Ranking all 15 Utah Jazz player contracts - bad, good and steals
By Dan Lower
3. The Bad
John Collins: With $25.3 million this year and 2 more seasons beyond it for another $58 million, Collins doesn't fit the Jazz timeline and his production has been underwhelming for what he makes. His defense has been downright unwatchable at times, and with the 3rd season a player option, there's little chance he will opt out of that in 2025 for a deal elsewhere. This is easily the worst contract on the Jazz roster, and the team has no choice but to play him at this point unless they want to use the stretch provision and be stuck paying him for many years to come.
Talen Horton-Tucker: When THT was playing and starting early on in the 2023-24 season, it was speculated that the Jazz were trying to increase his trade value. As they lost more games early on, it became evident that he was part of the problem. With an $11 million salary and little value even as a reserve, this is one of the worst deals on the roster - especially since he fell out of the rotation and had a lot of DNP-CDs before the trade deadline.
Kira Lewis: Acquired at the 2024 trade deadline, Lewis is completing the final year of his rookie contract, at $5.7 million. He has barely played with the Jazz since the trade, and with a $7.9 million qualifying offer due this summer, the question could be asked - why did the Jazz trade for him? He has no value at this point.
Otto Porter: A veteran with championship experience, Porter was acquired from Toronto in the Kelly Olynyk/Ochai Agbaji deal. A rumored buyout candidate before the March 1 deadline, he has yet to suit up for the Jazz and even at $6.3 million, seems like a waste of salary if he isn't going to play. *NOTE - Porter is rumored to be waived by the Jazz as of March 11, 2024, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.*
Jordan Clarkson: It was curious when Clarkson received an extension from the Jazz last summer, including $23.4 million for the 2023-24 season. He was 31, didn't fit their timeline, and though his offense was valuable, he gave up as much, if not more, on the defensive end. The Jazz might have to attach an asset to move him down the road, should his decline continue. This makes his deal, even with reduced salaries in 2024-25 and 2025-26, a bad one for the Utah Jazz.
Kevin Knox: Another player acquired at the trade deadline, Knox was waived almost immediately and hasn't caught on with another NBA team since. A waste of $2.1 million any way you look at it.
Luka Samanic: Brought in late in the 2022-23 season, Samanic looked like a find at the time, averaging 9.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 23 minutes a night over the last 7 games. This season he has struggled to crack the rotation, averaging just 7 minutes and making it into only 32 games thus far. Samanic is making $2.0 million on an expiring deal and hasn't done enough to show that he has a future in Utah.