Jazz's interest in Austin Reaves this summer couldn't be clearer

At this point, Utah Jazz fans have heard everything there is to know about their free agency pursuit of Austin Reaves this coming summer. Whether they succeed or not is anyone's guess, but besides the fact that getting him would put the Lakers in a stronger bind than many would think, the other reason why the Jazz would want him is that the other free agents this summer either don't hold that much appeal and/or carving out a path to the Jazz doesn't seem feasible.

Yahoo Sports! Kevin O'Connor more or less confirmed that the Jazz will offer Reaves a rich new deal when he becomes a free agent this summer, which will certainly make things somewhat hairy for the Lakers, no matter how talented Reaves is.

We've already delved into why Reaves would be a good target for the Jazz, so there's no need to be a broken record. Let the record show that he definitely has flaws. He would be a little redundant next to the ascending Keyonte George, and his defense leaves a lot to be desired. Adding him would primarily strengthen the Jazz's offense, which is already pretty promising as currently constructed.

Regardless, though, Reaves appeals to the Jazz because it's hard to see how any of the other top free agents would choose the Jazz, or even why Utah would want them in the first place. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and James Harden are all still fantastic, even if they're not what they used to be. Would they really join a team like Utah at the tail end of their careers?

Trae Young is the other All-Star who could hit the market (he has a player option), but not even his own team wants him. Reaves isn't on their level, but he's not too far off, he's younger, and Utah wouldn't have to worry about his contract aging too badly.

Outside of those players, the rest of the class doesn't feature really any gamechangers. Draymond Green (player option) isn't leaving Golden State, nor is Zach LaVine, no matter which team he's on by season's end. Khris Middleton is too old, and Kristaps Porzingis (who Utah previously wanted) is somehow even more of a health risk than he already was before.

Tari Eason and Jaden Ivey are intriguing, but their restricted free agencies put the Jazz at a disadvantage. The closest player to Reaves that the Jazz could target is Norman Powell, who is also playing out of his mind this season, but unlike Reaves, giving him a max deal may not age all too well for Utah.

The Jazz will spend money on someone

For anyone who says the Jazz could simply roll over their cap space for next year, well, no they can't. George is up for an extension this summer, and after how well he's played, there is no way Utah will play with him. There's a chance he might go the same route as Walker Kessler, but even so, his next deal starts in 2027 one way or the other.

So, the Jazz won't be a cap space team one way or the other next summer, unless, in some unforeseen and disastrous scenario, they trade him away while also letting Kessler go. Utah definitely won't do that, so this offseason will be a rare opportunity to splurge.

Even with all the Reaves buzz, it's not likely Utah will succeed, but the front office will make it clear the Lakers must pay up to keep him. It's also possible the Jazz do what the Rockets did a few years back and sign solid free agents like Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet.

Whether they get Reaves or not, the Jazz's cap space will be summarized in five words this summer: use it or lose it.