The Utah Jazz made some decisions today. After his very exciting leap to start Year 2, they have exercised Ace Bailey's team option for next season. They did not do the same with Isaiah Collier, as they have declined the final year of his rookie contract for next season. That is pretty revealing.
Does this mean it's over, period, between Collier and the Jazz? Not necessarily, but in situations like these, it's pretty easy to read between the lines. It's not exactly a big ode of confidence that they are content with letting him go after this season instead of letting it roll out until next season where he would be a restricted free agent.
Collier has shown flashes, but failing to develop a three-point shot looms larger than ever. Especially because Utah doesn't really have the patience to tolerate any more growing pains, despite their struggles. If they did, they would have picked up the option.
Making it even harder is that he's not the first player from that draft they cut ties with, as they traded Cody Williams in what was basically a salary dump to Minnesota. Williams is an interesting project for the Timberwolves, but he's barely played. That will probably change with the injuries they are dealing with, but even so, it's a shame it looks like the Jazz will cut ties with two prospects they drafted only two years ago.
It's not like Kyle Filipowski has left a particularly strong impression either this season. They've turned to Mo Bamba and Jaxson Hayes more than they've turned to him despite all the losses in their frontcourt.
Times like these are tough to swallow, but at the same time, it reflects on how poor the 2024 NBA Draft class truly was.
The 2024 NBA Draft is pretty unimpressive as a whole
It's true that Utah missed out on some prospects for sure, but most of this draft's best prospects were picked before Williams, like Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, and Zach Edey. They could have had Matas Buzelis, but he hasn't exactly looked great in Year 3.
The fact that three of the draft's top 10 picks have been traded (Williams, Zaccharie Risacher, Rob Dillingham) before their third year even started is a pretty telling demonstration of how weak the class was. Many people flame the Jazz for not tanking during the 2023-24 season, but it's not like there was a particular player worth throwing the season away for.
What makes it easier stomach is that since then, Utah has struck gold with Bailey and Darryn Peterson. You can't win them all, so while fans may not have wanted things to pan out this way, it's pretty easy to stay optimistic at times like these.
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