'd be better off keeping him on a two way if possible

I feel like Fontecchio just needs some regular minutes and needs just one good night to kind of break out of the rut he’s in. I’m glad that the Jazz have him under contract through next season because I still think he has a good chance of being a useful role player.

unlikely it will be with the Jazz past next year. They have two many picks and cap space not to be moving most of this roster eventually

I think that the Jazz are going to have to decide whether Dunn is actually too good to be on the team this season. If they are looking to lose games and improve their lottery odds, Dunn actually might lose out on being signed for the rest of the season.

probably won't be playing once Sexton is back. Need a vet. He's it

[Xiao Yao You]

As noted above, Atlanta was one of the teams trying to acquire Jae Crowder. The Hawks, Rockets, and Suns had exploratory discussions on a three-team trade. In that scenario, John Collins would’ve landed with the Rockets, Eric Gordon and KJ Martin with the Suns, and Crowder and Landry Shamet with the Hawks, but nothing of substance materialized, league sources told *********. Atlanta also tried to acquire Crowder in three-team trade talks with Utah and Phoenix centered around Collins going to Utah, Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley going to Phoenix, and Crowder and Shamet going to Atlanta. Among the reasons this scenario didn’t materialize was a disagreement in draft pick compensation that would’ve gone to Utah in the talks.
– via Michael Scotto @ *********

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Lenovo Tenerife officially announced the addition of Leandro Bolmaro. The team didn’t announce the details of the agreement, but Argentinian journalist Fabian Perez reported that the 22-year-old agreed to a deal until the end of the 2022-23 season.
– via BasketNews

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Jazz 2023 Free Agency: 4 Targets (msn.com)

The Raptors starting point guard will hit the market as one of the most coveted free agents while playing a position that is arguably Utah’s biggest position of need. The seven-year veteran is averaging 19.4 ppg on 39% shooting from long distance this year.

Their biggest need is the wing easily. They mostly have guards and bigs. They aren't going anywhere with Lauri at the 3. Sexton is really good. Clarkson needs to go. Not convinced Agbaji is anything more than a role player at best but they need someone alongside him regardless. Simone won't be around past next years buy outs. Zuzang and Toscano won't be back next year

Reid will be another player in high demand in a weak free-agent class. Not only would Utah need to pony up starter money, but also provide a situation that requires a bigger role than what he’s been accustomed to in Minnesota.

he'd be behind Lauri and Kessler. Next

According to Spotrac.com, Grant could get up to a four-year, $172M extension if he leaves Portland. That’s a chunk of Utah’s cap space, but a frontcourt of Grant, Kessler, and Markkanen would be one of the best in the business.

He's got some flexibilty. Not sure he's the best fit either though

The future contract is going to be in the neighborhood of $18-20M per year, which feels pretty steep considering Collin Sexton and Ochai Agbaji are already on the roster. It’s rumored that Jazz owner Ryan Smith wants Clarkson back, but from this point of view, it feels like a coin flip.

let's hope Ainge is really running things. Can't believe he loves the bum

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Adrian Wojnarowski: Oklahoma City is signing guard Jared Butler to a two-way deal, his agent Mark Bartelstein of @Priority Sports tells ESPN.
– via Twitter wojespn

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Tony Jones: Ochai Agbaji went through full practice this morning and is expected to be available for the Jazz tomorrow night in Oklahoma City
– via Twitter Tjonesonthenba

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Cody Taylor: Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler and Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in February.
– via Twitter CodyTaylorNBA

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Eric Walden: Jordan Clarkson remains OUT for Friday’s game in OKC with a right thumb sprain
– via Twitter tribjazz

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Rylan Stiles: Last season, Jared Butler ranked in the 75th percentile as a PnR ball handler posting 0.928 Points per possession. Also was graded as good in isolation, 0.925 PPP. PnR including passes he leaps to 1.100 PPP, 90th percentile which is excellent.

– via Twitter Rylan_Stiles

He can run an offense and defend. Can he get his shot off though? That was his problem inside and out

[Xiao Yao You]

https://sircharlesincharge.com/2023/...alker-kessler/

Another skill on the defensive end to develop is extending his defense out of the paint. If Kessler could switch to different matchups, it would create a different dynamic for Utah’s defense. In recent years, opposing teams drew Rudy Gobert to the perimeter due to his inability to guard outside the paint.

they drew him out so they could get to the rim. Gobert guarding the perimeter wasn't the problem. Problem was He can't guard the rim at the same time and no one else could or would help

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2023/3/3/236...-a-point-guard

The question is, who will be the point guard for the Jazz in the future? The Jazz are going to eventually have to answer that question either in free agency, through a trade or through the draft.

they have a 23 year old who has put up all star numbers already in his career

Clarkson has excelled in his leadership and his playmaking this season, but he’s at his best when he is running and gunning and we all know that. Sexton, while uniquely gifted in his ability to put pressure on the rim, is not a natural facilitator.

put up 6 assists a game when starting. Not sure what you expect but he's already shown better pg skills than Mitchell ever did. The game will slow down for him and he'll just get better

It’s probably going to be a little rough watching the Jazz from that perspective for the rest of this season (the Mike Conley void is vast and empty), but at least the Jazz have an obvious need. There’s no guesswork to be done here. They need a point guard.

need wings more