The Utah Jazz should be worrying about the postseason, not the offseason.
The Utah Jazz are not in their final form. They’re far from it. With a gaggle of draft picks coming over the next seven years, the team has plenty of options and possibilities to further build the team. Not only do they have draft picks, but they currently have a lot of moveable and expiring contracts, allowing them to make a move for a player who may have a harder-to-move contract in other situations.
They have plenty of options to bolster the team without affecting its future. And while the Jazz should be mindful of not parting ways with too many draft picks, they don’t need to sacrifice success for any of them. The goal is to get back to the playoffs and be able to compete for an NBA title.
The Jazz should not sacrifice that goal for one pick, as some are suggesting they do. The Jazz’s current draft pick for the 2024 NBA Draft has a Top 10 protection. If it falls to No. 11 or lower, it goes to the Thunder, but if it hits No. 10 or higher, it goes to the Jazz. So there are now people suggesting the Jazz should prioritize that pick over the season.
A move that doesn’t make sense. The Jazz have three rookies right now and a host of future draft picks coming. The 2024 NBA Draft isn’t nearly as deep as the 2023 NBA Draft was, meaning the Jazz can still continue to get better without that pick. They can make trades for younger players, or sign some promising free agents of a certain age.
They don’t need to go all in on this one pick. If they lose it by trying to compete for the playoffs, so be it. This isn’t a situation like the Los Angeles Lakers or Dallas Mavericks, only have far fewer picks and a higher need to hit on the draft picks they do have.
The Jazz has youth, depth, and a bounty of future picks, if they don’t keep the 2024 draft pick, there are worse things the Jazz will have to deal with.