SALT LAKE CITY — You don’t often want to say the quiet part out loud, because that’s how you raise eyebrows. But in the case of the Utah Jazz, following a 126-124 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in their season opener at the Delta Center, saying the quiet part out loud certainly fits.
So, ahem, here goes.
That was a great defeat for the Utah Jazz.
Of course, there were somber faces in Utah’s locker room in the moments following the loss. Of course, Jazz head coach Will Hardy went over a list of things his team could have done to pull out a win over a good Memphis team. And of course, you can point at Keyonte George shooting 3-of-18 from the field and conclude that at least one young Utah player needs improvement.
All of the above, by the way, would be true. The Jazz had a shot — multiple shots — at christening the new season by taking out a team that should be right in the thick of things come playoff time. But here is what’s also true: The big picture of this season looms. The potential greatness that will comprise the 2025 NBA Draft class is about to be on display, and in the case of Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, two of the prizes of that class, have already been on display.
And the bottom line is this: The Utah Jazz can’t afford to pick 10th overall again. The Utah Jazz can’t afford to be in the back half of the lottery. That’s where they have picked the last two seasons. This time, the franchise needs to come away from the draft with a potential star. The Jazz have a lot of young talent on the current roster. But the franchise needs a Cooper Flagg, an Ace Bailey, a Dylan Harper, a VJ Edgecombe or a Nolan Traore. Those are the names who make up the top of the draft. And those are the kinds of dynamic talent the Jazz need to pair next to star forward Lauri Markkanen.
But that requires losing. And it requires losing often. And some of those losses will be painful. Some of those losses, you simply won’t be able to take much from. They will be the kind of blowouts where you watch the film, throw it away and move on to the next one. But a 2-point loss that was competitive for much of the second half? Those are the kinds of defeats the Jazz can take stuff from.
“I thought there was more good than bad in that game,” Hardy said. “I think the second half is a blueprint for how we like to play. I thought we adjusted defensively to how we wanted to play, particularly in the second half. I thought our mindset offensively was much better in the second half. We moved the basketball a lot more and a lot better. So, I do think there is more good than bad. The second half is a much better picture of how we want to play.”
Here’s the formula that the Jazz should strive for. A close game against a good opponent. Find a way to lose that game. Develop the young players in the process.
Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks defends Desmond Bane of the Grizzlies in Wednesday’s season opener. (Chris Nicoll / Imagn Images)
That’s the most important part, and that’s what we saw Wednesday night. Second-year forward Taylor Hendricks was terrific, particularly in the second half. He scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds, but that only gives a glimpse into what his value was. He switched effortlessly on defense, as a 6-foot-9 forward, guarding everyone from Ja Morant to center Jay Huff. He made multiple 3-pointers when the Jazz made their run in the third quarter to get back into the game. At the start of his second season, coming off a rookie season where he often looked raw, lost and not ready to play, the former lottery pick has made noticeable strides.
“His physicality stands out,” Hardy said. “You can tell he’s put a lot of work into his body.”
And that’s where the biggest leap has come for the 20-year-old Hendricks. He’s more confident this season. He’s risen to the role of starter. He’s the most versatile defender on the roster, and in the season opener, he looked like a future cornerstone, even if his ceiling is that of a valuable role player.
“I think the game has slowed down for me,” Hendricks said. “But I think it’s slowed down for me defensively. It’s really helped that I’ve gotten stronger, but I also just see the game differently than I did last season, and I think that helped tonight.”
Jazz center Walker Kessler drives to the basket against the Grizzlies. (Melissa Majchrzak / NBAE via Getty Images)
Center Walker Kessler, other than Markkanen, was Utah’s best player, scoring 16 points, while grabbing 14 rebounds and blocking five shots. He was even better at protecting the paint than his blocked shot numbers suggest. And he was terrific offensively, consistently making an impact on the offensive glass and as a vertical lob threat.
This is an important season for Kessler, as Utah’s starting center. He will be eligible for a rookie extension next summer. So with all of the maneuvering the Jazz have done, and all of the young guys they have acquired, Kessler will be the first of those young guys the front office will have to make a long-term decision on. This isn’t a classic contract season for Kessler. But, this is a season that could well determine whether Kessler makes it to restricted free agency, or if the Jazz want to lock him up with an extension.
Kessler gained a significant amount of weight this offseason to be stronger and more ready for the jostling in the paint. But he’s kept the mobility and athleticism that made him notable in the first place. For instance, when the Jazz made their run to get back into the game, Kessler spent defensive possessions on Memphis point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. And that’s the key to this season for the Jazz as a whole. It’s development, it’s their young guys improving by the game, and it’s their front office figuring out how to add to the current core.
“I was able to concentrate and work on my game all summer,” Kessler said. “I rotated between working out in Utah and working out in Atlanta with the people I trust and my inner circle. I feel good. I feel ready to go this season.”
(Top photo of Lauri Markkanen: Melissa Majchrzak / NBAE via Getty Images)
