7 Difference-makers the Utah Jazz signed past their prime

Over the course of their franchise existence and the implementation of NBA Free Agency, the Utah Jazz haven’t been “big” offseason players. Most of the team’s success has come via the draft-and-develop philosophy or via trade.

In the few occasions in which the Jazz have tried to make big moves via free agency, it hasn’t always gone right. In fact, there are a few instances in which Utah made the misstep of signing potential difference-makers a couple of years too late.

In this article, we’ll explore a few players the Jazz (knowingly or not) signed past their prime.

Difference-makers the Utah Jazz signed past their prime

John Starks (2000)

Known for being one of the most successful undrafted stories in the NBA, John Starks made a name for himself with the New York Knicks but ended his career with the Utah Jazz. Starks signed with the Jazz during the 2000 offseason and while he did have some bright spots during his first season with the team, by his second year it was quite evident that the end was near for the talented guard.

Starting 64 of 75 games with the Jazz during the 2000-01 season, Starks started just one of 66 games played with Utah during the 2001-02 campaign in which he averaged four points per game on 37 percent shooting from the field.

Looking back, you can argue that Starks would’ve been a great signing for the Jazz had it happened just a few years prior. After two seasons with the Jazz, Starks’ successful career in the NBA came to an end.