Jazz leveraging draft picks in search of star talent

As previously noted, the Jazz have been on a steady decline since trading away Donovan Mitchell to the Cavaliers in the summer of 2022. Surprisingly, Utah actually got off to a red hot start to the 2022-23 season, led by power forward Lauri Markannen as well as a Motley crew of role players including Jordan Clarkson and young center Walker Kessler.

However, the winning ways eventually cooled down and the Jazz were unable to make it into the big dance. This year, the Jazz started out much slower, and although they did enjoy a brief stretch of nice basketball in the middle of the season, they ultimately once again missed the playoffs leading into this highly consequential offseason.

Markannen has naturally been an immense target of trade speculation over the last couple of years from those assuming that the Jazz will give in and embrace a full rebuild. The power forward brings a rare combination of size, perimeter shooting, shot-blocking ability, and the ability to put the ball on the floor and create his own offense that essentially every team in the league is looking for these days.

However, according to Scotto’s report, the Jazz could be looking to leverage that stardom for their own aspirations by adding another talent to pair alongside Markannen. Oddly enough, Mitchell–along with other star guards like Trae Young and Dejounte Murray–figures to be a common name thrown around the rumor mill this summer.

In any case, the NBA offseason will officially get underway at the conclusion of the Finals in June.