The J-Notes
Fansided

3 Utah Jazz that earned untouchable status, 1 that should be cut loose

By Eric Fritts

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 23: Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz in action during a game at Vivint Arena on February 28, 2023 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. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 23: Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz in action during a game at Vivint Arena on February 28, 2023 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. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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The Utah Jazz surprised everyone with the 2022–2023 season. They put together a team that refused to tank. Rookie head coach Will Hardy proved to be an excellent hire. The team all played hard, showing that they weren’t just undesirables left over after off-season trades.

Now that the off-season is underway, the front office has some evaluations to make. Who are those players who cemented themselves as Jazzmen for the future, and who needs to be sent off to pasture?

1. Lauri Markkanen

This one is obvious. Lauri Markkanen, the 2023 Most Improved Player, earned the status of untouchable before the NBA All-Star game in Salt Lake City. When many thought the Jazz were tanking, Markkanen exploded into a star. It really goes to show just how important fit is in today’s NBA, and Markkenen has found a proper home in Utah.

The Fin’s revolutionizing his game can’t be overstated enough. Looking at his counting stats, Markkanen added over 10 more points per game and almost 3 more rebounds. Totaling out to 25.6 and 8.6 splits for the season. Advanced stats only add to the paroxysm. Estimated plus-minus from DunksandThrees.com showed a leap from +1.2 in 2022 to +4.9 in 2023, lofting him into the top tier of players.

What makes Markkanen so valuable is his contract. He is drastically underpaid for how well he performed. But that gives Jazz CEO Danny Ainge a little more to work with when building a team around him. Markkenen is under contract until 2024, with partial guarantees in 2025, and unrestricted free agency after that. He is eligible for an extension this summer, but that seems unlikely given how much he outperformed his pay scale. This means the Jazz need to work on putting the right team around him quickly.

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