The J-Notes
Fansided

Best, Worst and Most likely scenarios for the Utah Jazz this season

By Chad Porto

SALT LAKE CITY UT- NOVEMBER 7: Danny Ainge CEO of the Utah Jazz watches warmups before their game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Vivint Arena November 7, 2022 in Salt Lake City Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY UT- NOVEMBER 7: Danny Ainge CEO of the Utah Jazz watches warmups before their game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Vivint Arena November 7, 2022 in Salt Lake City Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) /
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Dec 15, 2021; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Danny Ainge is greeted by Jazz Bear as he watches pregame activities after being appointed Alternate Governor and CEO of Utah Jazz Basketball prior to their game against the LA Clippers at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2021; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Danny Ainge is greeted by Jazz Bear as he watches pregame activities after being appointed Alternate Governor and CEO of Utah Jazz Basketball prior to their game against the LA Clippers at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

Best Case Scenario – Major trade, NBA Finals appearance

It’s entirely possible that the Utah Jazz sees how good the team is early on, and opts to take a big swing in the trade market for the right player. They’re a team that can ship out some young players and some picks and not worry about the long-term viability of the team. They’re still going to be able to add good, young talent in the draft.

So if they were to get a Luka Doncic or a Giannis Antetokounmpo type, then the Jazz would instantly be an NBA Finals contender. Either player would work really well around Lauri Markkanen, and assuming the team retains the likes of Walker Kessler and Jordan Clarkson in the deal, then the Jazz would remain a realistic threat to do some damage.

That said, it’s not like landing someone of that magnitude would be easy to do in the first place. And if it did happen, it’d really shake up the roster, meaning that the team would have to adapt to one another on the fly. That’s never an easy thing to do mid-season.

But as mentioned, this is the best-case scenario. Not the most realistic. So it’s okay to have pie-in-the-sky aspirations for the season every once in a while.

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