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Utah Jazz: The J-Notes’ post-free agency West power rankings

By Ryan Aston

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz looks to shoot in front of the defense by Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half of a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 30, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz looks to shoot in front of the defense by Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half of a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 30, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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Deandre Ayton Phoenix Suns
TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 12: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a photo during the 2018 NBA Rookie Shoot on August 12, 2018 at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Tarrytown, New York. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) /

15) Sacramento Kings

Despite his summer league struggles, I’m still high on Marvin Bagley. Moreover, I like Willie Cauley-Stein, De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield. All of those players have a lot of growing up to do, however, and I wouldn’t put hard cash on any of them becoming All-Stars at this juncture.

I mean, this is the Kings we’re talking about. You almost just expect things to go wrong for them at this point. And even if they don’t and everything goes according to plan, Sac-Town is likely years away from fielding a winning team. Sorry, Kings fans.

14) Phoenix Suns

For the first time in many moons, there’s hope in the Valley of the Sun. Deandre Ayton may or may not be the franchise-changer many envision him to be, but there’s no doubt that he’s a legit player. Mikal Bridges and Elie Okobo are high-potential draftees as well.

With former Jazz assistant Igor Kokoskov, star sharpshooter Devin Booker and the newly signed Trevor Ariza leading the charge and that slew of young talent, the Suns finally have a direction…and that direction is up.

13) LA Clippers

Last season, the Clippers very nearly made the playoffs despite losing Chris Paul during the offseason and dealing Blake Griffin ahead of the trade deadline. Now, with DeAndre Jordan making his long-delayed move to the Big D, it’s hard to see them keeping pace with the West’s best.

This year will mostly be about seeing what Jerome Robinson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have to offer, while waiting for the summer. As things stand now, the Clips only have $41-46 million on the books for 2019-20.

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