Coming into the 2022-23 NBA season, it looked as if the Utah Jazz were focused more on the future than the regular season they were about to get underway. The offseason was full of trades as Utah parted ways with a large chunk of the veterans from their rotation last season.
It was the end of an era as Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves, respectively. Royce O’Neale and Bojan Bogdanovic were also traded while Mike Conley Jr., Rudy Gay and Jordan Clarkson were involved in trade rumors as well.
The last three players remain on the team, for now, and have been part of a shocking start in Salt Lake City. The Jazz started 10-3 but have since lost three consecutive games thus far, easily the most surprising performance of any team in the NBA.
No one predicted the Jazz to be in third place in the Western Conference after one month of games. Even the most optimistic of fans couldn’t have seen this coming after all of the talent that the team traded away. But, the veterans on the roster certainly have a chip on their shoulder and they did get back some solid players in the deals they made.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Lauri Markkanen & Utah Jazz Updates
Recently, Danny Ainge, the architect behind the current roster, spoke about how things have gone thus far. Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton and Kelly Olynyk are three of the players acquired in trades and all playing well thus far this season.
“I like a lot of the players on our team,” Ainge told Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated. “But the fact that they’ve jelled so well so early is fun. There is a lot of movement and a lot of guys moving the ball. That’s a fun way to play. And I think they’re all enjoying it very much.”
This likely wasn’t the plan of action for Ainge when he was making all of those trades as they were made with an eye toward the future. The team has a treasure trove of draft assets and young players to build a foundation.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Lauri Markkanen & Utah Jazz Updates
Is there a chance that Ainge is disappointed with how things have gone thus far? Some speculated that he wanted to be in the running for top prospects Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson in the 2023 NBA Draft. But, that isn’t something he will even entertain when asked about.
“I’m not commenting on other people’s comments,” says Ainge. “It’s assumed that’s how I feel? Give me a break. I’ve been accused of [building teams to lose] before. It’s never been true.”
While Ainge may say that isn’t true, it certainly looked that way given the deals he made at previous stops and with the Jazz. Whenever he joins a franchise, he seemingly cleans house so that he can rebuild the team in his image from the coaching staff through the roster.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Lauri Markkanen & Utah Jazz Updates
Everyone is waiting for the other shoe to drop, so a lot of eyes will be on the Jazz going forward. It is virtually guaranteed that they will eventually make some trades either to upgrade the roster with some of the assets they have in place or as sellers, looking to cash in on the other veterans that remain on the roster.
