The Utah Jazz just finished their third year after starting their next chapter in 2022, and three years in, it's hard to get excited about what's to come. ESPN's Brian Windhorst further reinforced this notion when he revealed that they currently have only one untouchable asset on the team: the No. 5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
On ESPN's "The Hoop Collective," Windhorst revealed that everyone on the Jazz's roster could be had except for the No. 5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
"I'd be surprised if there's anybody on the roster other than the guy they draft No. 5 who would be untouchable," Windhorst said (42:12 mark).
It is a shame that three years after starting over, the Jazz have accumulated only one asset that is viewed as untouchable. However, there are two ways to look at the notion that the Jazz's only untouchable asset is one they won't be able to utilize for the next few weeks.
The glass half-full point of view of this
This further shows that even if the worst-case scenario happened for the Jazz from the NBA lottery, getting the No. 5 pick in a loaded draft is still good for them. Even if the Jazz wanted Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper, they will likely still wind up with a player who could play a huge role in their future.
Further reinforcing that notion is the recent hire of Austin Ainge, who has a proven track record of nailing first-round picks back when he worked for the Boston Celtics. The Jazz making that hire signifies they are not letting this opportunity slip. The pick is good enough that the best route for them is to keep it because the talent pool is that big.
It wasn't the asset the Jazz wanted, but there's a good reason for why it's seen as untouchable. One may not be a lot, but it counts for something.
The glass half-empty point of view of this
Getting only one untouchable asset three years after (mostly) blowing it up is not the best look. It reflects more on the consequences of not knowing precisely where they were going for two years. Even with the most established or promising talent on the roster, none of them have proven enough that the Jazz would keep them on the roster, no questions asked.
While Lauri Markkanen still has a lot of trade value, he's a complementary star at best, not a superstar, which means he can be had at the right price, even if the price is steep. Walker Kessler took a major step forward this season, but he's old for a young player, which makes it unknown if this as good as he gets, so if an upgrade is available, the Jazz just might try to get one.
Then there's the other youngsters. Keyonte George's progress stymied. Both Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski impressed in their rookie years, but it remains to be seen if their ceilings are all that high. Brice Sensabaugh came along nicely in Year 2, but is he special or just a role player? No one knows what's to come with Taylor Hendricks, and let's not talk about Cody Williams.
In 2025, the Jazz only have one player that is seen as untouchable, and no one knows who he is. No, that's not great, but there's no telling if that will change by this time next year.