Will the Jazz be buyers or sellers as the NBA trade deadline approaches?

The NBA trade deadline is still almost six weeks away. So conversations about leagues like this go on from he in January to the beginning of he in February.

That said, if you’re looking at a specific team in the league, the Utah Jazz are certainly one of them. Just for the knowledge that the current roster is expected to change over time not. And not just because the Jazz have a lot of quality veterans that will help many teams compete. because they have a lot of assets. If you have an asset and a player who doesn’t hate moving, it’s part of a lot of the conversation.

Wednesday night, the Jazz lost to the Golden State Warriors, 112-107. They’re 19-18 this season, placing him ninth in the Western Conference. After starting 10-3, they’re 9-15, but didn’t have a full roster for many of their 24 games.

Utah’s spot on the standings begs the question of whether the Jazz are aiming to be buyers or sellers by the deadline. I hope the team hits rock bottom. But it seems highly unlikely that the Jazz would find themselves in such a fray. The roster is too good, even if there was a tentative deal. Will Hardy proved too good a coach. Lauri Markkanen is playing at his All-Star level. That means the Jazz are unlikely to fall into Detroit Pistons, San He Antonio He Spurs, Houston Rockets, or Charlotte He Hornets territory.

Conversely, the Jazz are unlikely to top the Western Conference. At the current rate they could be a play-in team. If the second half of the season is going well (the Jazz are about halfway through the schedule), they could even challenge for a top six spot. This makes them an automatic playoff team. But it’s hard to see them advance in the playoffs. At the very least, we can’t help but make moves that influence the direction of winning the roster. And that’s what the offseason teardown was all about. The goal is to make this a championship contender.

Warriors forward Draymond Green blocked a shot attempt by Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen in San Francisco on Wednesday. (John Hefty/USA Today)

Nothing is imminent and we expect this to be a slowly progressing trade deadline across the league. All of the top 10 teams across the league, especially the Western Conference, have at least a .500 record. There is no dominant team in the West either, with the Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans leading the way with his 22-12 record. Below the top 10 in the West, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers are hoping and hoping for some form of postseason berth. Also, the Oklahoma City Thunder are a lot like the Jazz in having so many assets that can move in any direction on the chessboard.

So the team hasn’t really chosen which path to take. So, as of Wednesday night, the trade market is a bit of a mess. The Jazz are mentioned as the team that had discussions with the Atlanta Hawks about John Collins, but nothing seems imminent on that front.

Here’s exactly what we can say about Utah over the next few weeks. The Jazz expect to have conversations around the league just by the nature of the number of assets they have. limited to the case. Regardless of how that deal sends Utah State for the rest of the season, it would be the best deal.

So far in the season, Jazz management feels the team is performing above expectations. More importantly, we have data on players emerging as pieces that the franchise feels can be built on. Clearly, Markkanen is someone the Jazz wants in the franchise long-term. He’s having the best season of his career. I’m sure he’s deepening conversations about qualifying for the next All-Star Game. Rookie center Walker his Kessler has also been doing great this season.

The Utah players and coaching staff should be commended for playing so well under difficult circumstances. Saturday night, the Jazz will take on their Miami heat at Vivint’s arena. This is their 10th straight win of the season and they are at the top of the league. Jazz has played more on the road than at home, and has played on the most difficult road his schedule. Living out of a suitcase. Nevertheless, the Jazz won 19 games on a makeshift roster put together by the front office after dismantling the Mitchell/Gobert team. They’re competitive most nights and he’s one of the more resilient teams in the league.

But the NBA is a business of its own, and it’s something players recognize as well. It remains to be seen what the Jazz will actually do in the next six weeks.

Let’s start the game on the court, so to speak.

(Photo of Jazz Guard Colin Sexton Wednesday in San Francisco: John Hefti / USA Today)