The Utah Jazz are in a pretty unique spot right now. When you're in the middle of a rebuild - or, let’s be honest, a tank - like Utah is, there’s a certain freedom that comes with it.
There’s no immediate pressure to contend, no nightly expectations to chase playoff seeding. Without a bona fide superstar on the roster (for now), the Jazz can afford to play the long game.
But that doesn’t mean they’re not watching what’s happening in Los Angeles - closely.
Because while the Jazz are building, the Lakers might be unraveling.
On The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN’s Shams Charania dropped a pretty significant nugget: the LeBron James-Lakers partnership is nearing its end. Whether that means retirement or a new team in free agency, the writing appears to be on the wall. And that ripple effect could reach all the way to Salt Lake City.
Here’s why it matters: Austin Reaves.
The Lakers guard is expected to command a sizable payday this offseason, and with LeBron potentially on his way out, the Lakers will have every reason to double down on retaining Reaves. He’s young, he’s productive, and he’s already shown he can handle the spotlight. In a post-LeBron world, Reaves becomes even more valuable to L.A. - not just as a player, but as a bridge to whatever comes next.
That’s bad news for the Jazz, who were reportedly eyeing Reaves as a potential free-agent target. Utah, flush with cap space this summer, had a clean path to make a strong offer.
Reaves would’ve fit nicely as a young, ascending talent who could grow with the team’s core. No complicated contract situations, no trade assets required - just a straight-up signing to inject some juice into the rebuild.
But if the Lakers are serious about keeping Reaves - and LeBron’s exit only makes that more likely - the Jazz may need to pivot.
So what’s Plan B?
Utah does have options, but none quite as clean or appealing as Reaves. They could bring back some of their own free agents - Jusuf Nurkic has been a steady presence and could be worth keeping around - but that feels more like maintenance than momentum.
There’s also the possibility of taking on a contract via trade, using their cap space as a tool to acquire assets. That’s a viable route, especially if they can land a player who fits their timeline and style.
And then there’s the looming Keyonte George extension. The Jazz will need to make some decisions there, and that could shape how aggressive they are in free agency.
The good news? Utah’s foundation is solid.
They’re likely to add another lottery pick this summer, and they’ve got flexibility - financial and otherwise. Missing out on Reaves wouldn’t derail the rebuild, but it would sting a little.
Opportunities to land a young, high-upside player without giving up assets don’t come around often, especially in a market like Utah.
Of course, there’s always the wild card - LeBron himself. Could he ever end up in a Jazz uniform?
Sure, in a multiverse somewhere. But let’s not get carried away.
That’s not the kind of move Utah’s front office is building toward, and it’s certainly not the kind of late-career pivot LeBron is likely to make.
Still, the Lakers’ situation is worth watching. As one era potentially ends in Los Angeles, teams like the Jazz are positioning themselves to capitalize. Reaves might not be the answer, but the question - how do the Jazz take the next step? - remains front and center.