Utah Jazz preview – NBA season 2022-23

A classic among classics, the Global Franchise Preview is ready for the customer du jour. Direction Salt Lake City with the close-up analysis of the Jazz version 2022-23. Spoiler, there has been a huge shake-up for the Mormons this summer and the goals have changed drastically on the Utah side compared to previous seasons. Forget the title or the Playoffs, now we’re betting on the Draft!

What happened last season

It was kind of the last chance season. After several premature eliminations in the Playoffs, the Jazz version Rudy Gobert – Donovan Mitchell had no choice but to wait at least for the Western Conference Finals to consider the 2021-22 campaign a success. Results ? The Jazzmen have not even passed a round of Playoffs. Quin Snyder’s men actually fell against the Mavericks, who were deprived of Luka Doncic for three games, and the limits shown in the regular season once again burst in the face of the Mormons in the Playoffs. Outside defense at the pick-up, a Rudy Gobert with reduced impact, 3-point address at half mast and collective overall in distress compared to the previous season, in short, it clearly smelled of the end of the cycle.

During this time, behind the scenes, things changed quite a bit since Danny Ainge arrived in December. And it didn’t take long for him to make strong decisions like when he transferred Joe Ingles – who was part of the furniture in Utah – at the time of the trade deadline. But this first deal was in fact only a preview of the demolition plan of Danny, who decided to smash everything during the summer.

The summer market

• They leave : Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Bojan Bogdanovic, Royce O’Neale, Eric Paschall, Juancho Hernangomez, Danuel House, Hassan Whiteside, Quin Snyder (coach)
• They extend:
• They arrive : Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, Walker Kessler, Simone Fontecchio, Kelly Olynyk, Saben Lee, Talen Horton-Tucker, Stanley Johnson, Cody Zeller, Will Hardy (coach), 78 picks draft

The spring cleaning. This is how we could qualify the 2022 summer market for Jazz. Goodbye Rudy Gobert, goodbye Donovan Mitchell, goodbye Bojan Bogdanovic, goodbye Royce O’Neale and Co. Danny Ainge said it himself, last year’s group of players “didn’t really believe in each other” so he decided to do whatever it takes to get the Utah franchise back on track. on new bases. No less than nine players (including quite a few youngsters), seven first-round draft picks and three pick swaps were recovered in the big deals from Gobert and Spida, enough to lay a solid foundation for reconstruction. And change, there was also some on the bench since Quin Snyder decided to end his adventure with the Mormons, while Will Hardy – only 34 years old and no experience as an NBA head coach – took his square. A proper reconstruction therefore, and it is probably not over since Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Rudy Gay, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt could also move in the near future.

The 2022-23 Jazz roster

• Leaders : Mike ConleySaben Lee, Jared Butler
• Rears : Collin SextonJordan Clarkson, Malik Beasley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Johnny Juzang (two-way)
• Wingers : Put Whoever you wantTalen Horton-Tucker, Ochai Agbaji, Simone Fontecchio, Stanley Johnson, Leandro Bolmaro
• Power forwards : Lauri MarkkanenJarred Vanderbilt, Rudy Gay
• Pivots : Walker KesslerKelly Olynyk, Cody ZellerUdoka Azubuike

In orange the expected starters, according to the famous sources close to the file

We tried to set up a major five and a certain hierarchy with this roster, but it’s clearly to be taken with a grain of salt. Already because we should logically see other trades in the future to fire the last veterans of the Gobert – Mitchell era who are still there, and then because we don’t know what’s in the head of good old Danny Ainge. Which players are really part of his reconstruction project? Who is he really counting on? And who is there only to make the number? These answers, we will only have them as we progress in this project.

A little video by the way?

Utah Jazz 2022-23 salaries

TTFL: Jazz players to watch

Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton.

Without Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, we shouldn’t find many Jazz players in our decks. Nevertheless, with a Lauri Markkanen – huge during EuroBasket 2022 – in a brand new role and a Collin Sexton who still turned in 24 points – 4 rebounds – 3 assists barely two years ago, we may be entitled a few little surprises. These two should have quite a bit of responsibility in this new version of the Jazz, especially if some veterans like Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson end up moving as well.

Infirmary: update on injuries

When we look at the Utah infirmary, four names stand out. Collin Sexton, for starters, who missed most of last season, tore a meniscus in his left knee. Collin prioritized long-term recovery and underwent a meniscus suture, which requires much longer rehabilitation. He was cleared to resume at 100% in June and should be fit for the start of the season. Lauri Markkanen only experienced a minor alert, with a sprained right ankle which deprived him of eleven games. For his part, Rudy Gay had a season complicated by injuries. Operated in June 2021 to remove a bone spur in his right heel, he missed the first fourteen games before missing four more in January for a recurrence of pain. Right knee pain also deprived him of five games in February. He then gradually leaves the rotation and will not play in the Playoffs. Talen Horton-Tucker, finally, began his season in mid-November following the tearing of a ligament in his right thumb operated on last October. He was then hampered by a grade 2 sprain in his left ankle. He will not take the time to treat her well and will miss six encounters, only stopping when the pain is too strong. To conclude, even if it will be necessary to monitor the state of form of THT and Sexton, there is not too much concern on the side of the Jazz infirmary.

What goals this season?

The Jazz dove headfirst into a new reconstruction project, and who says reconstruction project says long-term vision by focusing on the Draft. And who says Draft objective necessarily says defeats story of placing yourself as best as possible at the level of the Lottery, especially since the vintage of youngsters 2023 promises to be particularly exciting (hello Victor Wembanyama).

But more generally, Utah will also have to refine the outline of its new project. This will notably go through other transfers, in particular those expected from Conley and Clarkson, to turn the page 200% and see more clearly. And this will also go through the evaluation of youngsters as well as players who could potentially be part of the project but who are not pillars for the moment. Can Lauri Markkanen confirm what he confirmed at the Euro and turn a corner? Collin Sexton has certainly been signed for 71 million over four years, but does Danny Ainge really count on him in the long term? These are the kinds of questions we are asking ourselves today in Salt Lake City. And SLC leaders hope to have answers at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

The Editor’s Prognosis

27 wins – 55 losses – 12th place in the West.

Not easy to establish a forecast with a team that has just radically changed its face and whose workforce could still change during the season. But one thing seems certain, the series of six consecutive qualifications in the Playoffs will stop and the Jazz are about to visit the slums of the Western Conference. Take a look, we’re starting with 28 wins, which would be the lowest total since the 2013-14 season, namely the very first for a certain Rudy Gobert…

Some useful links

So much for the Jazz preview for this NBA 2022-23 season. Not at all the same atmosphere as usual, not at all the same objectives, not at all the same players. Danny Ainge has been there and a big page has just been turned. Now, the Mormons will have to arm themselves with patience and eat defeat, that’s the price to pay to hope to bounce back.