It will still be a while before the Utah Jazz start competing, but at least that wait will be in several months rather than a few years. With the wait about to be over, plenty are freaking out about what this team will look like next year. There's one player that hasn't gotten the attention he both deserves and will get once the switch flips: Svi Mykhailiuk
Mykhailiuk was a whatever signing for the Jazz back when it first happened, and it's not like he took the world by storm his first year with the team, but his second year was different. After being named a starter, which certainly took the fanbase by surprise, Mykhailiuk was awesome in that role, but despite putting up the best numbers of his career, once the Jazz embraced the tank, his production was sadly (and quickly) forgotten.
That may not be for too long, as ESPN's Tim MacMahon explained why he sees Mykhailiuk as the Jazz's unsung hero and why that bodes well for the Jazz next season.
"(Mykhailiuk) has provided optimism for the Jazz that he can be a solid role player next season when Utah intends to be competitive. Mykhailiuk has averaged 9.1 points in 23.4 minutes per game with a usage rate of only 14.4%. He's shooting 40.3% from 3-point range, spacing the floor and serving as a connector who moves the ball when he doesn't have a good look."
With more talent and with younger players continuing their development, Mykhailiuk could thrive with less focus on him, like players like him do. Don't be surprised if he puts up similar numbers next season, if not better.
Mykhailiuk deserves the opportunity to show out next season
It's likely that Mykhailiuk won't regain the starters position, but if the Jazz's expected jumbosize lineup of Keyonte George-Ace Bailey-Lauri Markkanen-Jaren Jackson Jr.-Walker Kessler doesn't work as anticipated, they may re-insert him because Utah knows at this point what Mykhailiuk brings to the table.
Even if it never comes to that, Mykhailiuk has proven enough for Utah to keep him in the rotation. There was skepticism about whether he would keep his spot once Georges Niang came back from injury, but once the JJJ trade happened, that was no longer a possibility.
What makes it even better is his team-friendly deal. Mykhailiuk's deal runs for two more years, and he makes $3.8 million next season and $4 million after that. With the Jazz about to spend big, Mykhailiuk's production on a team-friendly deal will make him a keeper.
And you know what? He deserves it. Not just because of what he's shown to Utah, but because it's taken Mykhailiuk this long to prove his worth after his journeyman career. He's bounced from team to team and never really broken through until Year 8.
Now that he's established how useful he is, he will get the opportunity to prove as much for a playoff team. Technically, Mykhailiuk is an NBA Champion, as he won a title with the Boston Celtics two years ago, but it will be different this time because he won't be riding the bench if and when the Jazz start their first playoff run since 2022.
It's fair to say that after the journey he's had, he's earned it.