Three Utah Jazz players with the most to gain or lose this season.
The Utah Jazz sit at an interesting point in the franchise’s history. On one hand, the organization is looking like it’s ready to contend for the playoffs. On the other hand, they could make some huge moves and commit to a prolonged rebuild. And yet, on another hand, they could cash in a lot of their future chips and go for broke and try to land a major name in a trade.
And it’s not just the team, several players are at a fork in the road as well. Play well and get rewarded. Play subpar, and lose your standing on not just the Utah Jazz, but anywhere else you’d want to play. Several of the players have got to have big years if they’re hoping to redirect their careers into richer, and less choppy waters.
And that’s what we’re going to talk about, the players who have the most to prove, the ones who need to come in and redirect the narrative around them. One name you won’t see on the list is John Collins, for if he stumbles for the second straight year, he’s still under contract for the next two years and still has time to right the ship. The people on this list don’t have that same kind of time.
Honorable Mentions: Simone Fontecchio, Kris Dunn
Simone Fontecchio and Kris Dunn are two names who are on expiring deals. Yet, while they’re on expiring deals, they’re also two men who have the ability to make great strides this year. And if they don’t, it’s not like if they fall short the team will stumble. Neither man is viewed as a piece of the team that *has* to play well if the franchise is to succeed.
Any positive play out of them is a bonus, not an expectation. That’s not the same for everyone else on this list.
Kelly Olynyk
Kelly Olynyk is coming off of a mostly up, but sometimes down World Cup run with Team Canada. He started for the team, and played as the team’s universal utility tool; able to rebound, score, or assist the team in any way he could. He wasn’t very assertive defensively but he’s willing to get bodied on that side of the court if it helps anything, so it’s not like he’s a hindrance defensively.
But at 32 years old, in the last year of his deal, and looking at a roster that is rapidly getting younger, it’s becoming harder and harder to see where he ends up. And we’re not talking in June or July, we’re not even talking in February. We’re talking November. Will the Jazz still retain his services as the season wears on?
This is a franchise that could both use him as a player and as a trade asset, it really all depends on their direction. That direction will be indefinitely influenced by Olynyk’s place on the court. This will likely be his last shot to land a big contract, so he’s got to go out there and prove that he’s worth something comparable to what he got the last time he was a free agent.
Otherwise, he’s going to see a severely reduced salary next season.
Collin Sexton
There’s a song from the 2011 Muppets movie where Walter, the featured Muppet, sings to himself and questions whether he’s a Muppet or a man. It’s a lovely little tune, made even better by Jason Segal. But that’s the sort of situation that Collin Sexton finds himself in. He’ll be competing for the starting point guard spot in camp, as well as most of the other guards on the team currently (I think Walter’s competing for that spot too).
If he lands the gig, he’ll be asked to be a play-maker who passes as often as he shoots, a new dynamic for Sexton, and something he’s never done before. Not only is he up for a starting gig, but even if he’s not in contention for it sincerely, he’s still going to be one of the key bench guys, likely to get 25+ minutes off the bench.
And he’ll get his 15 points per game, no doubt, but if he wants a bigger contract, let alone a bigger role, Sexton has got to step up his game during the 2023-2024 season. He’s got to work on his passing, his three-point shooting, and his defensive skillsets if he wants to ascend up the ladder. He’s been compared to sixth-men like Jordan Clarkson, Jamal Crawford, and Lou Williams since he entered the league.
Maybe that’s really his ceiling, maybe it’s not. This is the season to find out and try and work for that second contract in the process.
Lauri Markkanen
Unlike everyone else on this list, Lauri Markkanen isn’t fighting for a new contract, or for a spot on the team. We know Markkanen is going to be the featured player on the roster going forward this season and next, but when his deal finally comes due, what is his value going to be?
If he keeps playing as he has been, with 25+ points per game, eight or nine rebounds, and a stellar true-shooting percentage, then you could easily see him warranting around $30 million a year. Especially if he lands himself a second All-Star spot. Then you can really see him warranting that kind of payday.
But if he doesn’t land another All-Star spot, or if he declines in efficiency, then not only do you have to rethink what his contract offer would be, but you have to now put into question the entire direction of the franchise. The reason why the Jazz are seen as potential contenders is due to Markkanen’s growth.
If he stumbles, then the assumption that this team can have a winning record goes out the window. If anyone on this list stumbles and falls, they’ll get replaced or traded. If Markkanen stumbles and falls, the entire team’s direction and future has to be reworked. Few people in the NBA, maybe aside from Luka Doncic and Victor Wembanyama have that much pressure on their shoulders heading into the new season.