Utah Jazz: Three things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 5: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz celebrates on the bench during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 5, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 5: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz celebrates on the bench during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 5, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Dennis Lindsey Utah Jazz GM Trade Deadline 2018
Dennis Lindsey Utah Jazz GM Trade Deadline 2018

#3 – Financial flexibility for a big summer move

Although the Utah Jazz have certainly failed to match expectations so far this year, I don’t know that anyone in their right mind truly believed that the team had a real shot at a championship this season. Despite a start filled with turmoil for the Golden State Warriors, they’re still the favorite to win it all by a long shot, especially once Draymond Green and Stephen Curry get healthy.

Even if the ever-dominant Warriors were out of the way, there’s still a handful of teams that were expected to be better than the Jazz anyway, even with the Houston Rockets off to a sluggish start.

With all that said, while the hope is still alive and well that the Jazz can turn things around and make some noise this year, the fact of the matter is that the real defining moment for their championship aspirations will take place this offseason, where the organization has a chance to make some major moves to dramatically improve.

The Jazz have been cautious the last several years to ensure that they maintain financial flexibility for the summer of 2019 where lots of contracts come off the books. With multiple players on expiring deals or team options, the Jazz will have ample financial flexibility this upcoming summer. Not only that, but there also just so happens to be a healthy crop of intriguing free agents that will hit the market.

Are you picking up the formula that I’m putting together here? Ample cap space for the Jazz plus a tantalizing crop of talented free agents could lead to Utah landing a nice free agent prize that takes them to a whole other level. I recently spoke of a few such options, with Tobias Harris, Khris Middleton and Kemba Walker coming in as my favorite options.

Of course, the realists out there (trust me, I’m part of this group despite my attempt at optimism here) will state that there’s a very good chance the Jazz will swing and miss on any big-time free agent attempts this summer. While that’s certainly possible, that doesn’t change the fact that the flexibility Utah will have this offseason will still be immensely important.

If free agency doesn’t quite go as planned, it will still allow them several intriguing options to improve the team and make the right moves to continue their ascension in the West. Best case scenario would be landing a coveted free agent (or two?) that takes Utah to another level. That would certainly be a reason for thanksgiving. But even if that doesn’t pan out, Jazz fans should still be thankful for the doors of opportunity that the financial flexibility could open.

It could lead to a successful trade down the road, or the ability to make smarter decisions with current or future players. That’s obviously not as flashy as landing big fish in free agency, but it remains a reason for gratitude. No matter what happens this season, Jazz fans can count on an exhilarating offseason that could see vast improvements for the team. And that’s certainly something to be thankful about.

So as you’re sitting around the dinner table enjoying your Thanksgiving feast today, rather than dwell on Utah’s early-season struggles and the woes they’ve experienced so far, try instead to focus on the positive. Things may look dreary at this immediate point in time, but there’s still much to be thankful for, both this season and beyond.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at The J-Notes!