Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
- Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy has committed to focusing on the development of the team's young talent, including Kyle Filipowski, Keyonte George, and Taylor Hendricks.
- Veteran guard Jordan Clarkson expressed confidence in Filipowski, while Walker Kessler, George, and other young players have worked hard in the offseason to prepare for expanded roles.
- Hardy emphasized the importance of investing in youth and being patient with the results, acknowledging that the team may face tough moments but has a clear vision for the future.
SALT LAKE CITY — Consider Jordan Clarkson impressed.
"Flip, right now, if we were like, 'Let's throw him in the game, put on a jersey,' we're going to war with him for sure," the Utah Jazz veteran guard said. "He's ready."
"Flip" would be Utah's 2024 second-round pick Kyle Filipowski. The former Duke big man is one of six players on the Jazz roster 20 years old or younger. He's also the only one in that group that wasn't a first-round selection.
So if Clarkson is that excited over Filipowski, maybe the Jazz have something good going? If anything, this upcoming season should provide some answers.
Jazz fans have dealt with some whiplash recently.
Over the last two seasons, the Jazz became an early feel-good story around the NBA. Head coach Will Hardy got a group of players no one expected to be competitive and pushed them into the playoff conversation.
That is until the front office pulled the rug from under them at each trade deadline by shipping off productive veterans.
It was understandable if fans were a little confused. Were the Jazz trying to win? Were they trying to keep a draft pick? Were they trying to toe the line between tanking and competing?
It was hard to tell; it won't be this time around.
"Going into this season, I think our vision is very clear," Hardy said. "This is an opportunity for us to really invest in our youth."
Good thing Clarkson is ready to go to "war" with the Filipowski, because that appears to be the plan — or at least part of it.
The season's focus will be on Keyonte George, Walker Kessler, Taylor Hendricks, Brice Sensabaugh, Cody Williams, Isaiah Collier and Filipowski.
"We need to invest in all of them and try to help them grow and develop," Hardy said. "At the same time, try to learn about who they are now and where we see each of them potentially going in the future."
That means ample minutes for the second-year players, a likely starting role for Kessler, and plenty of time for the three rookies. The summer was spent trying to gear up for those expanded roles.
Kessler said he worked on his free-throw shooting, screening and upping his physicality (he was visibly stronger than he was at the end of last season). George focused on decision-making and staying on balance when he shoots.
Hendricks and Sensabaugh, meanwhile, said they were more physically ready to handle an NBA season. Hendricks added "16 or 17 pounds" of mostly muscle and Sensabagh slimmed down.
As for the rookies (Williams, Collier and Filipowski), Hardy said the trio is ready for their NBA debut.
"None of them will look out of place when they go into a game," Hardy said. "I'm fully prepared to play them."
And fully prepared to live with the results.
Young players — especially rookies — rarely contribute to winning, so the 2024-25 Jazz season comes with this subtext: winning games isn't the top priority. That subtext will likely come with the added benefit of having a higher draft pick come June — a draft that, many believe, features multiple potential franchise players.
In a sense, that's a win-win for the future. In another, fans may be in for some tough moments — again.
"The NBA is humbling," Hardy said. "What I want for all of them is to learn early in their career how to deal with a bad game, or a bad couple of games, and re-center themselves and get back to playing productive basketball."
So what do the veterans think of this vision?
Clarkson said he was fine taking on a smaller role if needed, especially since he doesn't feel the need to "prove anything."
"We're all moving into (the stage of) giving the game back to what's coming behind us," he said. "So I think it's an all new role, new experience for everybody. I think we'll have a great time, and it's going to be great to see how it all meshes."
John Collins said that starting is "something that I hold dear," but he also wants to be the type of veteran that young players lean on.
Lauri Markkanen, who signed a long-term, big-money extension with the Jazz this offseason, said he trusts the front office's vision for the team. No, it won't be a quick fix, but he believes the organization is on the right track toward contention.
"You accept that it's the best for the organization, and we've, obviously, got to see what we have," Markkanen said.
