Jazz Have a Will Hardy Problem? Ryan Smith's Defense Raises a Bigger Question

Ryan Smith isn't blaming Will Hardy for the Utah Jazz's miserable start. Nor is he questioning the front office responsible for assembling the roster his head coach has been asked to work with.

But with the Jazz sitting at 1-8 following Friday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Smith's confidence in everyone running the organization raises a question worth asking.

If Hardy isn't the problem, how much responsibility belongs to the people who built this team?

Smith addressed Utah's struggles during a Friday appearance on KSL Sports Zone, offering an emphatic endorsement of Hardy, Austin Ainge and the organization's direction.

"Will's our guy. Austin's our guy. We're not changing anything," Smith said.

He's right to stand by Hardy ... but his defense of the Jazz head coach should also put the front office under the microscope.

The Jazz have been dreadful offensively, ranking 29th in offensive rating through nine games. Yet some of their shooting woes have little to do with the opportunities Hardy's offense is creating.

Utah converted just 28.4% of its wide-open 3-pointers through eight games, compared with 37.7% last season. Those are shots taken with at least six feet separating the shooter from the nearest defender.

Hardy can certainly improve Utah's offensive execution. But his players are getting open looks and missing them at an alarming rate.

And when the shots finally started falling against Dallas, the Jazz found another way to lose.

Utah shot 38.5% from beyond the arc, making six more 3-pointers than the Mavericks. Dallas still won 112-100, grabbing 21 offensive rebounds while the Jazz committed 21 turnovers.

Rookie Morez Johnson Jr. grabbed 10 offensive rebounds by himself, and Dallas finished with 11 more field-goal attempts.

Hardy acknowledged the problem afterward, saying the possession battle had gotten out of hand.

He's right, and he deserves some blame. Twenty-one turnovers are unacceptable, regardless of who's available, and Utah's defensive discipline hasn't been nearly good enough.

But the problems on the glass also show how much the Jazz are missing Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic.

Jackson suffered a torn MCL on Oct. 26, while Nurkic has yet to play this regular season because of a right foot injury. The veteran center won't be re-evaluated until later this month.

Without either player, Utah lacks much of the size and experience it was counting on entering the season. Hardy can experiment with different lineups, but that doesn't mean he has the personnel to address every mismatch.

Then there's Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey.

Both might eventually lead Utah back to contention. They're also 19-year-olds being asked to figure things out against NBA veterans, while Keyonte George continues developing into a guard capable of consistently running an offense.

The Jazz knew what they were getting into when they committed to building around such a young core.

Hardy inherited a franchise that had just traded Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, winning 37 games during his first season.

Since then ... Utah has continued prioritizing young talent and future flexibility over immediate competitiveness.

Those decisions were made above Hardy, and the front office can't have it both ways. If developing Peterson, Bailey and George remains the priority, the organization has to accept that the standings might reflect their inexperience.

That doesn't excuse every loss.

Hardy needs to get the turnovers under control, and there should be serious questions if the same defensive mistakes continue throughout the season.

But replacing him wouldn't repair Jackson's knee, improve Utah's shooting overnight or turn a developing backcourt into an experienced one.

Smith deserves credit for refusing to make Hardy the scapegoat. The Jazz have spent years rebuilding, and there's reason to believe some of those decisions will eventually pay off. But patience shouldn't prevent the organization from acknowledging the deficiencies in the roster it's assembled.

Smith says the Jazz aren't changing anything ... and that might be the right decision when it comes to Hardy.

But if Utah continues losing, the front office can't keep pointing toward the future as justification for what's happening in the present.

Hardy has spent four seasons coaching the roster he's been handed. Eventually, the people handing it to him have to answer for the results.