The team the Utah Jazz are going to start the 2023-24 season with on Wednesday night is not a finished product.
Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, general manager Justin Zanik and head coach Will Hardy are all well aware that the team is still in a rebuilding process and is not ready to win a title. There are more moves to be made in the future, but that doesn’t mean the group isn’t ready to start winning games.
The Jazz’s best player, Lauri Markkanen, has made it clear that he wants to be in the playoffs — the NBA stage he’s not yet played on.
Well, he’s not alone.
“We want to be in the playoffs,” Ainge said on Tuesday evening. “Let’s get there. I want to be in the playoffs too, Lauri. Let’s go.”
But even as the Jazz have their sights set on the postseason, Ainge and the rest of the front office are continuing to think about ways to get them beyond just a playoff berth.
“There’s a lot of questions that we have on our team and a lot of individual players that we’re not certain about,” Ainge said before noting how much work is put into evaluating players who could potentially be added to the roster.
“Justin, and I and Will, we talk all the time about how this player would fit in? When the good players are available, we know how good they are, and we know what they can do to help us and we’re in on the talks.”
The Jazz have the assets, contracts and capital to make some big moves, but there has to be a level of patience and a ton of care whenever discussions are being had in which those assets and capital could be utilized.
The Jazz were involved in trade discussions with multiple teams throughout the offseason, most notably taking part in negotiations regarding Jrue Holiday, but ultimately decided that they weren’t willing to put all their eggs in the Holiday basket.
But, the Jazz aren’t always going to be so cautious. Eventually — possibly this season or next — they are going to be more willing to push their chips in and make a true push toward being a title contending team.
“If the price gets too steep, we have to be disciplined and do what’s right for the long term future of the Jazz,” Ainge said. “There will come a time when we might be more shortsighted. We’re hoping that, actually.”
The Jazz are constantly in a state of evaluating. The front office is assessing the players currently on the roster, players on other rosters, players who are coming in through the draft, players who are becoming free agents and players who could be acquired via trade. This season is no different in that regard.
What is different this season, compared to the last, is that there are hopes and expectations that there will be improvement in the win column.