Marcus Smart, Donovan Mitchell, Team USA. (Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images)
While there is a lot of uncertainty of whether the Utah Jazz should focus on the offseason or a last-minute playoff tournament, here are five dream guards to target for the future.
Throughout the course of this season, I’ve been trying to come up with scenarios in my head where the Utah Jazz can find a better backcourt partner for Donovan Mitchell.
Is this a knock on Mike Conley? Take it as you will, but I never envisioned Conley as the long term solution in the first place. I always pictured him as being a part of the team for two years, maybe four years at the most.
But no, this is not intended to be any Mike Conley slander in the slightest.
The Utah Jazz front office decided to cash in the chips they’d been stockpiling for a long time, and finally got a big piece via trade, which I respect them for doing so. Unfortunately due to the suspended season, we may not get to see Conley finish what was a great stretch run for him.
One of my keen observations of the Mitchell/Conley backcourt tandem is the defensive pressure it puts on Rudy Gobert. Conley has lost a step of quickness into his 30s, and Mitchell simply hasn’t been defending the way he ought to be.
Standing at only 6-foot-1 and carrying the heaviest scoring load on the team, Mitchell needs to have a backcourt partner that can take the lead on defense and be able to work without the ball on offense.
In other words, he needs a 3-and-D guy to be his backcourt partner, ironically the exact type of player I thought Mitchell would develop to be when the Jazz drafted him.
While Conley has been great recently for the Jazz, he just needs the ball in his hands more which takes touches away from Donovan, who really should be playing point guard anyways. Here are some names I’d love to see in a Jazz uniform someday suiting up alongside Donovan:
<span class="call_to_action">Also:</span> Utah Jazz: A way too early look at the 2020 offseason </a> </div>
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<p>The Utah Jazz front office decided to cash in the chips they’d been stockpiling for a long time, and finally got a big piece via trade, which I respect them for doing so. Unfortunately due to the suspended season, we may not get to see Conley finish what was a great stretch run for him.</p>
<p>One of my keen observations of the Mitchell/Conley backcourt tandem is the defensive pressure it puts on <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/goberru01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Rudy Gobert</a>. Conley has lost a step of quickness into his 30s, and Mitchell simply hasn’t been defending the way he ought to be.</p>
<p>Standing at only 6-foot-1 and carrying the heaviest scoring load on the team, Mitchell needs to have a backcourt partner that can take the lead on defense and be able to work without the ball on offense.</p>
<p>In other words, he needs a 3-and-D guy to be his backcourt partner, ironically the exact type of player I thought Mitchell would develop to be when the Jazz drafted him.</p>
<p>While Conley has been great recently for the Jazz, he just needs the ball in his hands more which takes touches away from Donovan, who really should be playing point guard anyways. Here are some names I’d love to see in a Jazz uniform someday suiting up alongside Donovan:</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/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Holiday Bros. </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-82414 size-full" src=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1194991358.jpeg" alt="Utah Jazz" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1194991358.jpeg 3200w, https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1194991358-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz. Justin Holiday, Indiana Pacers. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Holiday Bros.</h3>
<p>I’m not going to lie, for years and years I have coveted for the Utah Jazz to have <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/holidjr01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Jrue Holiday</a> on their roster. Unfortunately though, it looks like that opportunity has sailed away.</p>
<p>It was rumored that teams were inquiring about Holiday at the trade deadline, and the Pelicans must have had a pretty hefty asking price for their veteran guard as nothing ever materialized. I wouldn’t want to see the Jazz give up more future assets to get Holiday given his age and injury history.</p>
<p>However, Jrue has a couple of brothers in the league playing for the Indiana Pacers right now. Namely, <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/holidaa01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Aaron Holiday</a> and <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/holidju01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Justin Holiday</a>.</p>
<p>Last January when the Pacers visited the Wasatch Front, Aaron Holiday thought he had it in him to shut down Donovan Mitchell, and that really got on Don’s nerves to the point of him demanding the ball and attacking Holiday one-on-one.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Really fun battle here between Aaron Holiday and Donovan Mitchell… Holiday trying to establish himself as an elite defender, Mitchell taking the challenge. Mitchell scored 2x in a row, forcing timeout… then got a tech for taunting in the break. All taunting Ts are lame.</p>
<p>— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://twitter.com/andyblarsen/status/1219466931180204033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>January 21, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>It was great to watch as a fan, the competitive fire between two world-class athletes going at it. I realize a lot of Jazz Nation might feel that Holiday had no business taking on Donovan like that given that one is an All-Star and the other has barely made it in the league.</p>
<p>But I feel the two would work great together as teammates. The Jazz this year seem to be missing that guy with the “dog” mentality, who doesn’t give up when down by 20 or 30 points and brings the intensity <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/butleji01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Jimmy Butler</a> brought to <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/24950981/jimmy-butler-heated-practice-timberwolves" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Minnesota Timberwolves practice sessions</a>.</p>
<p>Aaron is really undersized to be paired with Mitchell, standing only 6-feet tall. But his brother Justin is 6-foot-6, and knocked down 42 percent of his triples this season.</p>
<p>Justin Holiday has only played 24 minutes per game this season, but that’s just fine. In all honesty, the Jazz may not need to be looking for a guy that can play 30+ minutes a night as long as they keep <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Jordan Clarkson</a> as their sixth man.</p>
<p>Justin is an unrestricted free agent this summer (or whenever the NBA decides to hold the free agency period). Last summer the Jazz were able to poach <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bogdabo02.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Bojan Bogdanovic</a> from the Indiana Pacers, could it be possible they pull it off two years in a row?</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/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Josh Richardson </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-82415 size-full" src=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1625,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1180491000.jpeg" alt="Utah Jazz" width="1600" height="1625" srcset="https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1180491000.jpeg 1600w, https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1180491000-768x780.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Josh Richardson, Philadelphia 76ers. Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Josh Richardson</h3>
<p>The Philadelphia 76ers had an eerily similar season to the Utah Jazz before the COVID-19 hiatus halted us in our tracks. They were disappointing plenty of times, and showed major flaws to their team that was supposed to be a contender.</p>
<p>They do not have enough outside shooting to compete with the best of the league, and letting go of <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/redicjj01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">JJ Redick</a> and Jimmy Butler really came back to bite them in the butt.</p>
<p>But their saving grace this year was <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/richajo01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Josh Richardson</a>, probably the most balanced and modern player on the roster. He can 3-and-D with the best of them.</p>
<p>His 3-point shooting percentage was only 32 percent this season, but upon closer evaluation, he shoots much better when given wide open looks.</p>
<p>This season in Philadelphia, he shot 38 percent from the left corner three, 33 percent above the break, and 60 percent in the restricted area. The skeleton is already in place for a smart, savvy 3-and-D player to breakout.</p>
<p>About 48 percent of his makes have been assisted in Philadelphia, whereas in Miami for the 2018-19 season he had 60 percent of his made shots assisted (<a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://stats.nba.com/player/1626196/shooting/?Season=2019-20&SeasonType=Regular%20Season%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to NBA.com</a>).</p>
<p>Plug him in an offensive system like Quin Snyder’s, one that is designed to create open looks, and good things will happen. The skills and talent are already in place, he could just use a better supporting cast to maximize his talents, and Utah would be the perfect place for him.</p>
<p>Just like all of these names on this article, this would give Mitchell the full keys to the Jazz offense. It would be on him to create looks for <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/goberru01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Rudy Gobert</a>, and dime passes to his teammates when the spot up or cut to the basket.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="Why Donovan Mitchell's aggressiveness matters to Utah Jazz" data-url="https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/04/donovan-mitchells-aggressiveness-matters-utah-jazz/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"> <div class="story-link-team-logo"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: " data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/04/donovan-mitchells-aggressiveness-matters-utah-jazz/"> <img src=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_108,h_108,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fjazz__108x108.png"> <div class="story-link-text-box"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story</span> <h3 class="title-text" style="color: #00265D;">Why Donovan Mitchell's aggressiveness matters to Utah Jazz</h3> <p class="read-now">Read now >></p> </div> </a> </div>
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<p>Having two scorers/playmakers on the floor with Donovan and Bojan, as well as two 3-and-D guys in Richardson and <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/onealro01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Royce O’Neale</a>, with Gobert in the middle, that would be a well-balanced and dangerous lineup to beat.</p>
<p>Mix in Jordan Clarkson and <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/i/inglejo01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Joe Ingles</a> off the bench, and there are several dangerous combinations Quin Snyder can throw at opponents. It’s all contingent on <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://thejnotes.com/2019/12/31/donovan-mitchell-utah-jazz-point-guard/">Donovan Mitchell’s ability to develop his point guard skills</a>, which he’s shown flashes of in his three year career.</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/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Mining for Nuggets </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-82418 size-full" src=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1211179639.jpeg" alt="Utah Jazz" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1211179639.jpeg 3200w, https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1211179639-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Torrey Craig, Denver Nuggets. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Nuggets guards</h3>
<p>Wouldn’t it be great if the Utah Jazz were able to find Donovan Mitchell’s backcourt complement straight from the Denver Nuggets roster?</p>
<p>Mitchell himself was drafted by Denver, but because they already had <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/murraja01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Jamal Murray</a> and <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/harriga01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Gary Harris</a> on board, they opted to trade the pick and take a stab at <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lylestr01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Trey Lyles</a> and <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lydonty01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Tyler Lydon</a>.</p>
<p>If you follow Twitter guru and contributor for The J-Notes <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://twitter.com/EchelonCopy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lucas Miller</a> on Twitter, then you probably know how he feels about the Jazz pairing Mitchell with Jamal Murray.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I've been on this one, lately …</p>
<p>I'd love to see a Donovan Mitchell and Jamal Murray backcourt in Salt Lake City. Certainly more size than Mike Conley and a young (only 22 years old) knock-down shooter from just about anywhere, as well.</p>
<p>Too bad Denver won't ever let go of him. <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://t.co/gvyJi9Jvcq">https://t.co/gvyJi9Jvcq
<p>— Lucho (@EchelonCopy) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://twitter.com/EchelonCopy/status/1230365021177204736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>February 20, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Since he’s on a max contract though, I will be looking at two more realistic names today. Namely, Gary Harris and <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/craigto01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Torrey Craig</a>.</p>
<p>Harris this season has been a real downer for a Nuggets squad hoping to make a deep playoff run. Previously he could be counted on as a 3-and-D option that plays smart and unselfish basketball.</p>
<p>Harris has two more years and 39.6 million dollars left on his contract, so in theory he could be bought at a low price right now given his stock value. He doesn’t turn 26 until this September, and I’d say he’s a low-risk player that will likely start playing like his normal self soon.</p>
<p>And as for Torrey Craig, he’s a name hardly anyone outside of Denver has heard of. He’s really flown under the radar in his two year career riding the bench in the mile high city, especially given their log jam of talent at virtually every position.</p>
<p>Craig signed a two-way contract beginning in 2018-19, and worked his way up as a role player. He is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and I bet given more opportunity and playing time, he could be a real wrecking ball shutting down opposing guards.</p>
<p>In fact, when the Jazz played the Nuggets in back-to-back weeks last month, Craig was the main culprit for shutting down Donovan Mitchell. He held the All-Star to only four points on 12 shots the first night, and 18 points on 24 shots the other night.</p>
<p>The Jazz’s struggles for containing small, quick guards <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://thejnotes.com/2020/02/23/utah-jazz-scouting-weaknesses/">has been well documented</a>, which is why they should seriously consider signing Craig this offseason.</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/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Marcus Smart </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-82419 size-full" src=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1280,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F893737252.jpeg" alt="Utah Jazz" width="1600" height="1280" srcset="https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/893737252.jpeg 1600w, https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/893737252-768x614.jpeg 768w, https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/893737252-600x480.jpeg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz. Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Marcus Smart</h3>
<p>Recently the Jazz played the Celtics twice in a two week frame, so my memory and feelings of <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smartma01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Marcus Smart</a> are really fresh right now. Smart is one of those players that I can’t stand to watch, and here’s why:</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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<ul>
<li>He draws charges/flops all the time</li>
<li>He complains way too much to the officials</li>
<li>He can now hit three pointers in abundance, which <em>used</em> to be his only weakness</li>
<li>He constantly is jawing and talking trash with the opponents</li>
</ul>
<p>But imagine what Smart could do for the Jazz. He’s basically a more consistent version of Royce O’Neale that can handle more offensive responsibility when called upon.</p>
<p>He was originally drafted as a combo guard with point guard skills, but has evolved into a monster that can guard four positions.</p>
<p>And as far as the toughness element: has this not been what the Jazz have lacked all season long? An enforcer?</p>
<p>Because of how volatile Smart is (and his occasional overconfidence in his shot), there’s a chance he completely clashes with Utah’s high culture that doesn’t attract big egos or personalities. Is it a risk worth taking though?</p>
<p>If it works out, the Utah Jazz have one of the most balanced offensive-defensive backcourts in the Western Conference. Their defense most likely returns to its normal stinginess we all love, and this set-up just might allow the Jazz to remain at the top of the Western Conference.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="5 most memorable moments prior to hiatus" data-url="https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/23/utah-jazz-5-memorable-moments-prior-hiatus/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/24/utah-jazz-five-backcourt-targets/"https://thejnotes.com/2020/03/23/utah-jazz-5-memorable-moments-prior-hiatus/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 5 most memorable moments prior to hiatus </a> </div>
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<p>The Warriors will be storming back to power next season, and young teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans will be on the rise as well. I’m worried if the Jazz don’t make a move this offseason, they will drop to the bottom of the Western Conference playoff picture.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">