Despite low expectations, the Utah Jazz have enough seasoned veterans that they may not perform as poorly as some of the league’s worst teams. This could pose a problem because if they exceed expectations, it might keep them stuck in a cycle of mediocrity, as they have been for the past two seasons.
Dan Favale of *Bleacher Report* explained why repeating the results of the past two seasons would be the “worst-case scenario” for Jazz fans:
“Utah has managed to maintain an above-.500 record more than halfway through the past two seasons. This is a testament to their underappreciated talent, an exciting style of play at times, and head coach Will Hardy’s magic touch. However, this success has been inconvenient. The Jazz have had to intentionally avoid playoff contention in both instances. Despite this, they ended up selecting ninth in the 2023 draft and tenth in 2024.
“Exceeding expectations is fine if you have your franchise cornerstone. Utah does not.”
Favale goes on to say that while the Jazz have impressive young talent, they need to use this season to determine if any of those players have star potential, which he doubts.
“Markkanen is excellent, and extending his contract was a wise move. It will benefit the Jazz whether they keep him or trade him down the line. However, he is not the best player on a title-contending team. The odds that Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, or Cody Williams are that player are slim. The Jazz need to give them the responsibility to prove their worth right away—not after the trade deadline, the All-Star break, or once Jalen Green’s internal clock hits March 1st, but from the start. This is crucial for gaining valuable insight and improving their lottery odds.”
Favale warned that if the Jazz once again find themselves scraping toward the middle of the pack, they’ll be forced to look for the missing piece either at the end of the lottery or through trades—a strategy the organization should avoid.
While these concerns are valid, it’s important to note that this scenario might not be as grim as it seems for the Jazz. If their young talent can show significant growth, it could help the team find a better path forward, even if they aren’t immediate contenders.
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The Jazz have a foundation and options at that
It’s true that being stuck in the middle—neither bad enough to tank nor good enough to compete—can quickly become frustrating, but the Jazz have already made some progress in their rebuild. Will Hardy has proven himself to be a strong coach, and while Lauri Markkanen might not be the centerpiece of a championship team, he is certainly a valuable piece.
Tanking may be a smart strategy in theory, but it’s far from guaranteed. Even if the Jazz drop a level, there’s no assurance they’ll land the top draft prospect or that the player will turn out to be a franchise-changer. Building a championship team takes time, and while tanking can speed up the process, it’s also important to build a winning culture. It might be frustrating to see the Jazz make progress only to scale back, but setting low expectations can lead to bad habits on the court.
The Jazz are trying to strike a balance—putting in effort to win while still losing enough games to stay competitive in the draft. And, if that strategy doesn’t work out, fans should remember that Danny Ainge has an eye for talent. He deserves credit for building the foundation of the 2024 Celtics championship team, drafting players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown without needing the No. 1 pick. His track record suggests that he knows how to spot talent, even if the Jazz don’t land the top draft pick.
Even if none of the current young players pan out, the Jazz are in a position of flexibility. They have assets and the ability to pivot if a star player becomes available. While they may not have an immediate win-now focus, the team is equipped to make moves if the opportunity arises.
Regardless of how the 2024-25 season plays out, the Jazz are in a good place moving forward, with options to either develop their young core or make a major move down the line. Their future remains promising, no matter which direction they choose.