Earlier this week, the Utah Jazz filled the position of president of basketball operations, which had been vacant for two years, by poaching Austin Ainge from the Celtics. He'll be the lead decision-maker for the Jazz, with his father, Danny Ainge, and GM Justin Zanik reporting to Austin. Utah's new executive is in town just in time for what will be a pivotal offseason in Salt Lake.
The Jazz's tanking strategy last season didn't work in their favor. They won a league-worst 65 games and were tied for the highest odds to receive the No. 1 pick, but fell to No. 5. They could still get a good player if they stay at No. 5, but it won't be a franchise-changing player like Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper.
So, does Utah plan to tank again under the newest Ainge? No. Tony Jones of The Athletic reported that the Jazz will try to win as many games as possible (subscription required) next season. At Ainge's introductory press conference on Monday morning, he said that it's hard to predict when the team will be competitive again.
A route that Utah could take this summer is by trading veterans like Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, and Collin Sexton, paving the way for the team's younger players to take over. That decision wouldn't result in many wins next season, but that's life during a rebuild. It'd be better to do that, rather than cashing in assets in a trade for an All-Star-level player, risking being average (at best) in a stacked conference.
Jazz should trade veterans this offseason under Austin Ainge
Ainge was with the Celtics organization for 17 years. He knows what it takes to build a winner. It doesn't happen overnight, especially not for smaller-market teams like the Jazz.
Utah's best bet to build a winning team is by adding to its treasure chest of assets this offseason. The Jazz can capitalize on the desperation of other teams, such as the Sixers, which could make a push for Markkanen. Other teams in the East could reach a similar level of desperation, trying to capitalize on the conference's weaknesses.
The Jazz are more than a star trade away from being competitive. Why not let the younger players get some experience in the meantime, while Ainge and Utah continue to evaluate the future? The foundation for the rest of the rebuild will be laid this summer, with Ainge calling the shots. The weeks leading up to the draft could get interesting.