HOUSTON, TX – MAY 2: Joe Ingles #2 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz exchange a handshake after Game Two of Round Two of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets on May 2, 2018 at Toyota Center in Houston, TX. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
As the mind-blowing 2017-18 season continues for the Utah Jazz, there are several story lines that will be incredible to watch both this summer and beyond.
The 2017-18 Utah Jazz season has been a magical story in and of itself. From losing Gordon Hayward and second leading scorer George Hill during the offseason, to trading for Donovan Mitchell in a draft day steal, to starting the year 19-28 only to bounce back and nab the fifth seed in the West to advancing at least to the second round of the playoffs, it’s been an incredible ride.
And while the Jazz are still writing that story as they find themselves in the thick of a heated battle against the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Semifinals, regardless of when or how this season comes to an end, several intriguing story lines have emerged as a result of this spectacular year.
Between a couple of free agents, an important summer ahead and several other decisions facing the Jazz, the excitement surrounding the team will continue well after their playoff run comes to an end. Here are the five most intriguing story lines facing the Utah Jazz that have emerged in full force during the 2018 NBA Playoffs.
https://t.co/7aeDm52h3J <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://t.co/wdAFyK1Kv7">pic.twitter.com/wdAFyK1Kv7
<p>— The J-Notes (@TheJNotes) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://twitter.com/TheJNotes/status/992058829163528192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 3, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>As Exum ups his game and if he continues to do so throughout this series, it’s going to make his restricted free agency even tougher for the Jazz. Not only as they decide what to do, but also as other teams gain interest and start toying with the idea of throwing a lucrative offer at the restricted free agent.</p>
<p>If I had to make a bet, I’d guess that the Jazz will be pretty open to matching just about any reasonable offer for Dante. They’ve shown nothing but optimism and excitement for his potential, and considering Utah’s track record for developing players, Exum should be a prime candidate for excelling with the Jazz, so long as he can get a fully healthy season under his belt.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the fact still remains that the Jazz have had only a small sample size to observe Dante, which means they are in for a tough decision in terms of his future no matter what. Take the risk of sacrificing future financial flexibility for him? Or let him walk to avoid spending too much on a player that isn’t going to pan out?</p>
<p>As I said, I believe the former is much more likely, but ending up with the OKC series version of Exum or the Houston series version of Exum will make a big difference in whether that is eventually the right decision or not. This is one of those times where I do not envy Dennis Lindsey’s job whatsoever.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Will Igor Kokoskov make the Suns an appealing destination for former Jazzmen? </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-68903" src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F949803140-1-850x560.jpeg" alt="Igor Kokoskov Utah Jazz" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 21: Assistant Coach Igor Kokoskov of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Will Igor Kokoskov make the Suns an appealing destination for former Jazzmen?</h3>
<p>This is a bit of an interesting one, but it deserves consideration all the same. During the 2018 NBA Playoffs, it was announced that Utah Jazz assistant coach extraordinaire Igor Kokoskov had been hired for the Phoenix Suns head coaching job. Kokoskov has been widely respected and heralded as an excellent coach for the Jazz and could very well play an instrumental role in turning the Suns around.</p>
<p>Based on the reactions of several Jazz players on Twitter, as well as interactions throughout the past few seasons, it’s quite clear how respected Igor is by those that he works with.</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/Joeingles7/status/991913404066664448</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">There is no one who deserve it more than him. I’m telling you. So happy when good things happen to good people. Igor for “Coach of the year” !!! 😁 <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://t.co/WWDbpNLChc">pic.twitter.com/WWDbpNLChc
<p>— Ricky Rubio (@rickyrubio9) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://twitter.com/rickyrubio9/status/991889105884610560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 3, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Not only that, but Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune made it clear that Kokoskov has played an enormous role in the development of Utah’s point guards including George Hill, <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rubiori01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Ricky Rubio</a> and <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/netora01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Raul Neto</a>.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Top assistant and in direct coach for the point guards. Credit him with improvement from George Hill, Raul Neto and Ricky Rubio <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://t.co/TUETax3QEZ">https://t.co/TUETax3QEZ
<p>— Tony Jones (@tribjazz) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://twitter.com/tribjazz/status/991821196193869826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 2, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Hill is obviously out of the picture, but Raul Neto is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Considering he’s seen his playing time drop pretty significantly since his rookie season, and considering all the guards the Jazz have in their regular rotation including Mitchell, Rubio, Exum (assuming he’s retained) and <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/onealro01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Royce O’Neale</a>, could Neto aim to go somewhere else next year? And could that “somewhere else” be to follow the coach that has helped him develop?</p>
<p>I’d say it’s entirely possible. The Suns could use some steadiness and maturity, which is exactly what Neto would help bring off the bench. Obviously, losing Neto wouldn’t be too big of a loss, but what if in the summer of 2019, then unrestricted free agent Ricky Rubio opts to follow suit? He’s revolutionized his career this season under Igor and in the tweet above, went as far as to call him the “Coach of the Year.” Could that relationship motivate him to follow Kokoskov to Phoenix?</p>
<p>The most pressing and realistic concern regarding Igor’s move to Phoenix may very well be with <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/f/favorde01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Derrick Favors</a>. The Suns have apparently liked Derrick for some time and have the cap space to realistically add him. As Utah’s only other unrestricted free agent besides Neto, could a familiarity with Igor coupled with a hefty pay check be enough to convince Favors to look to become a member of the Suns?</p>
<p>Clearly this is all speculation at this point, but all three of those situations are certainly feasible and will be interesting to keep tabs on as the next two summers of free agency hit.</p>
<p>And that segues perfectly into story line number three…</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Derrick Favors' unrestricted free agency </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-68963" src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F954302814-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">HOUSTON, TX – MAY 2: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz rebounds the ball against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of Round Two of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2018 at Toyota Center in Houston, TX. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Derrick Favors’ unrestricted free agency</h3>
<p>As intriguing as Dante Exum’s restricted free agency is going to be, I would venture to suggest that Favors’ unrestricted free agency will be even more so. The longest tenured Jazzman has survived a pair of trade deadlines and countless rumors in which many Jazz fans thought he would surely be traded. Nevertheless, he’s stayed with the team and has been low-key one of their most important players.</p>
<p>That was in full effect in the series against Oklahoma City where Derrick’s grit and hustle saved the Jazz on more than one occasion. He’s been one of Utah’s most consistent players in regards to his willingness to sacrifice or play whatever role is required of him by the team. His ability to coexist with <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/goberru01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Rudy Gobert</a> – a trait many felt would never exist and was a main reason why he was thought of as a prime trade target – has made him invaluable to the Jazz.</p>
<p>So the question becomes, what will come of him in free agency? Of course, if Favors wants out, that’s entirely his choice. There’s nothing the Jazz can do to stop him. That may well be the case. It would be hard to blame him considering the weird roles he’s been put into and the onslaught of rumors that have surrounded him, but he’s also indicated on a couple occasions that he loves being in Salt Lake and playing for the Jazz.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Utah Jazz: Derrick Favors proves yet again just how invaluable he is <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://t.co/lI9QUf545r">https://t.co/lI9QUf545r <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://t.co/6qb2cCgskx">pic.twitter.com/6qb2cCgskx
<p>— The J-Notes (@TheJNotes) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://twitter.com/TheJNotes/status/987007455564414976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 19, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Assuming he does want to stay in Utah and is willing to accept a similar versatile role, then money becomes a complication. Would Favors be willing to take a reduced amount in order to be able to stay on a team that has potential to be really special? Will the Jazz be willing to extend him enough to keep him happy? Do both parties want to come to an agreement?</p>
<p>All those questions make this an interesting story line. The free agency of Exum makes it messy, too. The Jazz know they need to make personnel improvements in order to take another leap toward title contention, but if they pay both Favors and Exum, it could very well prevent them from doing that. If Favors is interested in coming back, it may come down to deciding which of the two the Jazz would rather keep.</p>
<p>Exum’s play against Houston is making that a harder decision, but Favors is a proven talent that has helped carry a significant load for this Jazz team for years.</p>
<p>As I said, this will be an incredible story to watch.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Ben Simmons voter's remorse </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">BOSTON, MA – May 3: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks with the media following Game Two of Round Two of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics on May 3, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Mitchell making people regret Ben Simmons ROY vote</h3>
<p>Let me make this clear, engaging in petty arguments over a one-time award that is of little consequence for a player’s career isn’t really my thing. However, the way that Donovan Mitchell has played this postseason is certainly turning the heads of several fans as well as of NBA Award voters within the media.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>That’s not to take away from <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/simmobe01.html" ref="nofollow">Ben Simmons</a>, who despite his poor showing in Game 2 against the Boston Celtics, has been superb all year long as well as in the postseason. However, I think it goes without saying that in terms of how well Mitchell has carried his team, the level of opponents he has faced thus far and the special things he is doing, he’s been more spectacular than Simmons in the playoffs.</p>
<p>That’s been so much the case that certain members of the media are apparently having “voter’s remorse” for picking Simmons as the Rookie of the Year. As evidenced in the tweet below, ABC/ESPN’s <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=jonesma02,jonesma03&search=Mark+Jones&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Mark Jones</a> is just one of those examples.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">ABC/ESPN’s Mark Jones told me if he could vote again for ROY he would vote for Donovan Mitchell after what the rookie did against MVP in Game 6. <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/takenote?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#takenote</a></p>
<p>— kristen kenney (@kristenkenney) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://twitter.com/kristenkenney/status/990674262590672896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 29, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>If Mitchell can continue his ascent while the Celtics continue to expose Simmons’ lack of a jump shot (though I truly expect him to bounce back in incredible fashion), this trend could very well continue and we could see more folks regretting picking Simmons over Mitchell in their Rookie of the Year selections. Simmons obviously benefited during the regular season from playing in a larger market with higher exposure, but Mitchell showcasing what he can do on such an immense stage during the playoffs is definitely garnering attention.</p>
<p>One thing that has stood out about Mitchell all season long is how many players have endorsed him as their ROY choice. From <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lillada01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Damian Lillard</a> to <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/derozde01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">DeMar DeRozan</a> to <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/couside01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">DeMarcus Cousins</a>, to name a few, players have vocally expressed their admiration for the young Louisville product.</p>
<p>And that praise has continued in the postseason as <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/dragigo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Goran Dragic</a> of the Miami Heat recently sent out a simple tweet endorsing Mitchell for ROY:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="qst" dir="ltr">ROY 🕷</p>
<p>— Goran Dragić (@Goran_Dragic) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://twitter.com/Goran_Dragic/status/992240909537370112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 4, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Considering that Dragic played against Simmons in the first round of the playoffs (and actually got into a little spat with him as well), this is certainly some interesting praise. And it’s further proof that as Donovan tears it up in the playoffs, the players with experience going head-to-head against both him and Simmons feel that he is the most deserving of the recognition.</p>
<p>Of course, though, the NBA Awards aren’t revealed until June 25th after the conclusion of the playoffs and are strictly regular season awards. The votes were collected at the conclusion of the regular season and can’t be changed no matter what happens in postseason play.</p>
<p>However, now that Mitchell has clearly caught the attention of some of the voters that may have overlooked him before, the Rookie of the Year announcement could prove to be more than a little awkward if Simmons does indeed win it.</p>
<p>Time will tell how the two players will fare in their remaining postseason contests, but if current trends continue, Mitchell will very likely prove in retrospect that he was deserving of the award. Even if voters that failed to pay as much attention to him as they should have during the regular season didn’t think so beforehand.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Could Jazz become appealing free agent destination? </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-68966" src=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F952255988-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 27: Utah Jazz fans show bannes in arena before game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Could Jazz become appealing free agent destination?</h3>
<p>With the Utah Jazz knotting the series with the Houston Rockets at a game apiece, it’s not outside the realm of possibilities that they find a way to upset the top-seeded Rockets, advance to the Western Conference Finals and perhaps continue to shock the world from there. Or, they could very well falter and lose in five games to Houston, thus halting their advance dead in its tracks.</p>
<p>Whether that happens or not, the Jazz have already had a stupendous season that has set them up for incredible success in the future. The fact that they beat OKC and have at a minimum challenged Houston (time will tell if they do more than that) just proves that they are a team on the rise that with a couple additional pieces could be even more dangerous in future seasons.</p>
<p>With such being the case, could some of those “additional pieces” that just happen to be free agents find the Utah Jazz to be a potentially alluring and exciting destination?</p>
<p>We all know that Salt Lake City isn’t a big market and typically has been far from a sought after free agent destination. But strictly basketball speaking, the Jazz are undeniably one of the most appealing landing spots in the NBA. They have an incredible core in place with the likes of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, exceptional role players such as <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/i/inglejo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Joe Ingles</a>, <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/crowdja01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Jae Crowder</a> and others, one of the best coaches in the league in Quin Snyder and a culture focused on winning games and putting the team first.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">🎥| “We have this saying going around right now: 'The strength of the team is the team.' I think that was something that was in effect last night because everyone was stepping up.”</p>
<p>After his big night (& dunk) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://twitter.com/daanteee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@daanteee sits down with <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://twitter.com/kristenkenney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@kristenkenney.
<p>>> <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://t.co/X4HoI7O3Bf">https://t.co/X4HoI7O3Bf <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://t.co/ZIUoGOgHaJ">https://t.co/ZIUoGOgHaJ
<p>— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2018/05/04/utah-jazz-five-intriguing-story-lines-that-have-emerged-from-2018-playoffs/"https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/992264665915838466?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 4, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>That’s a pretty hard pitch to beat if basketball is a player’s priority. And if it’s not their priority, they likely wouldn’t fit with the Jazz anyway, so that makes things a little easier.</p>
<p>If the Jazz do end up advancing past the Rockets (obviously a big IF), and can at least challenge the Warriors somewhat, they’re certainly going to turn heads even more than they already have. However, even if they do lose four straight to Houston to lose the series, they’ve still proven that they are far closer to contending than many would have ever dreamed going into this season.</p>
<p>As such, I have to believe that there are free agents that would love to join such a tight-knit, well-coached and formidable squad. If there is a fit to be found on both the team and player side, the Jazz could very well land themselves some significant talent this summer. Many have surmised that 2019 will be when the Jazz really look to attack the free agent market, so even if 2018 is somewhat slow, this year’s performance has set them up nicely for the next summer as well.</p>
<p>Regardless of how things pan out this postseason or during the upcoming free agency period, the Jazz have put themselves in an excellent position to put together an awesome free agent pitch and attract top talent. When exactly that pays off remains to be seen, but I have a feeling it could be sooner rather than later.</p>
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