Utah Jazz may be on the verge of making a huge mistake
The Utah Jazz will be making a huge mistake if they fall in love with their hot start to the season.
The Utah Jazz is 9-3. They have the best record in the Western Conference. They have a hot new head coach and a collection of players on their roster that makes it easy to root for. However, they may be on the verge of making a huge mistake that could set their franchise back another half-decade.
Entering this season, it was all about finding the next foundation of the franchise after the team elected to trade Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Generally, the first step of a rebuild entails getting a high draft pick to do so. Though, after the first 12 games of the season, an argument could be made that the Jazz may be on the verge of losing its direction.
The Utah Jazz needs to remember this is the start of a rebuild
I get it to a certain extent. It’s fun to win. And it’s especially fun to do so when no one expects you to win. But there’s a dangerous line that the Jazz may be trying to balance. Winning to any extent this season is only going to give this franchise false hope.
You don’t trade two all-stars during an offseason and get better. That’s what the Jazz’s early start suggests, but it’s false hope.
There may have only been 12 games played thus far but the Jazz has already won nine. Last season, teams with the five-worst records didn’t win more than 25 games. The Jazz is already nearly halfway there with less than a quarter of the season played.
And for as good as the Jazz has been this season, it’s difficult to say that there are any foundational building blocks currently on the roster. Can you buy Lauri Markkanen’s hot start? He’s 25 years old and has not broken out as a star. We’re supposed to believe that he’s one now? I’m sorry but that’s difficult to believe for me.
Jordan Clarkson has been great to start the year but he’s already 30 years old and there’s a good chance he’s already played the best basketball of his career.
Collin Sexton is the one player that could change the math for the Jazz but even he hasn’t looked like his true self yet this season as he’s still trying to hit his stride after his injury from last season.
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The Jazz has been a good story so far this season but the franchise needs to keep its eye on the prize and not fall in love with this false hope. I’m not sure what the front office is waiting for but it’s time for them to cash in on some of these players that they know are not going to be building blocks for the future. Before they mess around and fall right back into NBA purgatory.