Luka Doncic’s debut was as rewarding as LeBron James and the Lakers could have hoped for on Monday night. It’s evident that Doncic and LeBron can complement each other on the court, and the Lakers seem invigorated by the “biggest trade in NBA history.” For the Utah Jazz, however, it was a harsh reality check, revealing undeniable truths about the team’s current state.
The Utah Jazz are far from championship contention.
The game against the Lakers had a playoff-like intensity, and the young Utah Jazz players appeared overwhelmed, caught off guard by facing LeBron James and Luka Doncic. At no point did the game feel competitive.
Personally, I was eager to see how the Jazz’s young talent would perform against the Lakers. Isaiah Collier had been impressive with his passing recently—could he post a big assist night? Walker Kessler had been playing like a new man this season, so perhaps he would dominate the paint and disrupt the Lakers’ rhythm. Maybe Keyonte George would seize the opportunity to put up a big scoring night on ESPN?
None of that materialized. In fact, it was the opposite. Kessler was ineffective, posting a team-worst -26, Collier was hesitant and only accumulated assists in garbage time, and George struggled with efficiency and ball control. Overall, the defense was abysmal.
When given the chance to show what they could do in a playoff environment, the Jazz were far from ready.
Lauri Markkanen’s shooting struggles persist
Lauri Markkanen endured another disappointing three-point shooting performance. Against the Lakers, Markkanen shot 1/8 from beyond the arc. Even more concerning is that he’s shooting just 34.5% from three this season. As a player whose primary strength is three-point shooting, Markkanen’s struggles from distance are troubling.
Several factors could explain this slump. The Jazz have been deploying young guards, which likely impacts the quality of shots Markkanen gets. Utah has made adjustments, switching Keyonte George for Isaiah Collier as the starting point guard midway through the season. Collier has thrived in this new role, averaging 8.6 assists per game since January 5th, but Markkanen’s shooting woes continue. Since the lineup change, Markkanen has shot just 32% from three. How long will it take for Markkanen to overcome this? A player who requires everything to be perfectly set up to succeed is not a star, but rather a role player. Utah recently gave Markkanen a max contract, but so far, it hasn’t been a great investment. If another team comes with a tempting offer this offseason, Utah must seriously consider it.
The Jazz need to commit fully to a youth movement for the remainder of this season and beyond.
Another trade deadline passed without the Jazz moving any veterans. Utah has been able to embrace losses while players like John Collins, Collin Sexton, and Jordan Clarkson get limited minutes. Meanwhile, competing teams have cleared the decks. Every game matters from here on out. The Jazz must secure the best possible pick for the rest of the season. While catching Washington may be out of reach, locking down the #2 spot for the lottery is still attainable. The #2 spot guarantees a top-6 pick, which is crucial for securing elite talent. Utah needs to focus on resting players and ensuring they finish with a strong lottery position, though this has been a precarious balancing act all season. They’ve been fortunate with last-second game winners, keeping them near the top of the lottery.
At this point, I’m genuinely surprised. Doesn’t the Jazz front office recognize these realities? It feels like
