It’s no secret that the Utah Jazz have been trying to tank for the last few seasons.
Although they have been relatively unsuccessful in their efforts so far — after trading away franchise players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell and firing head coach Quin Snyder in the summer of 2022 — the front office decided it was time for a change of direction for the franchise, and losing a lot was the way they were headed.
Tank Efforts Fail in Previous Seasons
The team surprised many in the 2022-23 season by fighting for a playoff spot 54 games in.
They were 26-28 at that point. This is still a losing record, but it’s respectable for a team that just traded away their two top players. After the trade deadline, in which notable players like Mike Conley and Jarred Vanderbilt were dealt, their record dropped to 10-19 to finish the year significantly worse.
The 2023-24 season followed a similar trend. They fought for a playoff spot and held a 26-27 record. Again, losing record, but for a team that was supposed to lose, that is significant. After the trade deadline, they fell off competitively. A post-trade deadline record of 5-25, and losing 13 games in a row from Mar. 16 until Apr. 9, finishing the year 31-51.
For a team needing to build in the draft, the 2022-24 seasons were unsuccessful. The Jazz held multiple first-round draft picks in the 2023 & 2024 drafts but only as high as ninth. They picked up players who have been strong contributors to the team, such as Keyonte George and Taylor Hendricks, who are currently out for the season after a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle.
This season looks to be a stronger effort. As of Jan. 17, the Jazz had the fifth-worst record in the NBA as the trade deadline approaches on Feb. 6.
Losing Games by Working the System
Losing efforts are seen in the injury report, if not in games.
Nearly every game day, the injury report has three to four players listed, which might be an exaggeration of a perceived reality. Without discounting a potential injury bug the Jazz could be fighting over the last few months, this could be the workaround to penalties surrounding ‘load management’ and do their best to rest players for games, as can be seen from Utah’s game on Monday, Jan. 13 against the Nets— a team also fighting for draft position.
Over the past few months, a lengthy list of players, both listed as ‘out’ or ‘questionable,’ has not been uncommon. If the Jazz were hypothetically fighting for home-court advantage in the playoffs rather than draft status, would more of these players fight through injuries?
Jazz Injury Report:
QUESTIONABLE – Kyle Filipowski (right ankle sprain)
QUESTIONABLE – Lauri Markkanen (low back spasms)
QUESTIONABLE – Brice Sensabaugh (return to competition reconditioning)
OUT – Jordan Clarkson (left plantar fasciitis)
OUT – John Collins (left hip -…
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 12, 2025
Frustrations Over Development and Veteran Minutes
In previous seasons, Jazz fans’ central complaint was the lack of playing time for younger players who needed development time.
This would give the coaching staff and front office a better idea of the players on their team. Veteran players have slowly been shipped out. Except for Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, and Collin Sexton, most players receiving meaningful minutes are still within their first few years in the league.
Unfortunately, having veterans play meaningful minutes in a season full of losing and development is a necessary frustration. Young guys getting minutes and trying to develop into key players for the team is extremely important. However, they also need someone who has been there before and can guide them through being an NBA player.
Veterans can do just that.
Balancing Winning, Losing, and Development
The necessary balancing act for the Jazz to land a top draft pick is not an easy one.
No one in the organization will openly admit to wanting to lose games. You don’t land a job in any sports organization without an amazing drive to win at everything.
Losses are necessary, but it doesn’t mean they’re fun or should be desired. Players and coaches are eventually going to get tired of losing. Bringing out the balancing act for the front office, trying not to win but not trying to lose, either. It’s a real brain buster to keep a winning mindset while not trying to win many games.
The rest of the season will continue in this constant balancing act. On the one hand, you don’t want a young guy’s confidence to be ruined from a lack of winning, consequently hampering their development.
On the other hand, winning too much lowers your chance of a high draft pick. The Jazz front office and coaching staff will have a tricky next couple of seasons if they continue on the path they currently find themselves, which they probably should. They are working hard enough to develop a winning culture. Now, they just need to get a little lucky with the lottery balls.
But luck is just when preparation meets opportunity, right?
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