The Utah Jazz are coming off another brutal season. They were among the worst teams in the 2023-24 NBA campaign, finishing the regular season with just a pathetic 31-51 record. But with a notable cap space for the coming NBA free agency, the Jazz can be a significant player on the market.
Utah Jazz Could Steal Lottery Pick Player From the Chicago Bulls
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One intriguing target the Jazz could look at in the offseason is Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams, who is a pending restricted free agency. Many have already given Williams the bust label, as he has yet to seemingly come close to the ceiling that the Bulls thought he’d be at this point of his career after being taken by Chicago fourth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.
But at the same time, the Bulls probably still want Williams back for a reasonable price. The Jazz could ruin that kind of scenario for Chicago by offering a heftier contract that the Bulls could feel very hesitant about matching, as floated by Dan Favale of Bleacher Report.
In the event he [Lauri Markkanen] puts pen to paper for less than the max, signs a basic extension (140 percent raise) or the parties agree to wait until next summer, Utah has more than enough scratch to inflate the cost of other teams’ free agents—not unlike it did with Paul Reed last year.
Team CEO Danny Ainge and general manager Justin Zanik should consider doing the same with Patrick Williams. Granted, there’s more risk involved here. Even with injuries galore in his rear view—including season-ending surgery on his left foot this year—Williams will require a hefty offer sheet to really put pressure on the Chicago Bulls. And there’s no guarantee the folks in the Windy City match. They are the biggest wild cards this offseason, and Williams has yet to establish himself as a higher-volume offensive threat. Utah doesn’t need to care. The 22-year-old is a heady defender and capable of rumbling with bigger wings and forwards.
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