Will Hardy's latest comments may have just cemented Elijah Harkless' Jazz fate

Yes, the Utah Jazz are still losing, but last night's tough one against the Nuggets served as another reminder that next season, they're coming. The offense is set, but the defense needs more reinforcements, and should they play their cards right, Harkless has proven he's absolutely one of them.

After the Jazz lost to the Nuggets, Will Hardy singled out Harkless, saying, "I think Elijah's our best defender."

Even if the Jazz wound up surrendering 128 points to the Nuggets, Harkless' individual defense was hard not to notice, and in a good way.

The Jazz's defense is going to get some major upgrades with the incoming returns of Walker Kessler and Jaren Jackson Jr. next season. However, forming a contender requires more than just two guys. That duo is expected to do some damage, but teams will look for the leaks, and Harkless will plug some of them.

For example, Jamal Murray may have gone off last night, but Harkless made him work for the points he got.

In fact, Harkless spent most of the night on the Joker, which contributed to his pedestrian performance (22 points, 12 rebounds, five assists).

The Jazz should get Harkless on a standard deal ASAP

Currently, Harkless is on a two-way deal in Utah. In this modern age, players on two-way contracts who stand out typically get converted so that teams can keep a quality player while also ensuring they are cost-controlled.

That's the golden opportunity Utah has with Harkless. They can keep someone who could be an integral part of their defense long-term, which is exactly what they need, and they can have it for cheap.

Harkless probably won't start, but he has the makings of a specialist. He has the potential tonbe a gamechanger for a team that needs one. He won't be one of Utah's best players, but his efforts on Murray and Jokic show the kind of impact he can have.

The Jazz had no business giving the Nuggets the good fight until the end, but they did, and Harkless' role in that is clear evidence that he's not one they should let get away.

The last piece of the puzzle for Harkless

For everything that Harkless is, the one thing he isn't is a floor-spacer. Teams will pick on that if the Jazz elevate his role next season. Utah will definitely need what he provides, but he'll either have to improve himself as a three-point shooter or find other ways of being a connector if he can't.

It's not like he's the only one they'll demand two-way play out of. The Jazz have multiple players who will demand more next season as they start winning. However, Harkless stands out more than some of those players because of his defensive play.

Harkless can be a Kris Dunn-esque diamond in the rough in Utah. As long they keep him, and he adds some offense to his game, that could pay off in a big way next season.