Utah

Patrick Kinahan: Offseason full of intrigue awaits Utah Jazz

Published

2 years ago

April 11, 2023

Patrick Kinahan: Offseason full of intrigue awaits Utah Jazz

Estimated learn time: 3-4
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SALT LAKE CITY — Not often has an NBA staff that completed seven video games under .500 and faltered often within the last month universally obtained rave evaluations.

But, this was the case for the 2022-23 model of the Utah Jazz, which completed twelfth within the Western Convention at 37-45. Postmortems on the staff centered on participant growth and plethora of accessible draft picks over the following a number of years slightly than not making the postseason for the primary time since 2016.

The draft picks, most of which have been acquired by buying and selling All-Stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell final summer season, mixed with some $60 million in cap house, have created a promising future for a staff that lacked each property after final season’s disappointing first-round playoff exit to the Dallas Mavericks. The cost to enhance the staff throughout this offseason now’s on the management led by longtime NBA executives Danny Ainge and Justin Zanik.

Discarding as a lot expertise, which additionally included buying and selling Bojan Bogdanovic, the Jazz started the season anticipating not more than 30 wins. A ten-3 begin rapidly altered these expectations, however two trades and holding a number of out starters fulfilled the apparent want to complete within the draft lottery.

After buying and selling Mike Conley, Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley in February, together with sitting Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen and others, the narrative the final a number of weeks modified from successful video games. It was extra about praising the gamers for making an attempt arduous, which is code for placing a optimistic spin on shedding.

However for the primary 12 months of an enormous rebuilding mission, it was straightforward to simply accept the storylines mixed with the spectacular growth of Markkanen and rookies Walker Kessler and Ochai Agbaji, amongst others.

Presumably, with a full complement of gamers even after the February trades, the Jazz may have been adequate to not less than qualify for the play-in event that features groups that completed 7-10. However the potentialities with the draft have been deemed extra vital than short-term acquire.

Mainly, the Jazz have a 50% probability to draft ninth but additionally may transfer up or down relying how the ping-pong balls bounce. Because it stands, they may also have two picks later within the first spherical acquired by means of different trades.

Ainge and Zanik have a number of choices to enhance the staff by means of the draft, which means they may bundle gamers and picks to maneuver up within the lottery. Whichever path they select, it is crucial to land not less than one vital rotation addition.

There’s additionally the scenario with Clarkson, an impending free agent who sat out the final month of the season. Clarkson, who averaged 20.8 factors in his first season as a starter with the Jazz, is a fan favourite and appears to have the love of proprietor Ryan Smith.

However do not anticipate any sentimentally from Ainge if it comes on the expense of enhancing the staff. Both means, the Jazz can re-sign Clarkson for the suitable worth or should discover a means so as to add a confirmed succesful expertise.

With a roster stuffed with holes, the Jazz can go a number of instructions to get higher. Excessive on the record, although, is fortifying the backcourt.

With no scarcity of candidates, this is the place it will get attention-grabbing. At instances through the season, Collin Sexton, Kris Dunn and Talen Horton-Tucker every confirmed sufficient to deserve a shot to play vital minutes subsequent 12 months.

However do the Jazz go in one other path? Given all of the draft picks and cap house, administration may elect to make use of a number of the property to amass a veteran guard to hasten the rebuild.

Anybody taken with Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal? Neither might be pleased enjoying for seemingly perennial losers in Portland and Washington, respectively.

No matter occurs, the offseason guarantees to be stuffed with intrigue. This season was heat and fuzzy for a number of causes, however extra successful blended in with continued growth will high the storylines come October.

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Patrick is a radio host for 97.5/1280 The Zone and the Zone Sports activities Community. He, together with David James, are on the air Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

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Utah

Injury Update Revealed for Utah Jazz G Jordan Clarkson

Published

6 hours ago

November 6, 2024

Press Room

Injury Update Revealed for Utah Jazz G Jordan Clarkson

Across their most recent set of games, the Utah Jazz have been without a few key names within the lineup, one of those notable contributors being former Sixth Man of the Year winner Jordan Clarkson.

Clarkson has been inactive for the Jazz’s past two contests, a stretch where the Jazz secured a 1-1 record. However, the good news for Utah is that we shouldn’t expect to see him stuck on the sidelines for much longer.

According to a report from the Jazz, Clarkson has been ruled questionable for their upcoming contest vs. the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday. It’s a step forward from his inactive status we’ve seen throughout the past week, and provides some added optimism for his potential return against a tough Eastern Conference opponent.

Clarkson has started his season with the Jazz averaging 13.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists on 39.0% shooting from the field, but a bleak 19.0% shooting from deep– even starting two nights in the backcourt along the way.

For a player like Clarkson, the numbers have seen better days, yet it’s well within reason to see such a spark plug get his efficiency turned around in due time, especially with such a long season ahead.

While nothing’s official yet when it comes to the word on Clarkson, expect his status to soon be finalized in the hours leading up to the tip-off of Jazz-Bucks, set to take place at 6 PM MT at Fiserv Forum.

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Utah

Republican John Curtis will replace outgoing Senator Mitt Romney in Utah

Published

14 hours ago

November 6, 2024

Press Room

Republican John Curtis will replace outgoing Senator Mitt Romney in Utah

Republican Rep. John Curtis won a three-way general election on Tuesday to become Utah’s next junior U.S. senator.

Curtis bested Democratic candidate Caroline Gleich, a prominent environmental activist and mountaineer. He also defeated right-leaning Independent Carlton Bowen, who criticized him for not being sufficiently “pro-Trump.”

Curtis’s victory means that one moderate Republican will be replaced with another. In September 2023, Mitt Romney announced that he would not seek reelection, likely ending his career in electoral politics.

Romney had represented Utah in the U.S. Senate since 2019, while also serving as Massachusetts Governor from 2003-2007. He was the Republican presidential nominee in 2012 and lost to Barack Obama.

Utah, historically a Republican stronghold, has not elected a Democratic senator since 1970, according to the Associated Press.

A new center-right voice for Utah

Curtis, who once identified as a Democrat, has positioned himself as a bipartisan voice amid the complexities of contemporary politics. He has stated his support for Trump when the former president’s policies align with “Utah values.”

Throughout his campaign, Curtis emphasized key issues such as protecting public lands, increasing energy production, and fostering improved relations with China. His platform aims to resonate with a broad spectrum of Utah voters, reflecting the state’s combination of traditional conservative values and a pragmatic approach to governance.

Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at JYurow@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow

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Utah

Utah GOP sweeps U.S. House seats, easily defeating Democratic challengers

Published

23 hours ago

November 6, 2024

Press Room

Utah GOP sweeps U.S. House seats, easily defeating Democratic challengers

SALT LAKE CITY — A mix of old and new faces will represent the state of Utah when the U.S. House of Representatives convenes for a new session.

Republicans Burgess Owens and Blake Moore will return to Washington after winning reelection Tuesday, while fellow GOP Rep. Celeste Maloy was elected to serve a full term after winning a special election last year to serve out of the rest of Rep. Chris Stewart’s term.

The new face among Utah’s House delegation is Mike Kennedy, who defeated Democratic challenger Glenn Wright in the Congressional District 3 race to replace Rep. John Curtis, who ran for Mitt Romney’s Senate seat and won.

In Utah’s 4th Congressional District, Owens first won election to the House in 2020 and reelection two years later. On Tuesday, Owens defeated Katrina Fallick-Wang by a wide margin.

Moore, who has represented the state’s 1st Congressional District since also winning office in 2020, claimed victory of democrat Bill Campbell.

Maloy faced the most precarious challenge in returning to Washington, defeating primary opponent Colby Jenkins by just 176 votes in an election that eventually went to a recount.

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