The Utah Jazz finally used some of their cap flexibility earlier this week, though they didn't use it for anything particularly notable. Sure, they acquired a big name like Russell Westbrook, but much like in 2023, they did that only to absorb his expiring deal so they could then waive it.
Since the big free agency names are gone, and the Jazz don't have any particular target in mind, now could be the time to make similar moves with players with little value who have no use on their current team like Westbrook was before the Clippers traded him.
As long as they don't interfere much with their cap flexibility long-term, they could sneakily acquire several players and then dump them, much like they did with Westbrook. Or they could acquire them in the hopes of redeeming their value to get another asset down the line.
In that sense, don't expect them to get Zach LaVine because he'll take up too much room long-term. They likely won't go after Dennis Schroder and/or Bruce Brown either because, despite being on teams with little use for them, their teams would expect to get something somewhat valuable in return for them. Hence, they're not dumping them on the Jazz for space.
PJ Tucker - $11,539,000
The Clippers have as much use for Tucker as they did for Westbrook - none at all. ESPN's Bobby Marks revealed that after getting rid of Westbrook, getting rid of Tucker is next on their to-do list for one specific reason.
"Now the priority is finding veteran PJ Tucker a new home. Tucker is on an expiring $11.5 million contract. The Clippers also have a decision with Terance Mann. Mann is in the last year of his contract and eligible to sign a four-year, $81 million extension."
Since the Clippers' priorities are to save money now (as also evidenced by them letting Paul George walk), the Jazz can step in and do them another favor. Although it may come with a steeper price than it was for Westbrook since Tucker will be owed more.
The Jazz too have no use for Tucker, so they can acquire and waive him. Since his contract will expire, they won't have to worry about clogging up their cap.
Lonzo Ball - $21,395,348
After the Bulls acquired Josh Giddey, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski explained that Giddey might be Ball's replacement in Chicago, which would make sense seeing how Lonzo hasn't played in the NBA since early 2022.
The Bulls have been determined to find a playmaker to replace Lonzo Ball, and Giddey , 21, comes with an All-Star potential that would unlikely be realized with the Thunder because of the playmaking starpower who surrounded him. The Bulls will offer him an opportunity to have the…
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2024
Ball's contract is expiring, and the Jazz have enough cap room to absorb his expiring contract outright. He could either serve as a reclamation project after everything that has tragically gone wrong for him, or the Jazz could waive him easy.
The Jazz have saved NBA careers before, like Kris Dunn, so it's not the worst idea to see if they could do the same for Ball. Even if he's damaged goods, and the damage might be bad enough that he'll never play at a high level again, he is a low-risk acquisition despite his eight-figure contract.
Jae'Sean Tate - $7,065,217
Tate has seen his role decrease with every single year he's played in the NBA. He started averaging 29.2 minutes a game, and is coming off a season averaging 15.9. With the Rockets hoping to make a a big splash, they may use Tate as salary filler in a trade for a superstar.
If they don't, there's not much reason to keep him since he doesn't appear to be a long-term factor on the team. The Jazz could swoop in to help them with their cap flexibility while also taking a flyer on a wing when they are pretty low on proven wings on the roster.
Pat Connaughton - $9,423,869
Alright so, technically, Connaughton is not an expiring contract, as it extends into 2026. However, knowing his cheap contract and the NBA's expanding cap, it would hardly be any trouble for the Jazz to absorb that deal and worry about flexibility too much about the future.
After the offseason moves the Bucks made, Connaughton may be the odd man out. Adding Delon Wright, Taurean Prince, and Gary Trent Jr. also means adding players who play the same position as him. Connaughton's role has dwindled a tad with the Bucks, and adding players who play the same position as him
The Jazz would help the Bucks duck under the NBA's second tax apron if they took him off their salary cap. Besides that, they could help Connaughton restore his value. And how bad could it to add someone with championship experience to the team?