Armed with the No. 2 draft pick and a mandate for defensive grit, Austin Ainge and the front office aim to bolster depth through proven methods of roster reconstruction.
It’s no secret that the Utah Jazz view landing the No. 2 pick as the end of the rebuild and the start of a new competitive era. However, it’s also no secret that whoever the Jazz draft with the second pick, whether it be AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson, won’t magically solve their problems. While the starting five may be in an enviable spot on paper, the reserves will need to be beefed up if the Delta Center is to see playoff basketball again.
Utah’s president of basketball operations, Austin Ainge, sat down with KSL Sports Zone and provided crucial insight regarding the team's approach to the draft and the front office's mindset heading into free agency.
“It’s hard to anticipate, but we’ll try to be appropriately aggressive in adding and making our team better,” Ainge said. “We have some free agents of our own. We could go a few different directions to address some of the weaknesses, and some of that will be determined by which position we draft.”
“Most of our roster is built by the end of June and the beginning of July. It’s a busy and important time. We’ve got a lot of work to do. The teams in the West are really good.”
“We’re very aware that we’ve got to take a big jump in a lot of different ways. But, we’re pretty excited about the group, the talent level, and the progress we’re seeing from our players,” he continued.
The Jazz have already been linked to multiple free agent candidates, including Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre Jr., Cason Wallace and Max Christie, setting a theme for two-way players. Ainge further highlighted the type of players Utah wants to target in free agency, citing defensive reinforcements as a necessary addition.
“We sure hope that we can make a big jump there,” Ainge said. “That was definitely a big consideration when bringing in Jaren Jackson Jr., who is a former Defensive Player of the Year and a guy who can cover up a lot of weaknesses of other players and can play multiple positions.”
“But, we also know that one player can’t do it all,” he continued. “We need improvement throughout the roster. Defense is also something we’re considering strongly in the draft and in free agency.”
“I think there are a lot of ways we need to address it. Internal improvement, external improvement, and more size and talent on the floor. It will be a big emphasis all summer.”
It’s fair to say Utah is gearing up to finally push for the playoffs after a rebuild that seemingly had no end in sight. Adding the final piece of the starting puzzle in the draft and stacking the cavalry with staunch defensive ability is a recipe for success. And barring unforeseen injuries, the Jazz could find themselves in uncharted territory next season.
