3 Free agents the Utah Jazz should poach from division rivals

Opposing teams in the Northwest have some upcoming free agents this offseason that the Utah Jazz should be taking a look into.

The Utah Jazz enter the 2023 offseason with a ton of cap flexibility and the ability to make some noise in free agency. There are few better ways to use that money than to sign talent while taking some away from divisional opponents.

Utah is different from no other team in terms of losing existing talent in free agency. It happens to every team. However, the Jazz can counter this loss by picking up some of the pieces from around some of their rival teams.

The Jazz have the chance to steal some key pieces away from teams they play four times a season while also filling some areas of need of their own. In this process, losing some of these players for these teams can result in a few standings changes, which always fairs better for Utah.

While this free agency doesn’t project to be as stacked as some of the classes in years past, we can expect to still see some valuable rotational and starting players still hit the open market.

With that, here are three players the Jazz can steal from some divisional opponents this offseason:

DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 10: Bruce Brown #11 of the Denver Nuggets is defended by Nickeil Alexander-Walker #6 of the Utah Jazz in the second half during an NBA game at Ball Arena on December 10, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. 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. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

1: Bruce Brown, SG, Denver Nuggets

Bruce Brown could be an underrated, yet great fit with the Utah Jazz. After spending his previous two seasons in Brooklyn, Brown’s been a key rotational piece to the 1-seeded Nuggets in the West. Now could be the opportunity for the Jazz to add to their wing talent while also chipping away at a championship favorite core.

Brown this season played 80 games averaging 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists for Denver, also while being one of the league’s standout perimeter defenders.

Utah signing Brown could be a fantastic addition to the team’s wing depth and defense. He enters this offseason with a pending player option, but if a team seems willing to pay him bigger money than he’s owed (a little over $6 million), then he could decide to hit the open market.

If the Jazz aren’t able to hit a home run signing with their available cap space, Bruce Brown could be a quality and underappreciated addition to the Jazz for the future.