The Utah Jazz had a practical reason to move on from Cody Williams. With so many players already in front of him, finding minutes was never going to be simple.
On the surface, it made sense. But the deal also brings back the same old ache for what the Jazz passed on in the 2024 NBA Draft: Matas Buzelis.
That choice has not gotten easier to swallow. The 2024 class was not especially strong, but Buzelis still looks like the kind of player Utah could use right now.
His value goes beyond upside. He brings the kind of defensive presence this roster still needs, especially on a team whose defense remains questionable until further notice.
Buzelis has already flashed the traits that make him so appealing. He’s one of the best rim protecting wings in the NBA, with strong shot-blocking instincts and the length to bother shooters. He’s especially effective as the low man and on weakside cleanup work, and there’s still plenty of room for his defensive ceiling to grow.
The Jazz do have some defensive pieces in place. Jaren Jackson Jr., Josh Okogie, and Josh Green give them a bit of a foundation, though Green would not even be on the roster without Williams in the first place.
Even so, Buzelis would have fit cleanly into that group. His rim protection alone would have been valuable, and his offense would have only added to the appeal.
Maybe the rotation would have been tricky to sort out. But based on what Buzelis can do now - and what Williams could not - it is hard not to look at No. 10 and think Utah would have been better off taking him.
That said, no front office bats a thousand. The 2024 draft was weak overall, and Chicago getting Buzelis looks more like a lucky break for them than a crushing failure for Utah. Since Danny Ainge took over, the Jazz have had some unusual draft moments, but they have also landed a few real steals over the last four years.
Misses happen. Utah knows that better than most.
The Dante Exum years were rough, even if injuries played the biggest role. Looking back, it still stings that Marcus Smart was there for the taking.
And plenty of teams are still wondering how they let Keyonte George slip through. Kyle Filipowski’s slide also looks stranger by the day, given how NBA-ready he has looked.
So this is less a disaster than a familiar regret. Buzelis would have been a strong piece for Utah’s young core, and the idea of pairing him with their promising youth movement is easy to like.
Still, nobody in Salt Lake has a problem with Ace Bailey being their most promising wing. It just would have been nice to have two.
In Other News...
Jazz Trade Could Set Up Another Familiar Timberwolves Reunion
A recent Jazz trade has opened up a roster spot, and it could end up mattering far beyond Salt Lake City. The move involving Josh Green has created a path that might help Kevin Love find his way back to the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team that already has leaned into the value of familiar faces and veteran presence.
Minnesota is reportedly considering Love as a possible leadership piece, which would fit the kind of role other former Jazz players have filled for the club. For now, it remains only a possibility, but it is the sort of reunion that would carry real intrigue for a Timberwolves team always balancing present goals with the benefit of an experienced voice. [Read more 🡒]