The J-Notes
Fansided

Utah Jazz: 3 reasons to love the team’s championship odds

By James Piercey

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports)
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz forward Royce O’Neale (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports) /

Utah Jazz harmony

Harmony and continuity may be closely related concepts, but they are not synonymous. A glance around the rest of the contenders in the National Basketball Association serves to emphasize that difference.

The Phoenix Suns may be bringing back the majority of the core that led them to the NBA Finals, but “harmonious” is not the first word one may use to describe the team as it currently stands. Negotiations between the team and Deandre Ayton to land on an appropriate rookie extension have apparently stalled.

Where contract discussions stall in the NBA, trade rumors tend to follow. It’s difficult to foresee a resolution in this situation. The Phoenix Suns may be justly apprehensive to offer a max contract to a semi-switching, non-shooting big man, but on the other hand, Ayton is a former number-one overall pick who was just instrumental to the team’s NBA Finals run. He’s unlikely to settle for less, and they’re unlikely to offer more.

As tense as that situation stands to become, it may not match the awkwardness of Kyrie Irving’s standing with the Brooklyn Nets. His refusal to get a COVID-19 vaccine has resulted in a situation where he may not play a single game for the Nets this season. While the team rosters two more superstars in Kevin Durant and James Harden, an injury to either may have this club looking like something closer to an also-ran than a powerhouse.

Finally, the Los Angeles Lakers don’t have any immediate contractual or availability concerns, but as we’ve discussed, the fit between Russell Westbrook and his newfound teammates may pose a challenge to Head Coach Frank Vogel. If they don’t get off to a hot start, it’s possible that infighting may follow.

Once again, the Milwaukee Bucks will be running back the main pieces of an NBA Championship winning squad, and everyone appears to be on the same page. Besides the defending champions, however, the Utah Jazz may have the most harmonious contending team in the National Basketball Association.

Home/Jazz News