SLC Dunk - Ranking Utah Jazz assets ahead of 2024 offseason

[Adam Bushman]

Will Hardy and Danny Ainge talk shop during scrimmage | Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images

The Utah Jazz have a treasure trove of assets as they enter an offseason ripe with opportunity to further mold what they hope to be contender in the near future. Let’s rank them!

While select organizations and fanbases enjoy their team’s run in the NBA playoffs, the rest of the league, including the Jazz, have hit the offseason. And so continues the work of further refining the team, deriving its next iteration en route to the eventual goal of contender.

With the help of all information gathered from the past season, I thought it’d be a fun exercise to rank all team assets heading into the offseason. Here’s an is/is not summary of what’s in store with this list:

IS​

• An ordered list of assets based on relative preference. Decisions were routinely made by asking, “Which of two options could I live without?”
• “Assets” is an umbrella term for players under team control, round 1 draft picks, trade exceptions, and cap space; in essence, common items affecting the team’s financial ability to construct a team.
• Ordinal ranking; while there are certainly tiers and obvious gaps in value between assets, an effort for simplicity directed me toward a strictly ordered list.

IS NOT​

• Gospel; this is my opinion and evaluation, intended to promote constructive conversation and introduce concepts of team management.
• Exhaustive; I intentionally left out 2nd round draft picks since they circulate so often. One could also conceivably expand the definition of “assets”. Doing so, however, would but offer only marginal gains in my estimation.
• Fixed; assets will flow in and out of this list over the next several months. As more data points surface, these rankings would expect to change in response.

I will describe my thoughts and perspective for many of the assets, though in some cases, particularly for draft picks, a consecutive group may be describe just once. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the rankings!

Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images
Lauri Markkanen is all smiles as things in Utah aren’t perfect but hopeful

Lauri Markkanen​

Markkanen is a 27 year old All-Star contender with $18M on the books next season and eligible for extension talk. No other asset currently projects to reach such production for value. Whatever direction they move with Lauri, he’s their high card.

Collin Sexton​

Sexton is in a similar boat to Lauri: production for value generally exceeds what is projected from other assets. 26 years old, 2 seasons remaining under contract at ~$18M a year. With proper playing time, he can deliver top 75 NBA player production.

2025 | R1 | Own, protected 1-10​

These next 3 assets are of the most high value for the franchise. The 2025 draft class is ripe with high end talent and Utah’s talent pool projects them with competitive draft position.

2026 | R1 | Own, protected 1-8, swap MIN, CLE​

Similarly, the 2026 draft features prospects projected as high level. The Jazz have the right to swap their first round pick for either the Minnesota Timberwolves or Cleveland Cavaliers pick, provided the Jazz retain their pick with a top 8 selection.

2028 | R1 | Own, swap CLE​

The Jazz have another right to swap picks in 2028. A lot can happen between now and then. The Cleveland Cavaliers must navigate the Donovan Mitchell saga, determine what extension to give Mobley and Allen, while satisfying Garland.

Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
Keyonte George ended the season on a high note, hopefully spelling good fortune for an offseason of development

Keyonte George​

At this point in our list of assets, we’ve exhausted the high potential and known options. Keyonte possesses a good amount of both but Utah faces one less year on a rookie contract. The team has high hopes for George and this next season will bring intriguing data points.

2029 | R1 | CLE​

We’ve discussed the uncertainty around Cleveland. They’ve picked #1 in the draft 3 times over the past two decades. If you wanted to bet against the good fortune of a team, the Cavs are high on the list. Jazz get bites at the apple in ‘27 and ‘29.

2027 | R1 | CLE​

See above.

Kenneth Lofton Jr.​

Utah’s late season pickup in Lofton may seem like an odd choice here but the circumstances are all the clarification needed. He signed a 3 year, non-guaranteed deal at ~2M per. He’s a tremendously unique and gifted player with pedigree at only 22 years old.

Brice Sensabaugh​

Sensabaugh didn’t see consistent run with the Jazz until late in the year. He was inconsistent but played well in his extended run with the G-League. He was a value grab in last year’s lottery and has a pretty good chance to be value-add on his rookie deal.

Taylor Hendricks​

Like Sensabaugh, Hendricks didn’t get much run until late in the season. While flashes of brilliance popped up sporadically, unlike Sensabaugh, Hendricks has yet to consistently show any elite NBA skills befitting a top 10 pick.

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
2023 NBA draft board

2027 | R1 | MIN​

The following three picks fall into the category of mid-horizon. They aren’t far enough out to hang your hat on “anything can happen” and the teams project to be solid at such a point.

2025 | R1 | MIN​

See above.

2025 | R1 | CLE​

See above.

2024 | R1 | #8​

Utah’s pick this upcoming draft, while estimated to be even higher than last year’s selection, is found in a far weaker draft. Utah will be happy with a staple rotation player at #8, should they remain there post-lottery.

2030 | R1 | Own​

The next 3 picks are on the opposite extreme. Utah intends to be contending in the back half of this decade, thereby rending the picks as late in the first round. However, opposing teams would covet such picks banking on the “anything could happen”. Holding onto these is a sure way to hedge against one’s own unforeseen demise.

2029 | R1 | Own​

See above.

2027 | R1 | Own​

See above.

2029 | R1 | MIN, protected 5-30​

The next two picks lack the luster of the former firsts given much of the desirable upside (top 4) is protected. With the flattened lottery odds, a team well outside of the top 4 has better than a long shot at jumping therein. These also don’t carry over year to year where Utah could get multiple bites at the apple.

2027 | R1 | LAL, protected 5-30​

See above.

Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images
Walker Kessler didn’t quite have the sophomore campaign he was planning on.

Walker Kessler​

Walker’s ranking may surprise many. After all, a sophomore slump isn’t necessarily anything to panic about. This ranking is largely a reflection of the position: traditional bigs are fairly commonplace and Kessler’s rookie contract is half over. His stock would definitely improve were he to produce as an All-Defense level in starter minutes.

2025 | $84M​

The upcoming two years of cap space are unlikely to yield big name free agent signings in the traditional sense. Rather, Utah can leverage this space to extend Lauri and/or capitalize on lack-luster performance of 2nd-apron teams desperate to shed money.

2024 | $37M​

See above.

Darius Bazley​

Like Lofton, Bazley is on a great deal. He lacks the pedigree and uniqueness of Kenneth, but has potential as a rotation contributor should Utah be the right spot for him to flourish.

Jason Preston​

Preston is on a two-way, meaning the Jazz have some great flexibility in contract and playing-time allocation. Jason was great for the Stars last year and may find himself with more NBA minutes next year as a thanks.

2024 | R2 | #32​

The remaining draft picks Utah will make this season are at the very end of the first round and very start of the second. For this reason, #32 is more value. Contracts for second round picks differ from those of the first-round. Last year’s altered CBA allows for three- or four-year deals without dipping into cap space or a team’s MLE. Regardless, hitting on a prospect here is unlikely.

2024 | R1 | #29​

See above.

Omer Yurtseven​

Like Walker, Omer’s skillset at the position is ripe with replacement level talent. He’s on a good figure for the upcoming year but thereafter he’s a free agent. He won’t be drawing any big attention from Utah or the market at large.

Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images
Clarkson was relegated to the sidelines due to injury much of the latter half of the season.

Jordan Clarkson​

Fans may find it odd to see Jordan this far down. It is true Clarkson’s figure from last year will drop significantly for the next two. But that’s where the problems start. Utah has Clarkson for two more years with young guards littering the roster. Clarkson’s style and career stage don’t align well. And he wasn’t highly sought after at last year’s deadline.

John Collins​

Again, fans may wonder why John ranks so low. After all, he’s had a tremendous bounce back season. While true, we must remember how John was valued during the last transaction: the final guaranteed year for Rudy Gay and a 2nd round pick. John’s bounce back and another year off his deal improves things, but isn’t likely to net you any assets befitting a rebuilding team.

2026 | $153M​

Long term cap space isn’t all that great except for knowing you aren’t in deep water for half a decade. Unless Utah lands blue-chip stars, they likely keep most of the powder dry, allowing most any deal to work itself out.

2027 | $169M​

See above.

Kelly Olynyk | $6M​

The Utah Jazz acquired two trade exceptions during the February trade deadline from last season. The exception from the Kelly Olynyk deal is valued at $6 while the exception from the Simone Fontecchio deal comes in at $3M. Any move leveraging these assets is marginal at best.

Simone Fontecchio | $3M​

See above.

Full story from SLC Dunk...