How each blockbuster free agent decision impacts the Utah Jazz
![CLEVELAND, CA - JUN 8: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks to the media after being defeated by the Golden State Warriors in Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals won 108-85 by the Golden State Warriors over the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Quicken Loans Arena on June 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) CLEVELAND, CA - JUN 8: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks to the media after being defeated by the Golden State Warriors in Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals won 108-85 by the Golden State Warriors over the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Quicken Loans Arena on June 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/6b4f3849af1956f4cabb5782665cf8724e0d0dae70e6805cd57d1ecf8bec3be3.jpg)
CP3 inks massive deal to stay in Houston
Unlike the Paul George situation, Chris Paul‘s decision to stay with the Houston Rockets came as little surprise. Considering that, had Paul stayed healthy, the Rockets may have very well sneaked past the Warriors to earn an NBA Finals bid and go on to win the championship, it stands to reason that he’d want to come back for another run.
In the short term, this gives the Rockets a great shot at repeating as the top seed in the West this next season, assuming Paul can stay healthy. His decision to stick in Houston more than likely keeps the Rockets ahead of the Jazz in the standings and roots them firmly in Utah’s way of competing for a championship.
Houston was an extremely talented team this past season, and though losing Trevor Ariza will be a tough blow, with Chris Paul and James Harden leading the charge, they’ll still be an exceptional team in 2018-19.
https://twitter.com/CP3/status/1013271051764158464
However, the Paul deal also has an interesting impact on the Jazz down the road. Towards the latter half of CP3’s four-year, $160 million deal, there’s a good chance that age and/or injury will have slowed him down significantly. While his presence allows the Rockets to remain elite for this year and probably next year, by years three and four, it could very well be detrimental to Houston and allow the young and financially savvy Jazz to leapfrog them in the standings.
A lot could change between then and now, and Utah’s chances of getting past them this next year are slim to none. However, unlike the Golden State Warriors who appear to have a true dynastic clutch on the league, the Rockets’ window of competing for a championship might be smaller than some may think.
The more Western Conference teams that slowly start to fade in the coming years as Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell continue to grow and improve, the better it will be for the Utah Jazz.