Justin Zanik

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Ryan Kostecka

Sometimes, there are things more important than the game of basketball — and that was true for the Jazz on Tuesday night.&nbsp;

After the organization released a statement saying Jazz general manager Justin Zanik underwent a successful kidney transplant, Utah had to refocus with tipoff against the Cavaliers two hours away. Although the Jazz would fall 129-113 to Cleveland, the organization considered Tuesday a win.&nbsp;

“Before we start, I just want to pass along that we just got news that Justin’s transplant was successful. … The surgery went well,” head coach Will Hardy said pregame. “He’s awake and heading into recovery. … Today is a really good day.”

Announced on Monday, Zanik revealed that he had been living with his kidneys working at 14 percent. Anything under 15 percent is kidney failure. Although he had known about a genetic predisposition, Zanik’s doctors discovered that he had PKD (polycystic kidney disease), a disease for which his father had received a kidney transplant 21 years ago.&nbsp;

“That’s just a blessing that he’s able to find somebody that can help him out and he’s able to get his health right,” Keyonte George said. “He’s a big factor in this organization. … Me and him have a great relationship since the day I been drafted. When somebody takes a chance on you and gives you an opportunity, I’m going to do nothing but pray for him and hope the best for him. I know he’s going to get through it, he’s strong… I consider him family.”

As word began to spread around the organization of the successful surgery, the players said it felt like a weight had been lifted off their shoulders, knowing that one of their own was going to be alright. Although Zanik is only responsible for three draft picks on the current team, his hands-on approach as a GM has made him beloved by those within the organization, especially the players.&nbsp;

“As we take the next step in this journey, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to University of Utah Health and their incredible medical staff,” Zanik’s family said in a statement. “The care, expertise, and guidance they have provided our family and many others, has been invaluable. We also want to recognize and thank the Living Donor Program for the extraordinary life-saving work that they do. We are immensely thankful to Ryan and Ashley Smith and our entire Utah Jazz family. The love we have felt and continue to feel is immeasurable. We are humbled and grateful to all of the donors that signed up to donate on Justin’s behalf. Justin looks forward to getting back to work in the coming weeks, and greatly appreciates the organization’s continued support during this process. To our families and our friends, thank you for your continued love, support and prayers.”

Currently in recovery, Zanik expects to resume day-to-day activities in the next few weeks. That includes preparing for the NBA combine in May and the draft in June, where the Jazz are expected to have three of the top 35 picks.&nbsp;

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"Today is a Good Day" — Jazz Fall to Cleveland on a Night When Basketball Came Second

When Utah began its rebuild process 18 months ago following the trades of All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, Jazz GM Justin Zanik asked himself two questions.&nbsp;

Is success defined as just making the play-in? Or is success defined as contending for a title on a regular basis?

Those questions serve as a reminder that what Zanik, CEO Danny Ainge, and Governor Ryan Smith are trying to achieve won't be easy. It's not going to happen immediately. There are times when tough decisions will require steps back.&nbsp;

But if they can remain steadfast on the ultimate goal and do it correctly, it could lead to something incredible: an NBA championship.&nbsp;

"I think our goal is, how do we build a four- to five-year actual championship window?'" Zanik said on Saturday morning following the trade deadline. "I want to win for a long time. I don't want to just have a one-off year, 'Hey, this was nice,' and then go back. … And so the definition of winning and success, for me, is a deep playoff run."

Zanik isn't saying the Jazz haven't had success recently.&nbsp;

Beginning with the 2016-17 season, Utah made the postseason six consecutive years. They had the third-best winning percentage during that time, going 294-178. They had multiple All-Stars and individual accolades, capping one of the best runs in franchise history.&nbsp;

But the team’s struggles in the postseason remain at the forefront of Zanik's mind, which is why he's doing things differently with a larger goal in mind.

"We had a good run when it was Mike, Donovan, and Rudy," he said. "A few things happened to us. … We took our shot and it didn't work out. But at the end of the day, we haven't been out of the second round since 2007. So the goal isn't to make the play-in, don't make the play-in, keep your pick, don't keep your pick. … Those aren't the goals."

While the goal of winning a title is at the top of the list, Zanik and co. aren't willing to trade a run at the play-in tournament if it means hurting the team's future.&nbsp;

"The three guys we traded, they were great in the locker room, they're good dudes, our guys like each other," Zanik said. "But at what cost? Meaning that we spend another year with two of the guys that have made us what? What are we, 26-27, a game under .500? Two of those guys were going to be free agents. Maybe we bring them back, maybe not, not in our control."

Netting a first-round pick from Toronto (for Olynyk) and an early second-round pick from Detroit (for Fontecchio) is shrewd business. The cost of throwing Ochai Agbaji into the trade with Toronto wasn't easy, but it was necessary. The Jazz not only received those picks but also took back contracts that end this year, giving the team around $40-45 million (projected) of available cap space moving forward.&nbsp;

"It's not a binary thing to be in asset accumulation mode or asset spending mode," Zanik said. "Our plan has always been the same: to build a championship competitive team that can go deep into playoffs, accumulating assets to identify opportunities and be ready, and have that capital to spend and deploy when those opportunities become available.”

After the deadline passed, fans online drew similarities from last season to this year when the Jazz traded four players at the deadline before stumbling over the final 30 games while falling out of the play-in tournament.&nbsp;

But Zanik insists there's nothing similar between the two seasons.

"I kind of think that maybe people draw parallels to what we did last year," he said. "Here we were able to keep our core intact. The three players we traded obviously had made very good contributions this year. But in the calculus of who is going to have a chance to be with us going forward three, four, or five years from now, we need to know more about the assets that we've already acquired and players that we have."

"This is the second kind of calibration around our core, and sometimes that takes time," he added. "We traded one starter who has started during our run that started basically half the year. … The other two were rotation players. Last year, we traded three starters."

With much of the core intact for the season's stretch run, the Jazz are steadfast that winning as much as possible — and even making the play-in tournament — remains the goal for the year. But just because that's the goal, it doesn't mean it will happen. That's why the situation stays fluid.&nbsp;

"I don't think anyone isn't bought in here about trying to win," Zanik said. "I would just argue about when you talk about winning —of making a play-in or making the playoffs — I would love to do that this year. I think that should always be the goal. … But I'm not going to compromise the long-term joy and success because we want to avoid short-term pain and short-term disappointment."

"We're trying to know more about our team, put them in a competitive environment. … This 30-game period of growth for our players, to see what we have, to continue to learn more about our team, is the most important."

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"Win for a Long Time" — Jazz Dealing With Short-Term Pain While Focusing on Long-Term Joy and Success

In preparation for the upcoming season, Utah GM Justin Zanik and head coach Will Hardy sat with the media on Friday morning.

Ranging from training camp in Hawaii, an update on the rookies, what the potential rotation could be like, and who is most like the Hunger Games’ Katniss Everdeen, Zanik and Hardy sat for nearly 45 minutes answering questions.&nbsp;

1.) Navigating New RolesOne of the biggest topics heading into the new season is how Hardy navigates the roster. Not only do the Jazz return eight players who averaged 20+ minutes per game, but they’ve also added John Collins from Atlanta and three rookies who could push for playing time. Collins was a starter the past five seasons with the Hawks, averaging more than 30 minutes per game.

So how does Hardy decide on how the minutes will be divided this season? Lucky for him, that’s what training camp is for.&nbsp;

While he did say that players such as Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler will be expected to carry a lot of the load, Utah will have to figure out how best to incorporate Collins into the mix. They also return Olynyk, who was sensational for the team last season and Team Canada this summer. Taking into account rookie Taylor Hendricks, there’s a noticeable logjam at the center/power forward position.

“We have some new pieces, we have some players in new roles. … It’s our job to try to look at the team as something that doesn’t have a ton of history to it,” Hardy said. “I have to be flexible in what I am willing to do or try with them in order to make that three-person group of Lauri, John, and Walker work to the best of their abilities. … I can’t center it around John, and I also can’t just center it around those two and just say, ‘John, figure it out as you go.’”

2.) Hunger GamesA lighthearted moment in the press conference was when Hardy was asked which Jazz player was most like The Hunger Games’ Katniss Everdeen. After taking nearly 30 seconds to ponder the question, even stating that it was the toughest question he’d been asked in a long time, he finally settled on Olynyk. Although he didn’t elaborate much on his response, it was a fitting reply to those who know this Jazz team — and Olynyk in general.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The question wasn’t as out of the blue as it seems since Hardy made a Hunger Games reference just minutes earlier.&nbsp;

“I sort of know what training camp is gonna look like, and I would describe it as ‘The Hunger Games,’” Hardy said. “It’s going to be vicious, and I am excited about that.”

When asked how he will figure out the rotation for Utah’s backcourt, which includes five players who averaged 20+ minutes per game last year, he said training camp would resemble the cult classics from a decade ago.

“Those five guys are gonna go at it at training camp, and I love that. … But we’ve got to make sure that it’s within a team construct. Individual motives are good and powerful, and we need to lean into those. … But we also have to remember that we have 82 games coming, where we’re all wearing the same jersey.”

3.) Rookie WatchSince being drafted in June, Utah’s three rookies, Hendricks, Keyonte George, and Brice Sensabaugh, have all had interesting summers.&nbsp;

Hendricks and Sensabaugh were dealing with injuries suffered last year in college or throughout the draft process, forcing them to watch Summer Leagues in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas from the bench.

Meanwhile, George was one of the stars of Summer League when he thrived as Utah’s lead guard in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. After showing off his scoring and play-making abilities, he was named to the Las Vegas Summer League first team. But his time on the court was also cut short when he suffered a sprained ankle in Las Vegas.

The good news for Jazz Nation is that after undergoing an expansive rehab process and living in the gym — according to Zanik — Utah’s three rookies have all been cleared for full participation before training camp in Hawaii.&nbsp;

4.) Lauri The LeaderWhen entering last season’s training camp, veteran point guard Mike Conley was the team’s leader. Not only was he one of the longest-tenured members of the squad, he was one of the veterans who had long been comfortable&nbsp; with a leadership role.&nbsp;

While players such as Clarkson, Olynyk, and Rudy Gay also emerged as vocal leaders within the locker room and on the court, it was still apparent that Utah looked to Conley when times mattered most.&nbsp;

But Conley is gone, and while Clarkson and Olynyk remain, Hardy alluded to someone else getting comfortable with a leadership role.&nbsp;

“Lauri, you know, he’s a leader now,” Hardy said of his All-Star. “You don’t always ask to be the leader, but it’s something he and I have spoken a lot about this summer. It’s understanding that people are always looking at you even when you don’t want them to be looking at you. … He’s getting used to carrying that weight.”

5.) FlexibilityWhile questions will need to be answered heading into training camp, Hardy and Zanik understand that only some things will be worked out when the team tips off the regular season on Oct. 25 against Sacramento.&nbsp;

“Nothing is set in stone,” Hardy said. “We could be the team that changes the starting lineup once every 10 days just based on a matchup. If we can get our team to think about that as something that’s OK, then that’s going to be great for us. … It’s a strength.”

Flexibility will be what they’re preaching throughout Utah’s week in Hawaii. They will test out different lineups, see who plays well with one another, and ideally carve out roles for one another. Even then, that situation will remain fluid as Hardy and Zanik will play the guys who give the Jazz a chance to win every game.&nbsp;

“Training camp is just the beginning of it for us to kind of figure out initially who’s going to be in what role and see where that works,” Zanik said. “There has to be a culture of flexibility and an understanding that we’re, as a collective group, trying to win every game and compete. And some days, it’s going to be a particular set of eight or nine players, and another game, it may be a different set of eight or nine players, and then continuing on that journey.”

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"Best Of Their Abilities" | Hardy And Zanik Preach 'Culture Of Flexibility' As Utah Prepares For Training Camp

Utah entered the 2023 NBA Draft as one of the most intriguing teams, armed with multiple future picks capable of accomplishing nearly anything on the night. With their name swirling in trade rumors pretty heavily for the past 48 hours, there was so much anticipation of what the Jazz would ultimately do.&nbsp;

Turns out, they stood pat — and they left with one of the best draft hauls they could've predicted at the start of the night.

"Really happy with how the draft played out," Utah GM Justin Zanik said following the conclusion of the first round of the draft Thursday night.

With the No. 9 pick, Utah selected elite forward Taylor Hendricks out of the University of Central Florida, and then followed that up with Baylor star guard Keyonte George at No. 16. They ended the first round taking a swing on Ohio State scorer Brice Sensabaugh, a legit three-level scorer.&nbsp;

The Jazz addressed immediate needs while getting three players capable of being contributors sooner rather than later.

"All three have good character. … All of these guys have things you can't teach," Zanik said. "All three of the guys can shoot. … They have different bodies, but all three have athleticism. We got two guys who were ranked in our top 10, and we were debating which one to take at No. 9. And then, at 28, we got a guy who was in our top 18."

Ultimately, Zanik and the front office were thrilled with how the draft broke for the Jazz. Instead of making tough decisions about who they should take or what they should do, they felt confident in how the process played out.&nbsp;

"The draft is the opportunity to add what is the most rare quality to acquire in the NBA: talent," Zanik said. "We need guys that have an upside and chance to grow with the right kind of development, with the right kind of hard work. … I think that's an asset we have with Will Hardy and our staff, and that's what we got tonight."

With Hendricks, the Jazz are getting a player with versatility on both ends of the court and should slot in perfectly alongside Walker Kessler and Lauri Markkanen. All with incredible length, the Kessler-Hendricks-Markkanen trio could be an athletic and defensively talented group.

"A few things stand out. … His length, his ability to make open shots, he's got very good instincts as a weakside shot-blocker," Zanik said of Hendricks. "He's got some athletic genes, but also the brains for it. On the development side: Where can we get his game as far as attacking closeouts and getting stronger?"

"I feel like I'll bring a lot more length to the Jazz, and my shooting ability and my defensive versatility is something I can bring," Hendricks said of his skillset. "I know the Utah Jazz, they like to play big. They like big lineups, they like moving Lauri to the three. I feel like I could fit in that team really well because they have a lot of length, so I'm going to be right with them. … My shooting ability could really help them out, as well."

With George, Zanik and the Jazz were thrilled to see their No. 10 prospect fall on the way to the 16th pick. A legitimate three-level scorer who's among the most talented shotmakers in the draft, Zanik sees George playing with or without the ball in his hands. 

"Keyonte has probably the most diversified offensive skillset maybe in the draft," Zanik said of George. "Keyonte's been doing it for a long time at a very, very high level. He has all the shots, shots that some people can't ever learn. He's worked on his body, he has confidence as a scorer. … We've got to work on where he fits into the team, but right now, he's already an offensive weapon."

"The Jazz are going to get a guy that is going to come in, work hard, [be] coachable, willing to learn each and every day," George said of what he brings to the team. "Of course, my scoring ability, I feel like is one of the best. My creativity with the basketball. … I know they're going to get an all-around player. Continue to compete each and every day. … Just going to play winning basketball."

While Utah may have been surprised to see George drop to 16, it was nothing compared to seeing Sensabaugh available late in the first round. Another potent scorer, Sensabuagh is&nbsp; physically strong and capable of punishing smaller guards in many ways.

"I didn't expect him to be here at 28," Zanik laughed when talking about Sensabaugh. "When he started slipping a little but — at least in our rankings — we started getting a lot of calls from teams trying to move in. He makes and takes pro shots. … Continuing to get better on the defensive end, but he's got a pro body."

In the end, what started out as a night filled with so many different outcomes turned into one that the Jazz had hoped for all along — and were thrilled to turn the dream into a reality.&nbsp;

"The draft took a really fortunate turn for us. … We're leaning into talent and getting many talented players on the roster," Zanik said.

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"Really Happy" | Utah Blends High Character With Talent In Sensational Draft Night

When the Utah Jazz entered the offseason last April, fans had more questions than answers.

Fast forward one year later, and when Utah GM Justin Zanik and CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge sat in front of local media for their annual end-of-season media availability, the organization was once again faced&nbsp; with the unknown.&nbsp;

Except, instead of concern, there was hope — and fun.

"Yeah, this is gonna be fun," Ainge laughed. "We have a lot more draft picks, more money to spend. … A shopping spree. This will be more fun, much more fun than last year."

After the season Utah just had, overachieving by nearly every standard, the Jazz had already answered many questions.&nbsp;

"We thought that this season would be a journey, a season of discovery," Zanik said. "We got to find out a lot of different things about our players, things we really needed to know as we try to open up a championship window. The flexibility we were able to create for now and going forward, along with all the ability to go and target different things, that can take form in many different ways."

The Jazz now have limitless opportunities to accomplish the organization's&nbsp; ultimate goal.

"The optionality that we've created with the roster, the possibilities are endless," Zanik said. "There's just multiple ways for us to continue to move forward with this team, and continue to try to open that championship window. … There could be a lot of change this summer."

Regardless of the team surpassing expectations, Jazz brass recognizes they will need more to reach the top of the mountain. The good news is that they will have three first round draft picks to use in June to help with some of their needs.&nbsp;

"We weren't a very good shooting team at the end of the year. … We need to get better defensively," Ainge said. "Those are the two areas of focus."

Just because they have three picks and a&nbsp; healthy amount of cap space to fill in some gaps, it doesn't mean that the Jazz will put all their stock into this summer. Instead, they will wait and see what/who becomes available and go from there.&nbsp;

"We're not going to put a timeline on it because the very next thing is always the most important thing. … It's just a continuous timeline of us trying to make really good decisions," Zanik said.

"You guys aren't the only ones asking us when we're going to be good, how good we're going to be this year," Ainge added with a smile. "We get asked that question by Ryan (Smith) all the time. … He's anxious to spend his money, and we're anxious to spend it."

season-of-discovery-justin-zanik-and-danny-ainge-express-optimism-as-an-offseason-of-fun-approaches

"Season Of Discovery" | Justin Zanik And Danny Ainge Express Optimism As An Offseason Of 'Fun' Approaches

Jeremy Rincon

Jazz general manager Justin Zanik and CEO Danny Ainge meet with the media at the end of the season and talked about which players with options could potentially return, how they approach the draft and looking forward into the off season.

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Justin Zanik and Danny Ainge

Heading into the NBA trade deadline, there was much speculation surrounding Utah GM Justin Zanik, Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, and the Utah Jazz.&nbsp;

Some analysts believed the Jazz would become the ultimate sellers, gutting over half their roster with the idea of acquiring a treasure trove of assets. Others took the opposite approach, believing Utah may take their litany of first-round picks and, shockingly, become buyers. Some even thought the Jazz were going to stay pat, content with the growing pains of the young players combined with the experience of the veterans.&nbsp;

As the calendar got closer and closer to Thursday, Feb. 9, rumors surrounding the Jazz continued to swirl — some even saying they’d spoken with every other team in the league involving some sort of trade.&nbsp;

With many offers on the table, Zanik and Ainge elected to be patient and wait for the ideal situation that arose Wednesday night.&nbsp;

Utah acquired center Damian Jones, forward Juan Toscano-Anderson, guard Russell Westbrook, and a future first-round draft pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team trade, sending guard Mike Conley to the Minnesota Timberwolves, along with future second-round picks, also trading guard Malik Beasley and forward Jarred Vanderbilt to the Lakers.

Speaking with the media on Friday via Zoom, Zanik laid out Utah’s future plans, why the Jazz gave up four rotation players to acquire a coveted asset, and whether or not Westbrook will suit up in Salt Lake City.

While many have expected the Jazz to buy out Westbrook, allowing the former MVP to sign with a team of his choosing, Zanik wasn’t willing to concede that Westbrook may never play for the Jazz.&nbsp;

“We are open to all sorts of possibilities with him. … He has been very positive on being here in Utah, and we’ve been very open to the possibilities of him,” Zanik said. “It’s just ongoing discussions. I think it’s important to know that he probably needs some time, this is the first time in his career he has been in a position like this.”

“We wanted to be very transparent of where we are as an organization, and he’s been very open to different roles in that,” Zanik added. “We’re just kind of giving him some time and continuing to talk.”

After discussing Westbrook, Zanik was 100% transparent about Utah’s plans for the 2027 first-round pick via the Lakers. That pick was widely regarded as one of the best assets on the trading block, and now it belongs to the Jazz — even if it cost them four players.&nbsp;

“Make no mistake, the main part of this trade was the ability to acquire an asset that doesn’t come up very often that’s available, and the cost of that was (four) veteran players,” Zanik said. “That’s why you do deals like this, to be flexible, to be very opportunistic when those opportunities arise.”

Speaking of opportunities arising, not only does the trade clear Utah’s books by next season, it gives them that draft pick that could be traded later down the road if the Jazz see fit.&nbsp;

Utah — apart from Oklahoma City — is armed with the most assets in the league moving forward. They have 15 first-round picks through the 2029 draft, most of which are unprotected.

They also have a budding nucleus in All-Star Lauri Markkanen, Rising Star Walker Kessler, Ochai Agbaji, and Collin Sexton — all with rookie head coach Will Hardy, who looks like a star in the making. All of the players are 25 or younger, giving the Jazz a sensational core to build around. 

If Zanik and Ainge want to pull the trigger on a big trade sometime in the coming years, there may not be a team that can outbid them. This puts the Jazz in an ideal situation moving forward, with a ridiculous number of options.

“They don’t come up often, but sometimes they come up and then you just don’t have the firepower to go do it, or you’re not in the right set of team building. …There’s no transaction of that level that we’re not going to be involved in if it makes sense, because we have the ability to do those. … I’m excited about that if that comes up,” Zanik said.

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"Very Opportunistic" | Utah's Future Plans Come Into Focus Following Three-Team Trade

Entering a year where very few in the NBA believed the Utah Jazz would be a playoff team, the Jazz have shocked many as one of the best surprises in the league.

Sitting at 20-21 and in 10th place in the Western Conference standings, Utah is currently in the final spot of the play-in tournament — a place not many expected them to be. But rather than just being pleased to be in that spot, the Jazz have their goals set much higher than the play-in tournament.

After navigating arguably the most difficult first half schedule of any team in the NBA, the Jazz will have plenty of opportunities to make up ground in the crowded West.

"Our fans love this team," head coach Will Hardy said.

Here are 10 predictions for the second half of the season — some bold, and some not so bold.

1.) The Finnisher Plays In FebruaryRanking: NOT BOLD— There’s no doubt about it; Lauri Markkanen is one of the breakout players of the game this season. Emerging as Utah’s No. 1 option, he’s averaging 23.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game on 52.9% shooting from the field, 42.3% from three-point territory, and 86.8% from the free throw line. While Utah is the host of the All-Star game — which should help Markkanen’s odds — there’s no doubt he deserves a spot in the February showcase.

2.) Hardy Receives Votes For Coach Of The YearRanking: BOLD— Presently, the Jazz sit at 10th place in the West — a very respectable standing considering all of the off-season changes for the rookie head coach. Yet in a season where the Jazz were expected to compete for the worst record in the league, Hardy has reinvigorated the storied franchise. His ability to make in-game adjustments and his offensive and defensive schemes should lead to many great seasons in the future. But I think Utah finishes the season strong and sneaks into the playoffs — SPOILER ALERT — which would garner some legitimate Coach of the Year consideration for Hardy.

3.) Kessler Makes All-RookieRanking: NOT BOLD— Received in the massive trade with Minnesota, Walker Kessler has emerged as arguably the best player in that trade. Although he’s not starting — yet — he’s averaging 6.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks on 72.8% shooting from the floor in 18.8 minutes per game. That means his per-36 averages would be 13.1 points, 12.4 rebounds (4.6 offensive), and 3.5 blocks per game. When Kessler is on the court, the Jazz are giving up just 110.7 points per 100 possessions compared to 119.5 points when off the court. While the rookie class has really emerged, Kessler is not just the best center but arguably the best defender of the group — which should culminate in him being named to the NBA All-Rookie team.

4.) Utah Avoids The Play-In TournamentRanking: BOLD— This may be a bit of a reach, but after navigating a brutal first half of the season, the Jazz should reap the benefits in the second half. They’re currently 1.5 games out of the No. 6 spot, with Denver, Memphis, and New Orleans all expected to be in the top six. Dallas, Portland, and the LA Clippers are all one injury away from dropping, Phoenix is currently free falling and it doesn’t look like it’ll get better any time soon. The Kings and Warriors are thriving right now and could be in that top 6 as well. This is why it’s a bold prediction, but I think Utah will end the season with a four-game winning streak and take down the Lakers in the season finale to earn the No. 6 seed.

5.) Markkanen Makes A Legit Run At Most ImprovedRanking: NOT BOLD— There’s no doubting Markkanen and his improvement this season — going from a good role player to a legit star. But even then, the Most Improved award appears to be Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s to lose. But if the Jazz do make a run at a top-6 seed and Markkanen continues to play like a star, he might be able to do just enough to snatch the award from SGA.

6.) Beasley Finishes Top-3 For Sixth Man Of The YearRanking: BOLD— A lot of this will be determined by how well the Jazz play in the second half of the season. But since I think they’ll be playing really well, sharpshooter Malik Beasley will be one of the primary reasons why. He’s fifth in the NBA in made threes (128) and is a massive piece to Utah’s bench unit that is fifth in the league in scoring. He’s averaging 14.2 points and 3.7 rebounds on 37.4% from deep. The list is deep for Sixth Man of the Year with Russell Westbrook, Jordan Poole, and Malcolm Brogdon leading the way — but expect Beasley to begin to creep up those standings.

7.) Utah Has A Top-10 PickRanking: NOT BOLD— This isn’t necessarily shocking considering Utah has three picks in the 2023 NBA Draft, but it’s safe to assume that the worst of Houston-Philadelphia-Brooklyn won’t be in the lottery. That leaves Utah’s own pick and the one they get from Minnesota. The Jazz currently have the 18th-best record, while the Timberwolves are 20th. With Karl-Anthony Towns out for an extended period and Rudy Gobert struggling in Minnesota, there’s reason to think the Timberwolves could continue to slump — which should result in a top-10 pick for Utah.

8.) Jazz Win First Round SeriesRanking: BOLD— This might be the boldest take I have, and that’s fine, but I believe in both Hardy and this Jazz team. They are deep, talented, have a legitimate No. 1 option, and shoot lights out from beyond the arc. Essentially, I don’t think there’s anybody in the playoffs that would be thrilled to see Utah lined against them in the opening round of the postseason. Another bonus is that the Jazz are currently 6-2 against the Nuggets, Pelicans, and Grizzlies — the top three teams in the West — proving that Utah can compete with the best of them.

9.) Utah Active At Trade DeadlineRanking: NOT BOLD— Just to be clear, this does not mean that the Jazz will do anything at the trade deadline. But already armed with the most assets in the league and a bunch of talented players on very reasonable contracts, it’s crazy to think Utah won’t be at the center of trade talks. Capable of going in any direction — and CEO Danny Ainge and GM Justin Manik calling the shots — February could be a lot of fun in Salt Lake City.

10.) Zanik Wins Executive Of The YearRanking: BOLD— After the enormous trades that went down for Utah this past summer, many assumed the Jazz wouldn’t be competitive for years and were embarking on a multi-year rebuild with no real destination in sight. What a difference a few months makes. Not only are the Jazz competitive, but the trades they made also get better by the day, and now Utah may be the most intriguing and exciting team in the NBA moving forward. That sort of turnaround for an organization on life support with no future just 7-8 months ago should result in some postseason hardware for Zanik and Jazz.

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"Our Fans Love This Team" | Ten Jazz Predictions For The Second Half Of The Season

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