It hasn't been pretty for the Utah Jazz for the past few years to the point that there's a compelling case that their tanking strategy could hurt them long-term. However, things are expected to change this offseason, as the Jazz not only expect to get a lottery pick and re-sign Walker Kessler, but also have their sights set on an NBA star in free agency: Austin Reaves.
Reaves has been frequently mentioned as the Jazz's primary target in free agency. Even if they don't succeed, they have the money to make the Lakers sweat. Former NBA player Rashad McCants is all for Utah going after Reaves this summer, believing the Jazz would benefit big time from adding him.
Rashad McCants believes Austin Reaves would be Gordon Hayward 2.0 in Utah
In an exclusive interview with The J-Notes, McCants explained why he believes the Jazz have everything to gain from adding Reaves, though only on one condition.
"If (the Jazz) keep Lauri Markkanen, I think Austin Reaves would add a better chance for playoff contention," McCants told The J-Notes. "...I think you got a group of young killers out there that can really play. Adding Austin Reaves, who can be your modern-day Gordon Hayward, be a guy that can do multiple things, not gonna ask him to do too much defensive things, but he is going to give you 20 a game.
"...Keyonte can give you 25, 26 a game, and then if you're keeping Lauri Markkanen, you've got a three-headed monster and that's three different positions and I think then Utah is bringing something back that they've lacked in the last 10, 12 years, which is playoff basketball like it was with Jerry Sloan."
It's definitely an intriguing prospect to think about the Jazz returning to the level they once played at with Sloan. Amazingly, it's been a decade and a half since he left the Jazz, and while the team has had a few exciting playoff runs, it's reasonable to suggest it hasn't replicated his success.
Having three players who can score 20 or more on any given night is one thing, but adding them to a core with Walker Kessler, Ace Bailey, Brice Sensabaugh, Jusuf Nurkic (?), another high lottery pick, and so forth, and this would be a force to be reckoned with.
Utah has more options in case Reaves goes elsewhere, but it's pretty easy to see from McCants' perspective why it would be so exciting to add him on top of everything else coming the Jazz's way this summer.
Imagine the exciting core they have right now, then add a player comparable to prime Gordon Hayward. We are getting a bit ahead of ourselves, and the comparison isn't perfect, but Reaves is good enough that the Jazz would have every reason to believe that a return to the playoffs isn't a possibility, but a certainty.
Sound familiar? It should, because that's what it was like during the golden age of Jerry Sloan.