Without making any drastic trades or signings during this offseason, the Utah Jazz have been busy finding ways to improve the team’s outlook for this season and beyond. A low-risk, high-reward deal to get John Collins, a successful draft consisting of three first-round picks, and a few things to tidy up around the edges have allowed the Jazz to take some significant steps forward this summer.
Despite many fans clamoring for a blockbuster trade or signing, Utah has remained steadily conservative in their efforts to improve this team. With the newest signing to bring on the Miami Heat C Omer Yurtseven, the Jazz may call it a wrap on moving any pieces in or out of the team until the regular season begins.
Of course, if any enticing player comes along for the right price, Danny Ainge would be the last person to hesitate to make a move for him. However, by using the remainder of their cap and roster space for Yurtseven, the Jazz have just a fraction of the flexibility they did in May or June.
The roster now stands at 17 total players, potentially 18 depending on if Johnny Juzang returns on his pending two-way deal. At that point, the Jazz would have to look at making cuts instead of additions,
Combine this with no free money to spend on the open market; it is difficult to see any new moves on the way for Utah at the moment.
Once training camp and pre-season begin to ramp up in the coming weeks, then there’s a possibility some new rumors pop up here and there. Given there’s still rumors of Damian Lillard and James Harden being on the move, moving parts are still in motion are the association.
Still, the Jazz seem pretty content with what they’ve managed to build up to this point. There’s a better chance they ride it out with the guys they have on hand now and re-evaluate the state of the roster further down the line.
Jazz fans can look ahead to the 2024 trade deadline and next off-season for the big moves to begin gaining traction. Then, Utah will have much more flexibility and assets with enhanced value to make a trade for even an All-Star type of player.
Until then, fans may have to stay patient in the process underway. An exciting combination of competitive veterans and young pieces can still be the perfect recipe for obtaining a playoff berth next Spring.
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