UTAH – An optimistic but ultimately disappointing season by the Utah Jazz team came down to a heartbreaking 4-2 series loss at the hands of the Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs last season.
The Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert-led team finished fifth in the Western Conference with a 49-33 record, but were obviously not very happy with their playoff performance, so they took to the trading block in search of a better outcome for the upcoming season.
Utah’s very shocking offseason began on June 5th, 2022 when head coach Quin Snyder stepped down. Under Snyder, the team made the postseason in six of the eight years he was in charge. He was a finalist for Coach of the Year in 2018 and was the Western Conference head coach at the 2021 All-Star game when the Jazz had the NBA’s best record.
Celtics assistant, Will Hardy, subsequently took over as the new head coach.
On June 30th, Utah completed a minor trade, shipping off guard Royce O’Neale to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for whichever is the worst of Brooklyn’s first-round picks next year.
Then, on July 6th, the first big news of the Jazz offseason came when they traded away Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Leandro Bolmaro (No. 23 pick in the 2020 Draft), Walker Kessler (No. 22 pick in 2022 Draft), Jarred Vanderbilt, first-round picks in 2023, 2025, 2027, 2029, and a pick swap in 2026.
Beverley was then flipped on August 25th for Guard Talen Horton-Tucker and Forward Stanley Johnson from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Then came the big one…on September 3rd, the Jazz traded away their superstar, Donovan Mitchell, to the Cavaliers and in return received forward Lauri Markkanen, rookie wing Ochai Agbaji, guard Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2027, and 2029) and two pick swaps (2026 and 2028).
This trade set the tone for the upcoming season and solidified that the Jazz were approaching a full rebuild.
On September 26th, the Jazz completed one more trade that sent forward Bojan Bogdanović to the Detroit Pistons in return for center/forward Kelly Olynyk, guard Saben Lee, and cash considerations.
Coming into the 2022-23 season with a starting lineup of Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Kelly Olynyk you wouldn’t think much of this Jazz team, but they have defied all odds and are currently sitting in first place in the Western Conference with a record of 12-6.
Lauri Markkanen has put the league on notice and is having a breakout year, averaging 22.3 points (21st in the NBA) 8.4 rebounds 2.3 assists.
On November 19th, the Jazz squeaked by the Trailblazers with a narrow 118-113 victory thanks to some incredible shots by Utah. Lauri Markkanen finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists.
The one thing that separates the Jazz from other teams is their balanced attack. Although Markkanen is their primary source of scoring, they also have five other players averaging over 10 PPG this season
Jordan Clarkson – 18.6 PPG and 4.6 APG
Malik Beasley – 14.1 PPG
Collin Sexton – 13.1 PPG
Kelly Olynyk – 12.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.1 APG, and 1.2 SPG
Mike Connley – 10.2 PPG, 7.9 APG, and 1.2 SPG
The team’s chemistry has been off the charts and first-year head coach, Will Hardy, gives his players high praise:
“I love the fact that our team just keeps going and they don’t care who’s out there as long as we get the win. [I’m] just proud of the group and the way they stick together.”
Last night, they took on the 10-7 Los Angeles Clippers who just got Kawhi Leonard and Paul George back in their starting lineup. The Jazz were without Mike Conley and Rudy Gay.
Unfortunately they let a close one slip away as they drop to 12-7 after a 114-121 loss.
Lauri Markkanen went for 25 points and 10 rebounds while Kelly Olynyk put up 19 points and 7 rebounds. Jordan Clarkson added a team-high 26 points, but strong performances by Clippers’ guards Norman Powell and Reggie Jackson, who scored 30 and 27 points respectively, were too much for the Jazz to overcome.
