Jazz's latest moves suggest they're still going to tank

One day after trading starting guard Collin Sexton to the Charlotte Hornets, the Utah Jazz are finalizing a buyout of the last year of Jordan Clarkson's contract, worth $14.3M.

Sexton started 61 games for the Jazz last season, while Clarkson averaged 26 minutes per game in an injury-marred season. Now the Jazz are moving forward with an uncertain backcourt that includes third-year guard Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier, who made the All-Rookie team last season, plus Florida point guard Walter Clayton, Jr., whom the Jazz traded up to select with the No. 18 pick.

These players may have bright futures, but for Utah's immediate purposes, they're not likely to be very good in the 2024-25 season. Along with 2024 lottery pick Cody Williams, the Jazz's top four guards may all be 22 or younger, which puts them at a disadvantage in terms of experience and strength against most teams.

But that's fine with Ainge and the Jazz. Last season, the NBA fined Utah for violating the league's player participation policy by holding Lauri Markkanen out of games. They also drew the ire of the league with games like their March 9 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, where the Jazz listed nine players on the injury report.

Utah's solution is not to try harder to compete next season. It's to get rid of the players they'd otherwise have to bench to keep their record bad. The NBA can't frown on the Jazz putting quality players on the injury report if there aren't any quality players to begin with.

The Jazz still owe a first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder that's protected 1-8 next season. More than anything, the team's priority is to be bad enough in 2025-26 that they keep it. The team may have promised its fans not to manipulate minutes to do so, but they didn't promise anything about not manipulating the roster.