- The Utah Jazz missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016
- The Jazz acquired John Collins from the Atlanta Hawks in a blockbuster trade
- Utah will have a new starting lineup next season
The Utah Jazz went 37-45 in 2022-23, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were traded during the summer of 2022, so most people around the NBA expected the Jazz to miss the postseason.
Utah, though, looks like it wants to get back to the playoffs next season, as the franchise acquired John Collins from the Atlanta Hawks this offseason in a blockbuster trade. Jordan Clarkson also signed an extension.
Will Hardy is entering his second season as head coach of the Jazz. Let’s take a look at who he will likely start next season.
Point Guards
Starter: Collin Sexton
Reserves: Talen Horton-Tucker, Kris Dunn
Collin Sexton averaged 14.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists last season for the Jazz while shooting 50.6% from the floor, 39.3% from 3, and 81.9% from the free-throw line in 48 games. The point guard signed a four-year, $70.9 million deal in September 2022. He’ll make $17.3 million next season.
The 24-year-old Sexton has career averages of 19.0 points, 2.9 boards and 3.2 assists with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Jazz while shooting 46.4% overall, 38.0% from 3-point range, and 82.6% from the free-throw line. He was the eighth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Alabama. The Cavaliers traded Sexton to the Jazz last offseason in the Donovan Mitchell trade.
The Jazz made Sexton available in trade talks before and during the 2023 NBA Draft, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. It will be interesting to see if Sexton lasts the entire 2023-24 season in Utah.
Shooting Guards
Starter: Jordan Clarkson
Reserve: Keyonte George
Jordan Clarkson and the Jazz agreed to a three-year, $55 million renegotiate-and-extend deal this offseason. Clarkson picked up his 2023-24 player option instead of testing free agency.
Clarkson appeared in 61 games for the Jazz last season. He averaged 20.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists while shooting 44.4% from the floor, 33.8% from beyond the arc, and 81.6% from the free-throw line.
Back in April, Clarkson told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports that he loves playing for the Jazz.
“I love Utah,” Clarkson told Deveney. “But I mean, it’s a business. I understand it. It is nothing for us to pack up and enjoy another experience anywhere, but the biggest thing for us is, you know, the love and support that I felt here. Utah, it has been amazing and that probably is the biggest thing that would have hurt just leaving because all the relationships and stuff that we built.”
Clarkson has career averages of 15.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists with the Los Angeles Lakers, Cavaliers, and Jazz. He won the 2020-21 Sixth Man of the Year Award with Utah after averaging 18.4 points.
Small Forwards
Starter: Lauri Markkanen
Reserve: Ochai Agbaji
The Jazz and Lauri Markkanen could agree to a renegotiate-and-extend-deal next year, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Markkanen is owed $17.3 million this upcoming season. Only $6 million of his $18 million salary is guaranteed for the 2024-25 season.
Markkanen is one of the best players in the NBA. He averaged 25.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists last season for the Jazz while shooting 49.9% from the field, 39.1% from beyond the arc and 87.5% from the free-throw line. The 26-year-old made his first All-Star team and won the Most Improved Player of the Year Award.
Markkanen has career averages of 17.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists with the Chicago Bulls, Cavaliers, and Jazz. He bought a house in Utah and loves playing for the Jazz, according to Scotto.
Power Forwards
Starter: John Collins
Reserve: Taylor Hendricks
New Jazz star John Collins said in an Instagram post that his growth was “stunted” with the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks traded Collins to the Jazz this offseason. Atlanta drafted Collins with the 19th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and signed the forward to a five-year, $125 million contract in August 2021.
"This one definitely stung… But as I see it, it is this hawks time to fly away from the nest. As my growth here is being stunted… And my business in Atlanta has come to an end. I can only hope y'all love me like I do y'all! … Until next time……BAPTIST OUT! ✌🏽"
John… pic.twitter.com/pyBAVPjUuG
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 18, 2023
An anonymous member of the Jazz told Keith Smith of Spotrac that trading for Collins from the Hawks was a “no-brainer” move. Utah traded Rudy Gay and a 2026 second-round pick to Atlanta for Collins.
“Adding John Collins was a no-brainer,” the anonymous member of the Jazz said. “He’s an outstanding talent. We feel like he got lost in the shuffle some in Atlanta. With us, we’re going to make sure he’s regularly involved and has a consistent role. We want to play big lineups, because it’s an advantage we have over most other teams. John is going to be an integral part of that strategy.”
Collins averaged 13.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists last season for the Hawks while shooting 50.8% from the field, 29.2% from beyond the arc, and 80.3% from the free-throw line.
A Wake Forest product, Collins has career averages of 15.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists with the Hawks in 364 games. The 25-year-old was in trade rumors for the past several years, so he’s happy those days are over with.
“I was excited going to a place that I knew really wanted me and was trying to have me in the organization,” Collins said in his introductory press conference with the Jazz. “You know, it’s always very nice to hear and know coming to a place that really wants you and wants you to excel here. It’s a big sigh of relief knowing that all the talk and trade talks are over and can go to my new home and start a new home.”
Centers
Starter: Walker Kessler
Reserve: Kelly Olynyk
Walker Kessler had a terrific rookie season with the Jazz. He averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks while shooting 72.0% from the field. Kessler recorded 20 double-doubles in 74 games.
Kessler was fourth in the NBA in blocks and fourth in blocks per game. The Jazz believe the 22-year-old has a chance to be an All-Star soon.
