How is it exactly that LeBron James keeps helping the Utah Jazz astronomically without joining them? It can be boiled down to three simple reasons
-LeBron leaving the Lakers hurt their ceiling enough for the Jazz to be comfortable owning their future from the Walker Kessler trade
-LeBron leaving the West makes the Jazz's playoff aspirations even likelier to happen
-LeBron snubbing the Timberwolves and Cavaliers means the assets they owe the Jazz keep their value
I should emphasize the Cavaliers in this instance because, oh boy, not getting Round 3 of LeBron is going to be trouble for them. Even after making the Eastern Conference Finals, Cleveland's prospects are not promising right now.
They just committed BIG TIME to Donovan Mitchell, have to re-sign a declining James Harden, and have lost Dean Wade, Keon Ellis, and Larry Nance Jr. this summer. They also kind of lucked out that the East was as weak as it was because it's going to get better with James coming back, Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton coming back healthier, and New York the reigning champions.
Cleveland epitomized being so close and yet so far in the playoffs, as they got to the conference finals, but the Knicks made it pretty clear they weren't on an elite level. With Harden on the wrong side of 30, there's a solid chance this is going to get worse. That's why LeBron not joining them is a real problem.
And that couldn't a better sign for the Jazz with what the Cavaliers still owe them.
Cleveland owes Utah a 2028 pick swap and an unprotected 2029 pick
Utah has already spent some of its assets, but still have a few left over. If the Cavaliers start their decline, that pick swap they owe them from the Mitchell trade could be a fantastic asset to either bring in another youthful asset or trade it for someone ready to win now.
And if it gets even worse, the Cavaliers still owe the Jazz an unprotected pick the year after that. There's nothing more exciting than knowing you could score big from a team about hit a potential freefall. The Cavaliers aren't there yet, but LeBron not going there may be the first push towards it.
Cleveland will still fight for the playoffs for the next few years, but by the time the late-2020s arrive, it's hard to see how things get better for them. Utah won't be banking on them handing over a high lottery pick, but it would still be a great luxury to have.
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