The Utah Jazz are nine games into their season and it's already very clear that they do not have a clear path forward. Last year we saw the team struggle to choose whether or not they wanted to tank or make the playoffs. That struggle resulted in the team neither making the playoffs nor getting a top five pick. We came into this season thinking we wouldn't have that issue, and that playoffs were the goal, but at this point I'm not too sure about that. Their current rotation is an absolute mess, and if they don't make changes soon they will end up in a very similar situation that they faced a year ago.
Bright Spots: Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, John Collins
There hasn't been much to be excited for so far this season, but these three guys have given us Jazz fans at least a bit of hope. John Collins, who the team traded for this offseason, has been the second best player on the team. He hasn't been spectacular, but he's been better than a lot of us thought he would be, and we basically got him for free. Keyonte George has been the only one of our three rookies who has gotten minutes so far this season, and he has been very good in those minutes. His role has increased game by game, and he's slowly becoming the Jazz's premiere playmaker. Finally, Lauri Markkanen has been Lauri Markkanen. He is playing like a top 15 player in the league, and if he had the ball in his hands more, that fact would be very apparent. He does more with limited usage than any player in the league, and if our head coach could figure out that he should probably have the ball more maybe we would win more games.
pc: Gerald Herbert/AP Photo
Concerning Starts: Walker Kessler, Ochai Agbaji, Taylor Hendricks
This is by far the most worrying category of players. These are all guys that I love, but who have struggled (or must be struggling) so far this season. Taylor Hendricks was the Jazz's number nine pick in this year's draft. He came in as one of my five favorite prospects, and I was stoked when we drafted him. However, he has only played two minutes this season, and hasn't touched the floor since the first game of the year. He's completely out of the rotation, which is very concerning considering who is in the rotation. Ochai Agbaji was one of my favorite rookies in the league last year, as he showed signs of being an elite three-and-d player. He is still showing those signs this year, but all they are are signs, not true production. I will say I think most of his issues stem from the coaching staff not giving him nearly enough minutes. He should be a starter and instead he is playing less minutes than he did his rookie season. Finally, my biggest concern this season, Walker Kessler. A player who should clearly be the second best player on this team and who should be competing for defensive player of the year just hasn't been himself. He, like Agbaji, is not getting the minutes he deserves. He does start, but then he only plays bench minutes the rest of the game. His defense still looks great, but he looks like a shell of himself on offense. I hope this is only a temporary slump, because if it's not we somehow ruined a diamond in the rough.
pc: Ryan Sun/Deseret News
Time to Move On: Jordan Clarkson, Talen Horton-Tucker, Collin Sexton
This is the most frustrating group of players on the team. All three of these guys are offensive vampires, who have to get their points before helping the team play winning basketball. Collin Sexton gets somewhat of a pass only because he's the least egregious of the three. I still wish he wasn't on my team, but the other two need to go first. Talen Horton-Tucker is just a hilarious player. If you look at his stats you would think he's the second best player on the team, but when you watch the game you hate him. He's a shot chucker who turns the ball over like a mad man, but who gets just enough assists to pull the wool over the casual fan's eyes. Then you have Jordan Clarkson, who in the past was a huge asset to the Jazz. Now, as a starter, he's making his case for the worst player in the league. He is in a select group of elite ball hogs in this league, and he's vying for the top spot among them. He refuses to pass the ball to his teammates, it does not matter if the guy he should be passing it to is one of the best players in the league. I want nothing more than these guys off of my basketball team, and somehow I don't think the front office agrees with me.
pc: Scott G. Winterton/Deseret News
What Should Be Done?
First things first, Will Hardy needs to figure it out quick. I was a big fan of his up until this year, but right now I'm almost out on him. Guys like Kessler, Agbaji, and George playing less than Clarkson, Horton-Tucker, and Kelly Olynyk is a joke. The front office has to make a move quick if they're still looking to compete. By move I mean trading away Jordan Clarkson and Talen Horton-Tucker. Now, if we're looking to tank despite the fact that this next draft class is weak, then we're doing a great job. However, how many years can you tank when you have a player like Lauri Markkanen entering his prime? The answer is probably one, so the guys in charge need to have a game plan ready for the next few seasons and I'm just not sure that they do.