If you want to imagine what the Jazz's offense could look like with their new 6-man core, this @saltcityhoops.bsky.social post is for you. Zarin looks at what certain play types could yield on a team full of skill, shooting and positional size.

I also explain why Utah will be ecstatic to take what's available at #2, but just for good measure looked at every single trade in the rookie scale era where a team moved up 1 draft spot. A little on what the Jazz might do at #2, but mostly this is about timelines, macro stuff.

For @saltcityhoops.bsky.social, I look at how uniquely the Jazz are set up after securing the #2 pick in the lottery, and why their contention timeline potentially just changed. Cool graphics here about Utah's new construction. www.saltcityhoops.com/posts/lottery-grants-utah-chance-two-timelines

Dan Clayton (@danclayt0n.bsky.social) has a treat for you! Presenting: VISUALIZING THE REBUILD! The Byzantine nature of NBA trades means that future assets become different things. Now that Utah is [going to be] competitive, what did it take to get there? www.saltcityhoops.com/posts/the-re...

Lot of great stuff on saltcityhoops.com rn: - @jazzmanmark.com's pod today on exit interviews and JAZZ WIN THE TB! - My look at 7 "canon events" from the season. - Mark also did a "yearbook" episode of the pod - My final SC7 looked at teams who jump from <25 wins to playoffs & more!

With that settled, here's an updated look at the Jazz's pick situation. They also have the option to trade their own 2033 1st and 2nd, as early as draft night.

Rebuild over.............

One day more... The Jazz will either enter the lottery room with the fifth best odds (and a 0.6% chance of losing their pick) or the fourth best odds (and guaranteed to keep their pick). All that based on the outcome of two games tomorrow, and potentially a coin flip later on.

Bez and Jitty getting triple doubles in the same game marks just the 19th time in recorded NBA history (and the second time this season) that multiple teammates did it in the same game. Wemby-Castle was the last one, this past November. It's never happened for Jazz teammates.

The Jazz celebrated Fan Appreciation Night by snapping a 10-game losing skid against a team that could best be described as "technically in the NBA." There were multiple triple doubles, multiple career highs, but there can be only one 🏀. Who gets it?

Thread. With prospects, analysis is predicated on HOW they are doing things rather than raw numbers.

Ace Bailey, simply put, already has the footwork of a ball-in-hands superstar. Like... what the actual? He's 19. This twisting hop to square up is awesome.

Felt cute, might delete later.

The Jazz with their 7th wire-to-wire loss of the season. Last year they had 11. The others this year were (H/a): min, nyk, den, CHA, dal, NOP.

Hours after I posted this visual, Ace set a new career high in points (37), Chandler surpassed his previous high in assists (9) and steals (3), Konchar tied for points (19), and Tshiebwe had multiple steals (2) for the first time. Couldn't rob you of a refreshed graphic.

It's *opportunity season* for the ascendant Ace Bailey, and for other Jazz youngsters. My latest SC7 for @saltcityhoops.bsky.social looks at just how many guys used March games to log new career bests, plus Ace, repeat actions, and a Jazz-related tourney watch. www.saltcityhoops.com/posts/sc7-op...

Fill in the blank with your best guess: Ace Bailey is going to be the _____ most valuable player on the 2026-27 Jazz.

Rookies to have at least 25 points + 5 blk in a game, past 20 years. Ace Bailey tonight Wemby (10X lol) KAT KD

I rewatched Ace's 27 shot attempts, and I'm going to need some help calming down. Truly, even some of his misses were shots that just make you go omg, where can this kid get to. Hinson said last night that someday he'll tell his grandkids how lucky he was to be around for the start of a HOF career.

Tonight was tied with the season opener for the biggest lead the Jazz had at any point in a game (+37). Also obviously the biggest final margin of the season: 32, just better than their 28-point win against the hapless Kings last month.

Three guys with 20+ and plenty of career bests (Ace's points, EJ's points and assists, Garcia's everything, Hinson's points) and a 19-point half for Cody as the shorthanded Jazz steamroll the shorthanded Bucks. Who gets the 🏀 from Utah's skid-busting win?

Whoa! A new Salt City Seven from @danclayt0n.bsky.social, just as there is every week! It's the best writing on the Utah Jazz and it's not close. Click on it! Stuff for casual non-Jazz fans and sickos alike. Follow Dan and @saltcityhoops.bsky.social! www.saltcityhoops.com/posts/sc7-ro...

The Jazz lost after leading by 18 for the second straight night. That ties their max lead lost (also were up 18 against OKC before a November loss).

(Let's try that again, better graphic...) Tonight was tied for the narrowest spread of a Jazz game this season: ±14, the same as their road game in Sac in the second game of the season. That one had a range of +6 to -8, and they lost by 1. Tonight they were +11 to -3, won by 3.

Jazz survive a frenetic close against the banged-up Warriors, win with their deep bench guys closing it out. Who gets the 🏀 after several big performances (8 in double figs)?

My latest SC7 column is up at @saltcityhoops.bsky.social, in which I look at Keyonte George putting himself in pretty special company, Cody cutting all over, some Ace Bailey history and more! Link next.

The Jazz go nearly wire-to-wire in defeating the Zombie Wiz in Washington, thanks to a boatload of points from their rookie, more gear-change drives from Collier, a meaty double-double from Flip, confident night from Cody... but there's only one 🏀, so who gets it?

I’ll say this: Jazz fans are cool. Vince has been on their favorite team for less than 3 wks, and the amount of protective anger about his totally avoidable injury, as well as earnest concern for how it impacts the future of someone we’re just getting to know… You guys are just neat. Heal up, VW!

For the Jazz youngsters, they are about to play the most important games of their lives If they want minutes next year and another contract, they better show up now Plus some final FINAL Jazz/tank thoughts, for SALT CITY HOOPS: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfqP... 🎵: bit.ly/4axK0zN 🍎: bit.ly/46lrZlP

also, here's @danclayt0n.bsky.social's latest weekly deep dive on all things Utah Jazz: www.saltcityhoops.com/posts/sc7-cr...

Everybody in this group has 24-27 games left. NOP (with no motivation to lose) and Sac (with a whopping 9 games left against this group) could wind up being sneaky important in this race.

What's going on, bluesky? I feel like I haven't really found the engagement yet over here, but I want to. If I was following you at the other place and I'm not yet over here, let me know so I can get my feed built up. (Or hell, even if I wasn't over there, let's get this thing popping.)

Here's the thing about your favorite lottery reform idea: it probably stinks. Most proposals ignore fundamental questions and have glaring issues far worse than the ones we'd be "fixing." Join me as I poke holes, for @saltcityhoops.bsky.social: www.saltcityhoops.com/posts/why-yo...

The exact angle of Utah's ascent next season will be determined by a factor the Jazz can spend their final 26 games exploring, I explain at @saltcityhoops.bsky.social. Plus, an auspicious hint about next year's D identity, Ace Bailey clutch creation & more. www.saltcityhoops.com/posts/sc7-fi...

The NBA did something yesterday that it has never, ever done. Regardless of what you think about tanking and the Utah Jazz, it's worth asking if we're OK with the league telling teams when they can and can't sub players. For @saltcityhoops.bsky.social: www.saltcityhoops.com/posts/nba-en...

20+ streaks to start a Jazz career: Spencer Haywood (5): 27-27-20-23-25 Adrian Dantley (20): I'm not listing them all lol Jaren Jackson Jr. (3 and counting): 22-22-23...

The Jazz didn't have any trouble with the Kings, who lost their 14th straight and might get downgraded to Dukes or Viscounts. We need to give away a 🏀, though... who you got?

Had fatherly duties tonight so just finished Jazz-Heat. That means we need to give away the 17th game ball of the year as Utah matches last season's win total in early Feb. Who gets the 🏀 from South Beach?

In this weeks' Salt City Seven column, I looked at plays from JJJ's first appearance in purple, plus Collier's historic week, stats you won't want to miss, and a great story about John Konchar. Catch it here at @saltcityhoops.bsky.social: www.saltcityhoops.com/posts/sc7-fi...

Now that we know from @loudclap.bsky.social's work that these were actually five separate deals and what the cash details were, here's an updated trade deadline recap graphic for posterity:

Last one of these until we reach the All-Star break. - No reason for Pels to lose and they're playing their guys, winning some - Sac has an easy schedule left... but also isn't good - Indy, Wiz, Jazz all have protected pick debts - Dallas has a crazy road-home balance to close

Cap nerds, here's a Saturday evening treat for you: @loudclap.bsky.social dug to find all the cap details and transaction minutiae on Utah's five deals. If you are curious about how deals/exceptions were structured, it's here at @saltcityhoops.bsky.social: www.saltcityhoops.com/posts/transa...

Wondering where #pickwatch sits after the trade deadline? I got you.

The Jazz's week of transactions on the aggregate: 11 players involved in Utah's 4 trades, with six picks and $86 million in salary changing hands.

Fun post from Riley to help you imagine what a Kessler-JJJ defensive duo could feel like to opponents.

The Utah Jazz SLAM the gas pedal! How does Jaren Jackson Jr. fit? Did Utah give up too much? Dan (@danclayt0n.bsky.social) and I break it down for you in this Salt City Hoops Podcast: 📽️: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj5s... 🎵: open.spotify.com/episode/7yR5... 🍎: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/j...

The Jazz win with just 7 guys in Indy. All 7 guys get to double figures, led by Lauri and a meaty double-double from Flip, Svi made shots, but the 🏀 probably needs to go to a historic night by a guard who played all 48. Let's compare notes... who gets it?

Our guy Zarin Ficklin comes through with instant analysis of the Jazz's surprise acquisition of JJJ, for @saltcityhoops.bsky.social: www.saltcityhoops.com/posts/utah-h...

The 👏 Jazz 👏 are 👏 not 👏 trading 👏 Lauri Today's deal makes it wayyyy less likely, not more. They want to win the second the calendar says October 2026.

I was expecting a boring deadline at the NBA level, but if suddenly there's a groundswell of weirdness, the chances go up of the Jazz benefitting in some indirect way.