by Alma Bean
In a season full of high’s and low’s leading to an emotional roller coaster for fans, the Utah Jazz have finished the 2023-24 campaign.
With a total of 31 starting lineups and 21 players this season, Utah fans have been able to get a good look at the players on the roster. Here is my personal grading for each player this season along with their pro’s and con’s and what the future may hold for them in Utah.
Player Rating Criteria
Here is how the grading will be assessed:
A = Exceeded all expectations from the start of the season
B = Bright moments throughout the season but not consistent
C = Met expectations, nothing more, nothing less
D = Did not reach expectations, minimal bright points in the season
F = Struggled throughout the season
Ochai Agbaji
Player Grade: D
In his second season with Utah, Agbaji hit a rough sophomore slump. During his rookie season, Agabji played 59 games and started 22 of those games averaging 13.4 PPG, 2.5 REB and 2.1 AST as a starter on shooting splits of 40.5/33.3/87.2. Even for the 10 games he started for Utah this season Agbaji averaged 7.7 PPG, 3.8 REB and 0.9 AST with shooting splits of 48.3/45.5/100. Though the highflying 3 & D guard saw improvement in his numbers, he was saved by occasional high scoring games. Agbaji scored 10+ points just eight times this season with Utah, while he did this 20 times last season. He went from being a viable option to struggling to consistently stay on the court. Agbaji is seeing more time since he was traded to the Toronto Raptors this season and making a larger contribution to the team, but in his time in Utah, Agbaji needed a change of scenery to help his career.
Darius Bazley
Player Grade: B
Not much to go off of for Bazley, but with his limited time in Utah Bazley made his presence known in the Delta Center. Playing just six games for Utah, Bazley averaged 8.0 PPG, 4.5 REB and 0.8 AST with shooting splits of 62.1/25.0/83.3. Though his numbers may not jump off the page or be skewed by the available players at the end of the season, his production still exceeds expectations. Signing a three-year, non-guaranteed contract makes him expendable but Bazley had been playing as if he’s wanting to solidify his spot in Salt Lake City. Even if the current roster doesn’t allow for him to get consistent minutes, he’d be viable for the Salt Lake City Stars or be an easy pick up for another NBA team with a solid resume going back to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Jordan Clarkson
Player Grade: C
Clarkson playing as his typical self this season. High-level scorer with a high-volume of shot attempts. Where Clarkson deserves a little more credit is his improvement on ball movement. Clarkson averaged 5.0 assists per game, which is a career-high, but with a heavier emphasis on ball movement comes more turnovers. Turnovers seemed to haunt Clarkson as he averaged 2.7 turnovers per game and reached a career-high of seven turnovers earlier this season. His hot streaks are phenomenal to watch but his cold streaks can also be deemed as brutal to the human eye. As he approaches his 11th season in the NBA on a team friendly contract, you begin to wonder if this is a style of basketball that the team can continue to thrive on or trade him while there’s still value on the court.
John Collins
Player Grade: B
Collins hit the ground running after being acquired this past offseason. Starting off the season with setting the record for most double doubles to start a tenure in Utah (3) but also led the team in rebounds per game (8.5) this season. There was a struggle on whether or not Collins could thrive in Will Hardy‘s system as a power forward or as a small ball center, but he found a way to shine in his new home. Collins averaged 15.1 PPG, 8.5 REB and 1.1 AST while having shooting splits of 53.2/37.1/79.5. His spot on the team should be pretty secure but with the current state of the team, who knows what deals the front office may be cooking up.
Kris Dunn
Player Grade: B
Dunn found a resurgence of his career here in Utah. Though his numbers don’t scream for a major pay raise but his influence on the team is more than enough to justify a raise. Between his locker room presence for the rookies and his ability to uplift the team whether he’s on the bench or on the floor. Though Dunn averaged a career-low with 5.4 PPG with at least 5 games played, his defensive prowess and ability to control the flow of the offense is something that Utah will be looking to bring back for the 2024-25 season.
Simone Fontecchio
Player Grade: B
From year one to year two in the NBA, Fontecchio has made major improvements to his game to keep a consistent spot in the league. Joined the league as a struggling bench piece riding his success from FIBA play to having an argument to be a consistent starting piece in the NBA. On the surface, Fontecchio looks like a three-point threat averaging nearly 40 percent from the perimeter, but his lockdown perimeter defense made Fontecchio a viable option in any team’s rotation including the Detroit Pistons.
Keyonte George
Player Grade: B
The 16th pick of the 2023 NBA Draft has exceeded the expectations of many fans early in his career. With Utah being uncertain with their backcourt rotations, George was exposed to influential minutes right off the bat while adjusting to playing point guard. Making his way into the starting lineup, George showed that he still has a long way to go before reaching his full potential. A major focus for him this offseason should be consistent ball movement, continuing his dribble at the top of the key and improving his perimeter shooting if he wishes to stay in the starting rotation.
Taylor Hendricks
Player Grade: C
The 9th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft had a little bit of a struggle reaching the Utah Jazz roster this season. After recovering from an injury he had suffered from college, Hendricks was unable to play in the Salt Lake City Summer League or the NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas delaying his ability to adjust to the NBA level of play. As the number nine pick, most people would see that player as an immediate impact for the team they are drafted to, but Hendricks spent a majority of the season with the Salt Lake City Stars. Though he looked like a hit in the G League, Hendricks didn’t receive a true test of the NBA till Utah made their moves at the trade deadline. Hendricks has shown that he has the ability to stretch the floor with his offensive ability, but his defense is what keeps him on the floor. Utah ended up getting a solid role player in Hendricks but everything he had shown on the court is what fans were shown is exactly what fans were expecting of him when the fans and the team are needing improvement in his offensive game.
Talen Horton-Tucker
Player Grade: D
Fans have a love/hate relationship with Horton-Tucker over the last two seasons. Consistently turning the ball over and throwing up circus shots in hopes of getting a foul call is not a sufficient way to hold a roster spot in the NBA. Especially when you’re making $11 million to get DNP’s (did not play) in multiple games in a row is not a good use of the organization’s funds. With Horton-Tucker being just 23 years old, he’ll have plenty of suitors on the free agency market but should expect a significant pay cut this offseason.
Johnny Juzang
Player Grade: B
As a two-way player, not much is expected of Juzang when he steps onto the court for the Utah Jazz. This season, much more was asked of Juzang with him even being in the starting lineup and receiving 15+ minutes in 15 of his final 17 games this season. Juzang shows promise as a rotational bench piece with his perimeter shot starting to develop as he shot 43.8 percent from deep in that 17-game span. Going into the offseason as a restricted free agent, Juzang should have a decent market due to his recent performances, but how much is Utah willing to spend to keep him on the roster?
Walker Kessler
Player Grade: C
Going into the 2023-24 season, Kessler was on track to make a major jump in his sophomore year, but after playing for Team USA in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Kessler looked frustrated with his play in his return. No longer putting a focus on his limited perimeter shooting but putting that energy into his presence on the boards didn’t seem to translate as smoothly as fans may had anticipated. Thankfully, for Kessler’s sake, his defensive pressure in the paint was still prominent averaging 2.4 blocks per game in the 64 games he played in this season. Going forward, Kessler is now at the mercy of Utah as he is now on a team option and seems to only be in the starting lineup for certain schemes and teams. If he wants to continue to make his mark in Utah, he will need to continue improving his free throw percentage, which is up by nearly nine percent from last season, along with keeping control of the ball after an offensive rebound.
Kira Lewis Jr.
Player Grade: C
When Lewis Jr. was traded to Utah this season, it felt like he was thrown is as potential salary filler. Lewis Jr. had been struggling to find minutes or stay on the floor as he had played a total of 119 games over 4 seasons (just shy of 30 games per season) before coming to Utah. Even after an explosive year at the University of Alabama in the 2019-20 season, Lewis Jr. has struggled to find his spot in the league but continues to fight for his minutes. Once he arrived in Utah, Lewis Jr. had four games where he had played 15+ minutes where he averaged 8.0/2.3/3.8 with shooting splits of 44.8/11.1/71.4. Lewis Jr. will most likely explore the market this offseason, but he will need to improve his perimeter shooting and shot selection for wherever his career takes him next.
Kenneth Lofton Jr.
Player Grade: A
Utah looked to be a revitalization of Lofton Jr.’s young career. In just four games in Utah, Lofton Jr. was playing nearly 23 minutes a game while averaging 13.8/5.0/4.8 with shooting splits of 60/33.3/81.8. Given his size, Lofton Jr. has the build to punish forwards while still putting up a fight for big men in the paint. His ability to play as a point forward will open the court for many players and will be a hot commodity for many teams. Though it’s a small sample size, it would be smart for Utah to adjust Lofton Jr.’s three-year, non-guaranteed contract to something more set in stone before his value skyrockets.
Lauri Markkanen
Player Grade: A
Even with 11 less games played this season compared to last season, Markkanen mimicked his All-Star season from a year ago. Averaging 23.2/8.2/2.0 with shooting splits of 48.0/39.9/89.9. Though Markkanen didn’t make the All-Star game this season, he has proven that he will continue to perform at a high level in Utah. Though many will question Markkanen as a number one option but with him being up for a contract extension this offseason, it will be telling how committed the organization is to him with the details of the contract. Markkanen should still be seen as a current number one offensive option but being open to potentially bring in another option to have him continue to flourish.
Kelly Olynyk
Player Grade: B
Olynyk was arguably the glue to Utah’s success early on in the season. Though his numbers didn’t cause anyone to turn their heads, but Olynyk had a revolving door role as he was able to do whatever was asked of him on the court. Olynyk averaged 8.1/5.1/4.4 with shooting splits of 56.2/42.9/84.2 this season in 50 games for Utah. After his departure, Olynyk averaged 12.7/5.6/4.6 for Toronto in 28 games this season. Olynyk being traded seemed inevitable with the price tag of $12 million, but his veteran leadership and talents on the court are dearly missed in Utah.
Micah Potter
Player Grade: C
Potter did what was needed of him at the tail end of the season. Playing as a four or five that can stretch the floor is a positive trait to have in the NBA. Unless there is a major change, Potter will most likely be seen as a great two-way option that will get great reps in the G League and fill in as needed at a successful rate. His numbers are showing an upward trend and may be a sneaky pickup for a team that is in need of a backup big man.
Jason Preston
Player Grade: C
Utah managed to find “Mr. Triple-Double” of the G League and member of the All-G League First Team but was unable to have his skills translate to the NBA level. Though he managed to get playing time in seven games this season with Preston averaging around 10 minutes a game, he averaged a stat line of 1.7/2.4/2.3 with shooting splits that he’d like to forget. Preston was not seen as a necessity for Utah which is why his grade is not as harsh, but as a two-way player Preston is a viable option for the G League and could be a fill-in as a backup if the team were ever to be plagued with injuries.
Luka Samanic
Player Grade: C
Samanic saw a large increase in his minutes this season. He went from playing 43 games over his last three NBA season to playing 43 games this season. Though that may look like a large improvement, Samanic played five or less minutes in 20 of those games this season. To really judge his evolution as a player you need to look at the games where he had a continuous contribution on the court. In the 2023-24 season, Samanic played 15+ minutes in nine games where he averaged 11.8/6.3/1.7 with shooting splits of 41.3/15.8/80.7. Even riding the tail end of the bench, Samanic proved that there is still a glimmer of the former first-round pick from 2019, but still has a long way before he can be considered a consistent starting option.
Brice Sensabaugh
Player Grade: C
As the 28th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, many weren’t expecting too much from Sensabaugh. Even when he began playing in the G League, it was clear that Sensabaugh is offensively gifted, especially when it comes to a midrange fadeaway, but his defense needed so much attention that his coaches had to point to his assignments/positions throughout the game. As Sensabaugh got more reps, he began to show that he is less if a liability on both ends of the court. Sensabaugh still needs to show that he can be consistent in the NBA, but he has started to turn heads for a late first-round pick.
Collin Sexton
Player Grade: A
Second year into his Utah tenure, Sexton is showing he is worth his four-year, $71 million contract. Sexton proved that whether he is in the starting lineup or the sixth man, he can bring life to Utah. His energy on the court is infectious not only to the crowd, but his teammates, his stats correlate with his energy. This season Sexton averaged 18.7/2.6/4.9 whit shooting splits of 48.7/39.4/85.9 with his assists per game, three-point percentage and free throw percentage all being career-high’s. As the second scoring option for Utah, Sexton may have solidified his spot as a member for the Jazz, but his performance may make him a hot trade asset going into the offseason for a potential bigger fish.
Omer Yurtseven
Player Grade: B
With Yurtseven coming into the season with a non-guaranteed contract, it seemed like he would be viewed as a low-risk, high-reward signing. After having his role reduced for the Miami Heat in the 2022-23 season, Utah bringing Yurtseven to Salt Lake City seemed like “prove yourself” contract. When Yurtseven was given the chance to fight for another contract, he showed Utah can depend on him. In games where he played 15+ minutes, Yurtseven averaged 9.6/7.5/1.2 with shooting splits of 56.9/18.8/76.5. With this production, Yurtseven has proven that he can be a solid backup center with the ability to stretch the floor and is not afraid to shoot the ball from the perimeter.
What to Expect During the Offseason
Number one thing the organization should focus on is locking Markkanen into a long-term extension. On June 28th, Markkanen’s contract of $18 million will be guaranteed, but would be nice to guarantee more than just a singular year being fully guaranteed given his individual success over the last two seasons. After that, Utah will need to look into the free agency market with nine players being available (expiring contracts, non-guaranteed contracts, restricted free agents) this offseason. Utah will have a lot of flexibility with draft assets and cap space, so we should expect to see some high caliber names to be in the mix of Utah’s interest list. Final focus should be this year’s draft. May seem absurd but with a week draft class along with potentially three picks in the first 32 picks, Utah will have the ability to get a rookie for cheap or use those draft assets to either bulk up for future drafts or trading for a star looking for a new home.
This offseason should be a wild rollercoaster that should keep Utah fans on the edge of their seats eager for the 2024-25 season.
The Hive Sports 