The Utah Jazz shocked everyone this offseason trading away Donnovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Pat Beverly to the Cavs, Timberwolves and Lakers respectively, but it's the pieces they got in return that have taken the spotlight in the league through the first 12 games. (Sorry Donnovan - you too).
Everyone thought - I imagine the Jazz front office included, that this was the year of Wembanyama for them. Trade away our best players, and tank our way to the best shot at the #1 pick next summer.
Ummmm not quite. The players haven't been taking any notice of that narrative so far. With a 9-3 record topping the stacked western conference, is this now what we should expect from Utah for the season? Or are we going to laugh fondly at the end of the season when they miss the playoffs....
Lauri Markkanen has been the 'obvious' star to pick out 22, 9 and 3 on 53% shooting, and it's great to see him come into his own. I wasn't a huge fan of his 'stand there and wait for the ball' role when he was traded to the Cavs but Utah have given him free roam, and it's paid off. His teammate and trade partner Collin Sexton has had a very fair return to the league too after his Injury ridden season last year, I've always loved his attitude and passion for the game and I think this will bloom over the course of the season.
Jordan Clarkson was already the rising star of the Jazz and hasn't slowed down at all, averaging similar numbers to last season and really gelling with the new group in Utah.
Big shout out to Kelly Olynyk too - deadly in the clutch through the first 12 and knows his role perfectly. Not an all star caliber player but no reason he wouldn't be in the future.
What I don't see is these guys slowing down; none of them are playing a huge amount of minutes, they're all young and wanting to prove something in the league and they've shown that in the first few weeks. They've got good young squad depth too; take Talen Horton Tucker from the Lakers trade, the man Lebron once said he'd never trade, and they got him for an aging pest in Pat Bev? I think the Jazz won that one...
What I do see is the league hotting up around them, and I'm just not sure their defensive presence is enough to stop teams they have been having blowout wins against at full power. They'll be fresh all year, but can you see them beating a full strength Clippers team again? I can't.
I'm rooting for them to have a season to defy the odds, and the players give a big f**k you to the front office, but we'll just have to wait and see.
I hope so!