Things haven’t been great for the Utah Jazz in recent years, and there are compelling arguments that their tanking strategy could hurt them in the long run. However, this is expected to change this offseason as the Jazz not only expect to get a lottery pick and re-sign Walker Kessler, but also have their sights set on an NBA star in free agency: Austin Reaves.
Reaves is often mentioned as the Jazz’s top target in free agency. Even if they don’t succeed, they have the money to make the Lakers sweat. Former NBA player Rashad McCants is all for Utah pursuing Reaves this summer, believing the Jazz would benefit greatly from adding him.
Rashad McCants believes Austin Reaves would be Gordon Hayward 2.0 in Utah
In an exclusive interview with The J-Notes, McCants explained why he believes the Jazz have everything to gain from adding Reaves, albeit only on one condition.
“If (the Jazz) keep Lauri Markkanen, I think Austin Reaves would add a better playoff shot,” McCants told The J-Notes. “…I think you have a group of young killers who can really play. Adding Austin Reaves, who can be your modern-day Gordon Hayward, being a guy who can do multiple things, isn’t going to ask him to do too many defensive things, but he’s going to give you 20 a game.
“…Keyonte can give you 25, 26 a game, and if you keep Lauri Markkanen, you have a three-headed monster and that’s three different positions and I think that brings Utah back something that they’ve been missing for the last 10, 12 years, which is playoff basketball like it was with Jerry Sloan.”
It’s definitely an intriguing prospect to think about the Jazz returning to the level they once played at with Sloan. Amazingly, it’s been a decade and a half since he left the Jazz, and while the team has had a few exciting playoff runs, it’s fair to suggest that hasn’t replicated his success.
Having three players who can score 20 or more on a given night is one thing, but adding them to a core that includes Walker Kessler, Ace Bailey, Brice Sensabaugh, Jusuf Nurkic (?), another high lottery pick, and so on, and this would be a force to be reckoned with.
Utah has more options in case Reaves goes elsewhere, but from McCants’ perspective, it’s pretty easy to see why adding him would be so exciting on top of everything else the Jazz have coming this summer.
Imagine the exciting core they have now, and then add a player who is comparable fine Gordon Hayward. We’re a little ahead and the comparison isn’t perfect, but Reaves is good enough that the Jazz would have every reason to believe a return to the playoffs isn’t a possibility, but a security.
Sound familiar? It should, because that’s how it was during Jerry Sloan’s golden age.
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