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Jazz could look to use Kris Dunn in some new ways as they work through post-trade growing pains

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2 years ago

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Jazz could look to use Kris Dunn in some new ways as they work through post-trade growing pains


The Utah Jazz are 0-3 since the trade deadline.

There are myriad struggles the team is going to have as it maneuvers through the rest of the 2023-24 season and there’s going to be a lot of experimentation, but that might not be all bad.

Kris Dunn as Kelly Olynyk?

When the Jazz traded Kelly Olynyk to the Toronto Raptors, they didn’t lose just his box score production (8.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists per game).

More importantly, they lost the best secondary playmaker on the team and one who was often used to initiate some of their most effective offense.

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That kind of a loss impacts everyone on the court, and especially impacts the Jazz’s best player, Lauri Markkanen, who does so much off-ball movement.

The Jazz don’t want to just abandon those offensive sets and schemes, so that means they might have to find someone else on the roster capable of the decision-making Olynyk provided while also being the kind of offensive threat who can move with the ball.

“Keyonte (George) is somebody that we’re using a ton to facilitate, but I think we’re gonna have to find ways to utilize Kris (Dunn) maybe in some ways we haven’t in the past,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy said.

That could mean using Dunn as a screener, setting him up in triple-threat positions and allowing him to be in situations where he’s not making decisions while also dribbling. That could mean him getting the ball on the elbow or elbow extended like Olynyk did.

It’s not something Dunn has done a lot of, especially with the Jazz, but it has the potential to unlock some new stuff.

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“I’m willing to do whatever is best for the team,” Dunn told the Deseret News. “I’m up for the challenge, especially if it’s going to help us get a win. That’s the biggest thing, and if anything, in my opinion, it could help me and show them more of my versatility.”

Ultimately the Jazz are going to need to do some of this experimenting with many of their players.

They are going to end up using Markkanen in different ways and trying to find new opportunities for him and new ways for him to grow his game.

As rookie Taylor Hendricks gets more comfortable on an NBA court, they’re going to push him to find out what his potential is as a defender in multiple positions.

And it’s not just Dunn who they’re going to try out as a secondary facilitator. Hardy is also open to using John Collins and even Talen Horton-Tucker.

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That doesn’t mean anyone is going to be able to exactly replicate what Olynyk did for the Jazz. As Markkanen said, Olynyk is “one of a kind.”

But, by putting players in spots on the court that they’re not used to, the Jazz might be able to come away from this last stretch of the season with some newfound knowledge and maybe some new weapons. 

At the very least, they’ll have tried something new, and worst-case scenario, they learn the limitations of some of their core players.





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Utah

Springlike heat surges across Utah; only isolated showers

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4 hours ago

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March 28, 2026

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Springlike heat surges across Utah; only isolated showers


SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A little mid-level moisture will drift across Utah this weekend, but most areas will stay dry.

A few very isolated mountain showers are possible, mainly in the afternoons, but nothing widespread.

The big story is the heat. High pressure will build in, pushing temperatures 15–20 degrees above normal.

It will feel more like late spring, with many areas nearing or breaking March records, especially across central and southern Utah.

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Overall, expect a warm, mostly dry weekend, with just a small chance for a quick mountain shower. Rain chances increase significantly later next week.

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Case dismissed for Wyoming man charged with allegedly kidnapping missing Utah girl – East Idaho News

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16 hours ago

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March 27, 2026

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Case dismissed for Wyoming man charged with allegedly kidnapping missing Utah girl – East Idaho News


POCATELLO — After a search for a missing Utah girl resulted in the arrest of a Wyoming man last November, a motion was accepted to dismiss the man’s case.

Anthony Holm of Star Valley, Wyoming, was originally charged on Nov. 17 with one felony count of second-degree kidnapping, but these charges were dismissed on March 17 during his preliminary hearing.

According to court documents, Bannock County Prosecutor Alan Boehme filed a motion to dismiss the case against Holm, as Utah will bring charges against him.

The motion was granted by Magistrate Judge Carol Tippi Jarman.

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EastIdahoNews.com checked Utah court records, and no charges have been filed at the time of publication.

RELATED | Man arrested on kidnapping charges; missing Utah juvenile located safely

RELATED | Wyoming man charged with kidnapping thought teenager was 18, court documents say

The original incident occurred on Nov. 14, when Bannock County Sheriff’s deputies were contacted by the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office in Utah, which requested assistance in locating a missing juvenile.

The juvenile was believed to be with Holm, who was driving a 2024 Ford Bronco, and was suspected to be in the Lava Hot Springs area.

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Court documents state that the vehicle was spotted at a hotel in Lava Hot Springs; however, the license plate did not match the reported one. Bannock County Dispatch reported that the vehicle belonged to Holm, and later confirmed that he was staying at the hotel.

Deputies spoke with Holm and the 16-year-old girl outside of a hotel room.

When asked by deputies how he knew the girl, he said they met on the app Ashley Madison the day before, and that the girl told him she was 18.

RELATED | Ashley Madison isn’t the only place to cheat. Infidelity thrives on social media

Deputies spoke with the 16-year-old, who confirmed that she had told Holm she was 18, but did not want the man to go to jail. She later told deputies the plan was for them to stay in Lava Hot Springs to swim and spend the night there.

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Documents state that in Willard, Utah, Holm had picked up the juvenile and traveled to Salt Lake City, where the two stayed at a hotel, before traveling to Idaho.

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Utah Falls in Emotional, Physical Game Against Capitals | Utah Mammoth

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1 day ago

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March 27, 2026

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Utah Falls in Emotional, Physical Game Against Capitals | Utah Mammoth


Utah’s power play went 2-for-4, and it was the first time the Mammoth have scored two power play goals in a game since the last time they played the Capitals (Mar. 3, at Washington). Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley each capitalized on the man-advantage in the first period. Cooley was added to the top unit with Barrett Hayton out of the lineup (week-to-week, upper-body injury), and he shared what was working for the top unit.

“Just trying to establish a shot,” Cooley explained. “Trying to build off that and then things start to open up. We have a lot of great players on that unit that can make a lot of plays, and I think when we establish a shot first (mentality) that’s when we’re going to get our opportunities, and find seams and different rebounds like that.”

“They were rolling,” Tourigny said of the power play. “The way they were attacking, the way they were direct, they were really aggressive. They were intentional, their aggressiveness, that paid off.”

In addition to his power play goal, Guenther also scored three minutes and 55 seconds later. The forward has six multi-goal efforts this season and he set a new career-high in points (61). This is his second consecutive season with 60 or more points. Guenther has been a consistent scorer for the Mammoth as he has nine goals in the month of March and has scored eight of those in the last 11 games. He trails on Boston’s Pavel Zacha (9) for the league lead in that span. 

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MacKenzie Weegar scored his first goal as a member of the Mammoth in the third period. He’s contributed a point in two-straight games and has grown his role with Utah. In addition to playing alongside alternate captain Mikhail Sergachev on the top d-pairing, Weegar contributes to both sides of special teams. 

It’s a close playoff race in the Western Conference and Utah is still in the first wildcard spot. However, the Mammoth will need to raise their game, keep a high level of intensity, and manage their emotions in the final nine games of the regular season. Utah’s next game is a tough test against the Los Angeles Kings on the road. 

“Everyone’s gotta look in the mirror, we all got better and we all know that,” Keller said. “Still super confident with our group. This is the most exciting part of the year and the most exciting hockey. We’re all positive, and we’ll learn from it and go to L.A..”

“Yeah, I think we started out good,” Cooley reflected. “Special teams were good. I thought the first period, we were moving it well. I think we kind of just started to let it slip, give up some odd-man rushes, and they capitalized. Every game is so important right now, and it stings. It’s two points that we probably should have had, especially early on with the way we were playing. We got to make sure that we are ready for a heck of a battle with L.A.”

Additional Notes from Tonight (per Mammoth PR)

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  • Sergachev registered three assists in the first period marking the first three-assist frame of his NHL career. This also marked his second career three-point period, both of which have come against Washington, as well as his fourth three-point game this season.
  • Alexander Kerfoot posted an assist on Weegar’s third-period goal, marking his 300th career NHL point. He is the 16th player from his draft class to reach that milestone. He joins Sergachev as the second skater to accomplish the feat with Utah.
  • Keller posted three primary assists tonight for his eighth three-point game, third three-assist game, 23rd multi-point game, and 13th multi-assist game in 2025-26, all of which are team highs. The Captain has seven points over his last six games (3G, 4A).
  • Utah’s captain has tallied at least 70 points for the fourth consecutive season and he became the 12th NHL player to accomplish this feat over that stretch. According to NHL PR, Keller is the fifth player in NHL history to eclipse the 70-point mark in each of a franchise’s first two seasons.

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