Utah Jazz Copying Thunder Blueprint With Will Hardy Extension

Player Development as a Cornerstone

One of Hardy’s standout achievements has been the development of Lauri Markkanen. Acquired in the Donovan Mitchell trade, Markkanen blossomed into a star under Hardy’s guidance.

He averaged 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds while flirting with 50/40/90 shooting splits. His efforts earned him an All-Star selection and the league’s Most Improved Player award. Markkanen’s leap reflects Hardy’s ability to nurture talent, even amid chaos.

In his first season, Hardy led a team expected to tank to 37 wins. That squad, filled with veterans like Mike Conley and Malik Beasley, won 10 of its first 16 games, leading the league. After the trade deadline sent many key players packing, Hardy still managed to keep the team competitive.

Following the Thunder Blueprint

Utah appears to be modeling its rebuild after the Oklahoma City Thunder. When OKC handed the reins to Mark Daigneault, they allowed him to endure the growing pains of rebuilding. The team went 22-50 in his first year and missed the playoffs several times.

But the Thunder stuck with their plan. That patience has paid off. In 2024-25, OKC won 68 games and emerged as a top title contender.

The Jazz want to walk a similar path. The Will Hardy extension signals their willingness to stay patient and build organically. Danny Ainge, the architect of this rebuild, traded stars like Rudy Gobert and Mitchell for young assets and picks. Now he wants to see the long-term plan unfold with Hardy at the helm.

Chasing a Franchise-Altering Talent

The Jazz finished with the NBA’s worst record this season. That earns them a 14% chance at landing the No. 1 pick in the draft. The top prize? Cooper Flagg, a potential franchise-altering superstar capable of changing a franchise’s trajectory.

Adding Flagg to a core featuring Markkanen, Keyonte George, Walker Kessler and Isaiah Collier would accelerate the rebuild. Hardy, under contract through 2031, would be in a prime position to guide that transformation.

The Thunder showed that with patience, development, and draft success, small-market teams can compete with the league’s best. The extension indicates the Jazz hope to do the same.

Will Hardy’s Extension: A Long-Term Vision

Hardy hasn’t delivered wins yet, but he’s shown growth, development, and resilience. The Jazz aren’t panicking. They’re planning.

The extension gives Utah continuity at the top, a rare asset in today’s NBA. It gives Hardy time to experiment, fail, learn, and ultimately succeed. If the Jazz replicate even a portion of the Thunder’s trajectory, their faith in Hardy could become one of their smartest moves yet.