Jazz Young Core Gets Disrespected During 2023-24 NBA GM Poll

Did the Utah Jazz young core get graded fairly amongst NBA executives?

Each year, NBA executives get tasked to fill out an anonymous poll to grade certain players, coaches, and teams across the association. Whether it be finding the best three-point shooter, the coach running the best system, or analyzing which team has the best Finals chances, GMs usually seek out a respectable answer for most of the questions at hand.

However, some results come to be a bit controversial in the process. During the set of questions for the 2023-24 NBA season, GMs were asked about which team has the most promising young core in the entire league. Out of the six teams mentioned, the Jazz found zero recognition.

The complete voting is listed below:

1. Oklahoma City Thunder: 73%

2. Cleveland Cavaliers: 10%

3. Orlando Magic: 7%

Also receiving votes: Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers

While it might not be reasonable to expect the Jazz to be the favorites in this vote, for none of the total votes favoring Utah, no consideration whatsoever seems a bit harsh.

Throughout the past two drafts, the Jazz have utilized five first-round picks, highlighted by high-ceiling guys like C Walker Kessler and G Keyonte George. Other productive players like G Collin Sexton and G Talen Horton-Tucker who have been drafted even earlier still stand under the age of 25, proving there is still room for growth to be had this season.

The lack of a highly-touted young star may be the barrier to finding more recognition for the Jazz youth movement. While Danny Ainge and the rest of the front office have done a great job of collecting solid supporting pieces to a rebuild, it lacks the highly-desired superstar cornerstone.

Looking at just the teams above Utah, OKC has a top guard talent in G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Cavaliers hold a perennial DPOY candidate in F Evan Mobley, and the Magic have a great 1-2 punch in F Franz Wagner and F Paolo Banchero.

While these may all be reasonable candidates to place above Utah, the Jazz not being able to find a single vote their way seems a bit peculiar. It may just take a season or two for the year one and two players to fully grow into their NBA roles for the talent to be universally recognized.

This NBA season, it’s safe to say the youth on this Jazz roster will have much to prove.

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