What Will Utah Jazz Do This Offseason?
Apr 15, 2024, 2:52 PM
SALT LAKE CITY – Though all eyes will be on the Arizona Coyotes relocation to Salt Lake City this summer, the Utah Jazz enter another offseason that will help sculpt the organization’s future.
Despite a 26-26 start to the year, the Jazz completed the 2023-24 campaign with a 31-51 record, preferring to maximize draft positioning over a run at the Play-In Tournament.
Here’s a guide to the 2024 offseason for the Jazz.
What Do The Jazz Want To Do This Offseason?
Having spoken to several decision-makers throughout the organization, the Jazz’s goal this offseason remains simple; get better.
The information that is more difficult to procure is who they are targeting to improve the roster, be it through internal development, the draft, free agency, or trades.
A top priority will be to sign Lauri Markkanen to a long-term contract extension. The All-Star forward can add four years and upwards of $160 million to his current deal, and there appears to be confidence that a deal will get done.
Here are your NBA Draft lottery odds courtesy of @tankathon. pic.twitter.com/VDwznr0Gco
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) April 14, 2024
Beyond Markkanen’s extension, the Jazz would welcome chaos in the NBA Playoffs, and the type of turmoil that would force teams to make franchise-changing moves this offseason.
The Jazz experienced this firsthand during the 2022 postseason when they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the opening round of the playoffs and thoroughly dismantled the roster in the ensuing months.
Related: What Type Of Help Do The Jazz Need This Summer?
With teams like Boston, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Golden State, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Phoenix, and the Lakers and Clippers perceived as being “all-in” for deep playoff runs, early exits in the postseason could behoove the Jazz who are lying in wait for an All-Star caliber player to become available.
An early exit could irk a star player into asking for a trade, or force the hand of a wary owner to divest in a financially bloated roster.
The Jazz will have their preferred targets, and won’t make a move simply to shake up the status quo, but the NBA is overdue for a dramatic offseason, and Danny Ainge and Justin Zanik have the tools at their disposal to make a move.
What Rebuilding Tools Do Jazz Have?
While trading away Simone Fontecchio, Kelly Olynyk, and Ochai Agbaji at the trade deadline was not universally lauded by Jazz fans, it made the 2024 offseason far more interesting.
The trades netted the Jazz the 32nd overall pick, a late first-round pick (either the 28th or 29th pick), and as a result of losing so many games down the stretch, a top-ten pick currently slotted for eighth, though that could rise or fall via the draft lottery.
An updated look at the @utahjazz draft pick tracker after tonight’s blockbuster trade.
The Jazz own 15 first-round picks outright, and potentially a 16th depending on next year’s finish.#TakeNote https://t.co/SrFJ3tjRTx
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 9, 2023
Related: What Happens If Jazz Win The Draft Lottery?
Furthermore, the team cleared an additional $30 million in salary space that may have been reserved for Fontecchio, Olynyk, and Agbaji had they remained on the roster, opening roughly $40 million in total cap space this summer.
That $40 million, three top 32 picks in the 2025 draft, and up to 13 other first-round picks through 2031 provide the Jazz with an ample war chest to improve the roster this offseason.
Utah Jazz Free Agents
The Jazz punted on their most valuable free agents at the trade deadline when they traded Olynyk to the Toronto Raptors and Fontecchio to the Detroit Pistons, but these are the team’s other potential free agents to track this summer.
Talen Horton-Tucker: Unrestricted Free Agent
Kris Dunn – Unrestricted Free Agent
Luka Samanic – Unrestricted Free Agent
Johnny Juzang – Restricted Free Agent
Micah Potter – Restricted Free Agent
Omer Yurtseven – Non-Guaranteed
Kenneth Lofton Jr. – Non-Guaranteed
Darius Bazley – Non Guaranteed
Important Dates
TBD: Draft Tiebreaker For 28th or 29th Pick
May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
May 12-19: NBA Draft Combine
June 26-27: NBA Draft
June 29: Qualifying Offers Due For Kira Lewis Jr., Micah Potter, and Johnny Juzang
July 1: NBA Free Agency Moratorium Begins
July 6: Free Agents Can Be Signed
July 8-10: Salt Lake City Summer League
July 12-22: Las Vegas Summer League
July 25: Kenneth Lofton Jr. and Darius Bazley Partial Guarantee Date
July 27 – August 11: Paris Olympics Basketball Tournament
August 6: Lauri Markkanen Extension Eligible
October 1: Training Camp Begins
Are you on Threads yet? Let’s connect, give us a follow @kslsports.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.
