The rest of the 2023-2024 season for the Utah Jazz is going to be rough to get through. The team is already 0-4 after the NBA Trade Deadline and it looks like things are just going to get worse. The squad is without several key defenders following the deadline deals that saw Simone Fontecchio, Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji go to the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors respectively. The only player of value that they got back, Otto Porter, is likely on his way to a buyout.
Leaving the Jazz with even fewer defensive options on the wings. The last quarter of this season is likely going to be the team tanking in an attempt to get back its own 2024 first-round pick that the Oklahoma City Thunder currently own. The pick returns to the Jazz if it falls in the Top 10, otherwise it goes to the Thunder. For what it's worth, the Jazz owe the Thunder a pick eventually, so if it's not this year, it may be next year or the year after.
A tanking season isn't exactly something people want to see, but there are still some things that fans should take a look at this season. After all, it's not like the only reason to watch basketball and the Jazz specifically is for the chance to see them win an NBA title. Winning or losing, repping your team still matters and while we're as mad as anyone that they're now tanking, that doesn't mean there aren't storylines to check out.