With preseason camp just over a week away, the Utah Jazz 2024-25 season is upon us. Players arrived in Salt Lake City and have been working out informally over the past week. The first preseason game will tip off October 7th, 7:00 pm at the Delta Center against the Houston Rockets.
What can Jazz fans expect to see during the preseason slate?
A year ago, the Jazz had Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton, Talen Horton-Tucker, Kris Dunn, and rookie Keyonte George in the backcourt rotation.
This year we will likely see Keyonte George, Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, Isaiah Collier, Svi Mykhailiuk, and Brice Sensabaugh as the core rotation at the guard spots.
We can expect to see Lauri Markkanen, Taylor Hendricks, Collin Sexton, Keyonte George, and Walker Kessler as a typical starting five, with some changes and different lineups at times in the preseason.
Jordan Clarkson will likely continue to be the first guard off the bench, though the Jazz may not play him as much in the preseason while they give the young guys more time.
Rookie Cody Williams will compete with 2nd-year Jazzman Brice Sensabaugh for minutes at the 3, with both getting good looks over the 5 preseason games.
Rookie Isaiah Collier will have the opportunity to earn the backup point guard role, supporting Keyonte George. Patty Mills should be the 3rd point guard, and won't see a lot of time in the preseason.
Svi Mykhailiuk and Brice Sensabaugh should get minutes at the 2 when the Jazz go with a bigger backcourt or a 3-guard lineup.
Drew Eubanks and Kyle Filipowski should rotate in the frontcourt between the 4 and 5 spots, with John Collins getting minutes also.
Johnny Juzang might be the odd man out, even after signing a new contract as a roster player, instead of a 2-way deal.
The G-league guys (Micah Potter, Jason Preston, Oscar Tshiebwe) likely won't get much in minutes unless the games are blowouts, one way or another.
We can expect the starters to see 20-24 minutes a night, with the backups getting the rest as Will Hardy tries to get good looks and see who will best support the starting five.
With games at home against Houston, on the road against Dallas and San Antonio, then home vs. Sacramento, then the final game on the road against Portland, the Jazz should get a variety of offenses and defenses to test their young guys against, and find out how ready they are for the 2024-25 season.
The countdown is on. As retiring announcer Dan Roberts likes to say: "Let's get 'em out, how about this Jazz?"