Jazz Rumors

Checking In On Starter Criteria, Traded Draft Picks, Mavs’ Two-Ways, More

The months on the calendar between the NBA's in-season trade deadline and the start of the offseason represent the only time of year in which teams aren't permitted to make trades.

Still, while the possibility of Shams Charania dropping shocking trade news in the middle of the night is off the table during this final stretch of the regular season, there's plenty going on around the league that will impact future roster decisions and trade talks.

We're checking in on a few of those subplots today. Let's dive right in...

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Western Notes: Curry, Kuminga, Collier, Fertitta

Stephen Curry‘s pelvic contusion only forced him to miss two games, but the Warriors star said after making his return on Friday vs. New Orleans that he expects to “feel it for a while,” as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN notes. Still, Curry, who suffered a hairline fracture in his tailbone when he fell hard onto courtside stairs during the 2020/21 season, was relieved not to get a similar diagnosis this time around.

“I think that (this time it didn’t) break anything or have any bone damage, was mostly just a deep serious contusion that I’ll feel it for a while,” Curry said. “But I can play and I can’t make it worse as long as I don’t land on it again.”

Curry made just 7-of-21 shots across 34 minutes in Friday’s win over the Pelicans and spoke after the game about needing to work on his timing and endurance. But head coach Steve Kerr believes that getting a week off at this point of the season – even if he spent most of it recovering from an injury – will benefit Curry this spring.

“I thought he looked great,” Kerr said, per Youngmisuk. “He was moving really well. Took care of the ball. I thought Steph played an excellent game. He probably missed his last five or six threes, so the numbers don’t look great, but he looked like himself. And I think the week off did him a lot of good.”

Here’s more from around the Western Conference:

  • With Warriors guard Gary Payton II sidelined due to a thumb injury, Kerr believes there’s an opening for forward Jonathan Kuminga to step up and take on some of the defensive responsibilities that the team had given to Payton (Twitter video link via Anthony Slater of The Athletic). “It opens up an opportunity for JK to be that defensive stopper, the guy we’ve relied on Gary to be,” Kerr said. “JK’s the obvious guy. Put him on the best offensive player, pick up full (court), harass people like Gary does. I’m going to ask JK to do that. It definitely opens up more minutes for him if he’s effective with that.” Kuminga, who have averaged just 23.4 minutes per game in eight contests since returning from an ankle sprain, didn’t have one specific defensive assignment on Friday against a New Orleans team missing most of its top scorers.
  • Speaking to NBA insider Chris Haynes on the first episode of the Haynes Briefs YouTube show, Jazz guard Isaiah Collier said that not being selected to participate in last month’s Rising Stars game at All-Star weekend motivated him and added “fuel to the fire” (Twitter video link). As Andy Larsen writes for The Salt Lake Tribune (subscription required), the Jazz are making a strong promotional push to get Collier a spot on an All-Rookie team, dedicating a section of their website to making his case for consideration. It has been up-and-down season for the first-year guard, but since he entered Utah’s starting lineup on January 5, Collier has more assists than anyone in the NBA besides Trae Young, Nikola Jokic, and James Harden.
  • While Tilman Fertitta has indicated that he’ll resign as CEO of Landry’s Inc. if he’s confirmed as the U.S. ambassador to Italy and San Marino, the Rockets owner won’t be stepping away from his controlling interest in the NBA franchise, writes Erica Grieder of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required). “I have been advised that during my service as Ambassador, the Embassy may address particular matters affecting the financial interests of the National Basketball Association, of which the Houston Rockets professional basketball team is a member,” Fertitta wrote in a letter to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. “The agency has determined that it is not necessary at this time for me to divest my interests in the Houston Rockets because my recusal from particular matters in which these interests may pose a conflict of interest will not substantially limit my ability to perform the essential duties of Ambassador.”

Mitchell Reflects On Jazz Tenure

  • Star guard Donovan Mitchell recently returned to Utah to face the Jazz for just the second time since he was traded to Cleveland in the 2022 offseason. While in town, he reflected on his Jazz tenure, per Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune (subscriber link). “I think we had our opportunity. We had a lot of windows. I think we had our opportunity, we just missed it,” Mitchell said. “I think it’s just one of those things, we had plenty of opportunities to get things done. We had injuries that one year. The last year we were together, you know, we just didn’t capitalize. Sometimes you just miss your window. I talk about it with my friends a lot, we’re comparing this team we have now versus the first place team we had here (in Utah). I’ve gotten to a point that is like, ‘It’s okay,‘ We did a lot of positive things.”

Jazz Rule Out Jordan Clarkson For Rest Of Season

Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson has undergone a medical procedure to address plantar fasciitis in his left foot, the team announced today in a press release.

According to the Jazz, Clarkson will be sidelined for the remainder of the season as he continues to receive treatment on his injured foot. That means the veteran will miss Utah’s last nine games of 2024/25.

Clarkson only appeared in 37 total games for the Jazz this season, but the former Sixth Man of the Year provided his usual offensive spark off the bench when he was available, averaging 16.2 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 26.0 minutes per night.

Although Clarkson’s 40.8% field goal percentage represents a career low, that number dipped in part because the 32-year-old was taking more three-pointers and fewer two-pointers this season. He made 36.2% of his three-point tries, his best mark in that category since 2019/20.

A trade candidate at this season’s deadline, Clarkson ultimately remained in Utah through February 6, but he figures to be back on the trade block this summer as he enters the final year of his current contract. He’ll be in line to earn approximately $14.3MM on an expiring deal next season and could appeal to a team looking to add a scorer to its second unit.

With Clarkson unavailable for the rest of the season, there will likely be more rotation minutes available for young guards like Isaiah Collier, Keyonte George, Johnny Juzang, and KJ Martin down the stretch in Utah. Veteran wing Svi Mykhailiuk could also see some additional run.

Will Hardy Rips Jazz After 37-Point Loss

Hosting the Grizzlies in Utah on Tuesday, the Jazz entered halftime with a one-point lead but fell apart in the third quarter and ultimately lost the game by a score of 140-103. After Utah was outscored 76-38 and outrebounded 33-8 by Memphis in the second half, head coach Will Hardy ripped into his team during his post-game media session, as Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune relays.

“I’ve talked a lot about how we carry ourselves meaning something to me, and those words are not hollow,” Hardy said. “That second half was really disappointing, and it’s not representative of who we want to be as an organization. It’s not representative of who I want us to be.

“There are very few times where I’ve been disappointed in our group, and tonight I’ll drive home disappointed. But we have to all wake up tomorrow and get back to work. And it is one game. It is one half. I understand that, and I’ll get some sleep and wake up tomorrow with perspective. But during the game, perspective’s for the birds. The lights are on, you’re competing. You’re representing an organization, representing a fan base, our community. That was just unacceptable.”

Rookie forward Cody Williams (0-for-6, -26 in 18 minutes), second-year guard Keyonte George (0-for-4, -19 in nine minutes), and second-year forward Brice Sensabaugh (0-for-2, -22 in 10 minutes) were among the Jazz youngsters who struggled in the second half of the blowout loss to Memphis. It was hardly just on them though — all 11 players who saw the court in the third and fourth quarters had a plus/minus of -10 or worse during their minutes.

While Hardy didn’t single out any specific members of the Jazz in his comments to reporters, he noted that “a lot of our young players are getting the chance to play” in games down the stretch and said he wants those players to recognize that their opportunities shouldn’t be taken lightly. He also called for his team to play less selfishly and take more accountability.

“Pass the mother—-ing ball,” Hardy said when asked for specifics on what he wanted to see from his players. “Run back on defense. When it’s time to communicate what we’re doing on defense, you should do it at a volume louder than I’m talking to you right now. When there is a loose ball, you need to want it more than the other team. You are a member of a team. This is not about you. This is not a personal workout for you.”

As Larsen notes, while Hardy is right that the Jazz should be playing as hard as they can, the front office has put its coaching staff and players in a bad position by making it clear with its actions that winning games isn’t a top priority in the second half of the season. It’s difficult, Larsen continues, to ask players to give it their all when the organization has gone into full-fledged tanking mode and isn’t leading by example.

After Tuesday’s loss, Utah has a 16-57 record on the season and has dropped 13 of its past 14 games.

Still, Hardy is doing his best to push his players to compete harder during the final stretch of the season and to play a more selfless game, telling reporters that when “you make everything about yourself” it becomes an “infection” that affects the rest of the team.

“I understand that one game and one half shouldn’t be something that any of us overreact to,” Hardy said, per Larsen. “But you put a lot of time and energy into it, a lot of thought into it, a lot of emotional energy into it, and it’s disappointing sometimes when you don’t feel like people are pouring into themselves and understanding the opportunity that they have.

“I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I’m a young coach. I’m still figuring a lot out. It’s my 15th year in the NBA, and I’ve seen a lot of players make it and I’ve seen a lot of guys behave in a way that if they could go back in time, they’d take it back. I thought we played like a team for about a half, and then it looked like a pickup game at Lifetime Fitness, where we just all met 10 seconds ago, and we’re all just kind of out here trying to get a workout.”

Jazz Notes: Tshiebwe, Collier, Kessler, Markkanen

Oscar Tshiebwe has continued to put up incredible rebounding numbers at the G League level this season, averaging an eye-popping 18.6 boards per game – including 8.3 offensive – in 23 regular season appearances (31.8 MPG). On Wednesday, the Jazz two-way player brought those talents to the NBA just hours after after playing for the Salt Lake City Stars in the G League.

Tshiebwe piled up 37 points and 26 rebounds for the Stars against the Mexico City Capitanes in the morning, then contributed four points and 10 rebounds for Utah in the evening, notes Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune. In total, it was a 41-point, 36-rebound day for the big man, who played nearly 60 minutes overall. Did he feel like it was too much basketball in a single day?

“No. The season will finish soon and I will sleep for two weeks. I’m good,” Tshiebwe told Larsen on Wednesday night. “This is a great chance, it is a blessing to be here. It doesn’t matter if they asked me to play five games in 24 hours.

“… We always think we stay young and that we’re going to do this the rest of our life. But we don’t know, it might end tonight, it might end tomorrow. I feel like today is all I have, and today I have to give everything I have. Every time I go to bed, if I feel like I didn’t give everything, I am so mad. I go back in the gym at night. And then maybe I go on the treadmill and run, and make sure I empty out my tank.

“Tonight, I will sleep. I played 56 minutes and had 36 rebounds. That’s still not enough. That’s my attitude. Today is the only thing you have, and you will never get to do it again. That’s what I do.”

Tshiebwe will be eligible for restricted free agency this offseason when his two-way deal expires.

Here’s more on the Jazz:

  • Utah’s coaching staff is said to be focusing on “player development” as the season winds down. What exactly does that mean? Asked by Larsen what specifically he’s focused on with Isaiah Collier‘s development, head coach Will Hardy pointed to the way the rookie guard gathers the ball when he drives to the basket. “I think Isaiah is used to being a lot stronger than people that he plays against, and at this level, it just doesn’t work that way,” Hardy explained. “If you’re driving most of the time, there’s somebody on your side, and that person usually has, in this league, relatively long arms. So if I gather the ball and bring it to the middle of my body, he has a chance to swipe it. I think the elite players are very good at gathering on the outside of their body and protecting the ball so that the on-ball defender doesn’t isn’t able to get their hands on it.”
  • The Jazz and Wizards ended up activating multiple players who were initially listed as doubtful or out for Wednesday’s game. Utah, for example, originally said starting center Walker Kessler would miss the game due to “rest,” but ultimately made him available. Josh Robbins of The Athletic believes league officials spoke with both teams about their player usage ahead of a matchup that loomed large for lottery odds. The Jazz have already been fined once this month for violating the league’s player participation policy.
  • Utah has listed at least seven players as out for Friday’s game vs. Boston, with forward Lauri Markkanen missing a second consecutive game for personal reasons.
  • As we noted earlier this week, Hardy has encouraged Kessler to start letting it fly from beyond the arc — Hardy has reportedly told the big man to try to take six three-pointers per game after he attempted just six overall in his first 50 games this season. That trend continued on Wednesday as Kessler launched six threes in just 15 minutes of action. He’s 2-of-17 from the outside in his past three games.

Northwest Notes: SGA, Dort, Avdija, Kessler

With a matchup against the injury-riddled Sixers on Wednesday, the Thunder have chosen to give Most Valuable Player candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a break. The team has announced that SGA won’t play, listing rest as the reason, ESPN relays. It won’t impact Gilgeous-Alexander’s eligibility for the MVP — he’s already played 66 games, one more than needed to qualify for postseason awards.

Jalen Williams and Luguentz Dort are also out due to hip injuries while Isaiah Hartenstein (back) and Cason Wallace (shoulder) are listed as questionable.

We have more from the Northwest Division:

  • Speaking of Dort, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault told The Oklahoman’s Joel Lorenzi (Twitter link) that he deserves consideration for defensive awards such as All-Defensive Team and Defensive Player of the Year. “I think his time has come for that. I think he’ll get that recognition this year. … we have the best defense in the league statistically and he’s anchored that the entire season,” Daigneault said. “The amount of 30-point games we’ve given up is the lowest in the league by any metric. He’s guarding most of those guys.” Dort has appeared in 62 games and needs to play three more games to qualify for those awards.
  • Forward Deni Avdija admits he was blindsided when Washington traded him to the Trail Blazers. “It was nighttime at my place (in Israel), and I woke up. I saw I got traded, and it was very hard for me,” he told Josh Robbins of The Athletic. “All the friendships that I had with the guys there, the city, the fans — it all just disappeared in a second. But everything’s for the good. I feel like I found a nice home in Portland.” Avdija has ramped up his production this month,  averaging 20.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in March. “We’ve let him have a lot more responsibility with the ball, and he keeps proving to get better and better at it,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “He’s like a one-man fast break when he gets the ball. Some of these things, I didn’t even know about when we got him, because we only played him twice a year, so I didn’t know that much. But he’s been a pleasant surprise. The fire that he plays with, I think, takes our team to another level.”
  • Jazz coach Will Hardy has given Walker Kessler the green light to shoot three-pointers. “I’m very, very appreciative of him to give me the opportunity to work on it,” Kessler told Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune. “And I know, and I believe in myself to know that I can do that. I need to get back in the rhythm of how to do it, because it’s been a long time since I’ve really done it in volume.” Kessler, who will be rested against the Wizards on Wednesday, has taken 11 outside shots in his last two appearances but knocked down just one.

Northwest Notes: Thybulle, Hartenstein, Holmgren, Jazz, Edwards

Matisse Thybulle played only six minutes in his season debut with the Trail Blazers on Sunday but he made a major impact. He blocked a three-point attempt by Orlando Robinson as time expired in the three-point victory, Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian notes.

“It was fun,” Thybulle said. “My head was spinning a bit, got tired a lot faster than I was expecting, but felt like I fit in well. Felt like I was able to contribute early, which was something I was hoping to be able to do. And then, was able to recover from a mistake late in the game and save it.”

Head coach Chauncey Billups was thrilled to have the defensive stalwart back in action. Thybulle had been sidelined by knee and ankle injuries for most of the 2024/25 season.

“Obviously, you saw how he hadn’t played all year, and game’s on the line, you see, I trust him,” Billups said. “Just throw him out there.”

We have more from the Northwest Division:

  • The Thunder‘s big man pairing of Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren was particularly effective in a win over Milwaukee on Sunday. Hartenstein had 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Holmgren had 16 points and eight rebounds. They also combined for six assists. “It’s improved over the course of games we’ve done it. … I think early on, when we were playing that lineup, it was against perimeter oriented teams, which can skew your impression of it,” head coach Mark Daigneault said, per Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman (Twitter link). “(Sunday) we used it against a team it was impactful against.”
  • The Jazz were fined $100K last week for holding out a healthy Lauri Markkanen, so they tried a new tanking strategy against the Raptors on Friday, Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune reports. Instead of making Walker Kessler inactive, the Jazz chose to dress the rotation center but not play him. Markkanen sat the entire second half while Collin Sexton played only 20 minutes and was held out during crunch time. That trio started against a much better opponent, the Timberwolves, on Sunday and the Jazz lost by 26 points.
  • Anthony Edwards, who was named Western Conference Player of the Week, has improved as a facilitator and The Athletic’s Fred Katz details his development in that aspect. Edwards has especially gotten better in reading defensive coverages and exploiting its weaknesses, Katz notes.

John Collins To Be Reevaluated In Two Weeks For Sprained Ankle

John Collins suffered a left lateral ankle sprain on Wednesday, the Jazz announced (via Twitter). Collins underwent an MRI on Thursday and will be reevaluated in two weeks.

The 27-year-old power forward was injured during the fourth quarter of a loss to Memphis. He had already been declared out for tonight’s game against Toronto before the team updated his status.

Collins, who’s in his second season with Utah, has been limited to 40 games this year while dealing with several injuries. He’s averaging 19.0 points and 8.2 rebounds in 30.5 minutes per night while shooting 52.7% from the field and 39.9% from three-point range.

Collins was involved in numerous trade rumors leading up to last month’s deadline, including a potential deal with Sacramento. The Jazz ultimately decided to hang onto Collins, who has a $26.58MM player option for next season that he’ll have to decide whether to pick up by June 30.

Since he was acquired last month, KJ Martin has been starting whenever Collins is unavailable, which is likely to continue. Kyle Filipowski and Brice Sensabaugh could also see increased playing time until Collins returns.

Jazz Fined $100K By NBA

The NBA announced today in a press release (Twitter link) that it has fined the Jazz $100K for violating the league’s player participation policy.

According to the statement from the league, Utah did not properly make forward Lauri Markkanen available in its March 5 clash with Washington, in addition to other recent contests.

The NBA implemented its player participation policy in response to concerns about the rise of load management in recent years. As we outline in our glossary entry on the subject, the league can penalize a club for sitting out a star player in a nationally televised game, resting that player in road games, or shutting him down when he’s healthy, among other infractions.

Markkanen qualifies as a star and is affected by the player participation policy because he was an All-Star in 2023.

If the NBA fines Utah for another player participation policy violation this season, that second infraction would cost the team $250K, notes ESPN’s Bobby Marks (via Twitter).

It’s safe to assume the Jazz have been resting their leading scorer in an effort to improve their lottery odds. Ironically, Markkanen is having his least productive season yet among his three years in Utah.

Still, the seven-footer is averaging a solid 19.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.6 APG and 0.8 SPG in the 43 games he has played. He inked a new four-year contract extension last summer to stay with Utah through 2027/28.

At 15-50, the Jazz are the only team that has been eliminated from postseason consideration as of this writing and are on track to finish as one of the NBA’s three worst teams, which would give them the maximum possible odds at earning this year’s No. 1 overall pick (14%).