The Utah Jazz are once again in that familiar, murky middle ground - not quite rebuilding, not quite contending, and definitely not giving fans a clear direction. It’s a pattern that’s become all too familiar in the post-Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell era.
Back when those trades went down, expectations were low, and yet the Jazz surprised everyone by winning more than expected. This season?
The expectations were different - not necessarily wins, but development. And yet, here we are again, scratching our heads.
Let’s talk about Taylor Hendricks. Jazz fans came into the season hoping to see the 2023 lottery pick carve out a real role - meaningful minutes, real development, a chance to grow into the two-way forward Utah hoped he could become. But instead of watching Hendricks stretch the floor and switch on defense, we’ve gotten extended looks at Svi Mykhailiuk, Jusuf Nurkic, and Kevin Love - three veterans who, while capable in their own right, don’t exactly scream “future of the franchise.”
Here’s the reality: Hendricks has logged just four more total minutes than Walker Kessler - and Kessler’s been sidelined most of the year recovering from shoulder surgery. Meanwhile, Mykhailiuk is third on the team in total minutes, trailing only Lauri Markkanen and rookie guard Keyonte George.
That’s not a typo. Mykhailiuk, a journeyman wing best known for his shooting, has become a focal point in the rotation.
That’s not the kind of development plan anyone saw coming.
And that’s where the frustration sets in. The Jazz are 9-15.
They’re not contending. They’re not tanking.
They’re not developing their young core. They’re just…existing.
And in a year where the upcoming draft class is being billed as potentially generational - with top-three talent that could shift the trajectory of a franchise - Utah seems more focused on scraping out wins with veterans than positioning themselves for long-term success.
Lauri Markkanen has been the offensive engine, and there’s no doubt he’s earned that role. But when every possession feels like it’s being force-fed through him, and players like Ace Bailey - another young piece with upside - are parked in the corner, it’s fair to ask: What’s the plan here?
This doesn’t have to be complicated. Utah has a trio of recent first-round picks in Hendricks, Bailey, and Cody Williams.
Let them play. Let them take their lumps.
Let them grow. Hendricks, in particular, brings something this team desperately needs - defensive versatility and floor spacing.
Utah ranks 29th in defensive rating. That’s not a coincidence.
They need length, mobility, and switchability - all things Hendricks was drafted to provide. If he struggles?
That’s fine. Development isn’t always linear.
And if it happens to lead to more losses? Even better - that’s a win in the long-term view.
Same goes for Cody Williams. Is he a project?
Maybe. Is he a bust?
Too early to say. But you can’t make that call without giving him real minutes.
Let him get beat on defense. Let him miss shots.
Let him learn. Because if he’s not part of the plan, you need to know that now - not two years from now when you’ve wasted time and opportunity.
This isn’t just about coaching, either. It starts at the top.
The front office - Danny Ainge, Justin Zanik, Austin Ainge - has to take accountability for the roster construction and the direction of the team. If Will Hardy isn’t going to play the young guys, then the front office needs to make it impossible not to.
Trade the veterans. Clear the path.
Force the youth movement.
Kevin Love didn’t even want to be in Utah to start the season. Yet here he is, logging real minutes and helping the Jazz win just enough games to drift away from the top of the lottery. It’s the kind of short-term thinking that doesn’t move the needle - not in the standings, and definitely not in the rebuild.
December 15th marks the unofficial start of trade season - the day when players signed in the offseason become eligible to be moved. For the Jazz, that date should feel like a flashing neon sign.
It’s time to pivot. Time to commit.
If the goal is to build something sustainable, it starts with giving the young core a real shot.
This season doesn’t have to be a waste. But it can’t be another year of mixed signals.
Utah has the pieces. Now it’s about putting them on the floor and letting them grow - for better or worse.
Because right now, the only thing worse than losing is not learning anything while doing it.