How did the Utah Jazz fare in the offseason? Grading the Western Conference team’s recruits and trades

According to ESPN’s latest NBA offseason grades, the Utah Jazz is a step ahead of their Western Conference competition concerning offseason moves. Kevin Pelton handed the Jazz the lone A rise among Western Conference teams in his evaluation of how the offseason has gone so far. Behind the Jazz, four other groups received a B+: the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, and San Antonio Spurs.

Peloton claimed that the Jazz’s grade was severely impacted by Utah’s decision to go all-in on a rebuild, which is now emphasized by the Rudy Gobert deal.

With several first-round selections already committed in previous transactions, a shortage of youthful talent, and a salary sheet subject to the luxury tax, the Jazz would have had difficulty improving their squad. Moving Gobert for a tonne of the money puts Utah in a position to start the rebuild with a pick surplus instead of a deficit, Pelton wrote.

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Donovan Mitchell’s potential trade has been widely rumored, and the Jazz and New York Knicks are said to have explored trade possibilities. The Jazz still has a lot of work to do. If Mitchell isn’t moved before the start of the season, they’ll have to reorganize their roster to handle their excess of backcourt players and their requirements at small forward and center.

The Jazz’s chances are clearly shown in The Athletic’s most recent NBA power rankings now that Gobert and Royce O’Neale have been let go, and Will Hardy is taking over for departed head coach Quin Snyder. In the Tier 5 power rankings, which are for teams outside the postseason picture attempting to advance in the play-in round, Zach Harper places Utah at No. 23. Harper stated, “They’re heading toward being significantly worse,” and added that the Jazz might see further moves in addition to Mitchell.

If the Jazz can locate assets for them, Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic will be leaving. To develop something that is either as good as or perhaps even better than what Danny Ainge assembled in Boston with this particular club, he is taking this thing down, according to Harper.

For the time being, it will be a downgrade to replace Quin Snyder with Will Hardy on the sidelines, although Hardy is well regarded in the NBA. All that is left to determine is when or if, and where Donovan Mitchell will be transferred.

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