Regular Season Record: 57-25 (4th Seed)

 

Highlight:

 

The jump in record is something that isn't seen very often in the NSL. Jason turned what was a very young team that wasn't winning into a perennial contender seemingly overnight via numerous avenues with apt drafting and aggressive and shrewd trades bringing star after star while keeping his young talent that he liked to continue to improve and surround the stars with.

 

Another losing season wasn't in Jason's plans as he worked the phones continually in the off season to completely overhaul the roster into something that is barely recognizable and even pushing himself into the GM of the Year conversation. A fairly new GM to the league at the start of last season he didn't let that stop work the trade machine like Beethoven tickled the ivory and just got the most value he could out of every deal much to the chagrin of the other league contenders.

 

It was the most winningest season into Utah Jazz history and all has to be attributed to Jasons taking the young assets the team had and extracting maximum value and using his team building nous to create a truly powerful team that should be atop of the West for many years to come.

 

Now enough of the GM glazing and lets deep dive their season a bit more!

 

 

Lowlight:

 

In what was amazing for the Utah Jazz overall, there was a little sour taste on the season for the Utah fans was the way their post season played out. Coming into their post season match up as a higher seed and favourite, there wasn't a huge difference in between the teams and the series played out that way. They ended up flaming out in a fierce game 7 going down to the Luka led Pelicans. Overall a very admirable season from the Jazz but there has to be a lowlight somewhere.

 

Best trade:

 

Devin Vassell, Jaden Ivey, Amen Thompson, Anthony Black and a mixture of 4 first round picks and swaps

 

FOR

 

Joel Embiid, Dejounte Murray, Sam Hauser Memphis gurture first rounder.

 

The dreaded condensing of youth into genuine superstars is one of the hardest trades to do in the league but here we see it to be one of the best accounts in memory. Getting a genuine superstar in their prime in Embiid PLUS a secondary star in Dejounte Murray is what dreams are made of. They sold off their future and a majority of their young talent but getting a top 10 player in his prime is too good to ignore. The young talent was very high end and had boatloads of potential but Jason didn't want to wait around and find and just wanted wins now that he got here.

 

 

Worst trade:

 

Julius Randle, Josh Giddey and Scoot Henderson

 

FOR

 

James Harden and Jabari Smith Jr

 

Going through the Jazz trades there isn't a bad one in the bunch. This is the “worst” of an excellent bunch. The only reason I put this done as a bad one is Jabari Smith hasn't really panned out in a way the Jazz were expecting and wanted while Scoot has shown some signs of life and Josh Giddey has since been traded into a much better situation in the NBA which will give him a more prominent role and a chance to upgrade his talents. Harden was looking to be heading downhill too but also found a new role that has seen him renew his talents and status on the NSL stage.

 

Other notable trades:

 

Julius Randle for Kai Jones, 3 first round picks and 5 second round picks:

 

Getting a near star for a smattering of picks and a talented but troubled young big man is not an often seen deal. Randle has had his 2k troubles but there is no doubt that the trade scales in this instant in the Jazz favor. (A recurring theme of the season)

 

Sam Hauser, Josh Minott and 2 first round picks for Jalen Smith and a second round pick:

Jalen Smith hasn't lived up to his draft hype but has carved out a really nice role for the Jazz on a very reasonable contract which was very important with the star and their salaries to round out the roster. Still with upside he turned hypothetical talent into something that could actually help now.

 

 

Star:

 

James Harden- This may seem a tad controversial as a team filled with a top 10 rated player and while Embiid is a star in his own right James Harden was the stir that stirred the drink for the Jazz. He scored at will and got the ball to the other stars where they want it. Able to fill many roles, the team just operated better the more the ball was in Hardens hands.

 

Flop:

 

Isaiah Joe- Now not too much was asked of him but when it mattered most he couldn't do that efficiently which was scoring the ball especially from 3. In the playoffs the Jazz were yearning for some points off the bench outside of their big 5 and Joe looked like the most likely type but was just disappointing throughout.

 

FA:

 

(RFA) Isaiah Joe

 

The scorer the Jazz needed got himself a nice contract. With the contract the Jazz will be hoping for some more production out of him and to take on a bigger scoring burden when the stars are off the floor.

 

(FA) Dejounte Murray- One of the stars for the Jazz, he must return to keep Utah as a potential contender. Jason made sure he had the GMs to get his return and return he did. Will he finish the season on the Jazz’s roster, who knows but he is a welcome return either way.

 

 (FA) James Harden- Another one of the stars the Jazz needed they also made sure they could return. Harden is having a resurgent season and they have only helped the Jazz continue their rise up the standings. Harden will be the architect of their offense.

 

Draft:

 

Tidjane Salaun (Pick 13)

 

An upside play here for the Jazz with great size and potential. If he can come on quicker than expected for the Jazz then they may have an extra X-Factor that could take them over the top. Probably not this season but in the next season or 2 while the stars are still playing at an elite level.

 

Future:

 

It's win time for the Jazz. They are all in and want a title, you can almost smell the desperation for the W from their Gm. They need a healthy Embiid season and Jason to continue to works his velvet like voice to convince other GMs to trade at his will but the Jazz are looking to take it all this season and they are a great chance to do just that.