The Utah Jazz have assembled an intriguing core featuring All-Stars in their twenties, lottery talents, and fast-improving young guys. To give that group a real shot at being relevant right away, they'll have the opportunity this summer to bring more help.

Assuming their teenagers yield positive value and that the Jazz can retain Walker Kessler in restricted free agency, their front six is impressive. They've got talent beyond that group, but it's unclear who exactly is ready for the role of "seventh best player on a playoff team." Isaiah Collier and Cody Williams are still negative EPM players. Kyle Filipowski is a net positive, such stats say, but his primary position is power forward, where the Jazz have two All-Stars. Brice Sensabaugh still mostly impacts the game as a ball-in-hands scorer.

Svi Mykhailiuk and John Konchar are veterans under contract, but neither has been a high-minute guy on a winning team. The former has topped 800 season minutes just three times in his career, and never for a winning team. The latter topped out as Memphis' tenth man.

And regardless, Utah is not going to go into next year's playoffs with only one rotation player having postseason experience[fn]Jaren Jackson Jr., 27 playoff games with Memphis.[/fn].

Utah's primary tool to add a rotation-level difference maker will be the mid-level exception. The biggest version of the MLE will be about $15M this year. Using it would hard-cap the Jazz at $209 million, but I would guess the Jazz aren't likely to go over the $200 million tax threshold anyway. So when evaluating the list of potential free agents from a Jazz perspective, the question is really how they can add another rotation-caliber player in that price range. They also may add one or more players on veteran minimum deals. (They can also bring back their own free agents, should they choose, without dipping into those exceptions.)

Of course, signing a rotation-caliber vet would by definition push some other guys down the depth chart, but that's how it goes when a team graduates from being development-focused to a more competitive phase. Adding a dude who raises the bar for young guys to get minutes isn't a bad thing. They will either meet that higher bar, or if they don't the Jazz will feel fortunate that they weren't over-relying on that.

The Jazz can also now complete trades where they bring someone into their MLE, and we'll present those options in a subsequent article.

With all that in mind, here is my annual brief commentary on every single free agent who finished the prior year under contract. I'll update this a few times each day as players come off the board.

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Last updated 7/15 at 2:06 p.m. MDT.

Remaining free agents

Sorted by descending EPM wins added, UFA/RFA/PO/ETO only. NG/TO will be added as applicable upon entering free agency.

Jalen Duren (RFA)

• 10.3 wins added, coming off rookie scale contract. 
• Quick analysis: Duren rode 20-and-11 stats to his first All-Star appearance, but then struggled in the playoffs, with as many single-digit scoring nights against Orlando and Cleveland as double-figure ones. He's reportedly in talks with Sacramento about a potential sign-and-trade out of Detroit.

James Harden (PO)

• 9.4 wins added, $42.3M player option declined
• Quick analysis: He did opt out of the PO, but indications are he did it with the intent of signing a new deal with Cleveland.

LeBron James

• 5.6 wins added, coming off $52.6M
• Quick analysis: The 22-time All-Star is reportedly leaving Los Angeles, having notified the Lakers that he intends to play his 24th season elsewhere.

Peyton Watson (RFA)

• 3.3 wins added, coming off rookie scale
• Quick analysis: The buzz out of Denver is that the Nuggets will do what it takes to keep their ascendant wing, who nearly doubled his scoring average while shooting 41% from outside.

DeMar DeRozan

• 3.2 wins added, waived off $27.54M deal ($10M guaranteed)
• Quick analysis: DD joins free agency late, as the Kings use his partial guarantee to dodge the apron levels.

Gary Payton II

• 3.0 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: At 33, “Young Glove’s” defense has fallen off some, and he’s never been a real table-setter or a super reliable shooter.

Russell Westbrook

• 3.0 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: He’s been an on-paper Jazzman twice and in neither case did he ever even board a plane bound for SLC.

Draymond Green (PO)

• 1.8 wins added, $27.7M player option declined
• Quick analysis: Green will opt out, reports say, but the goal is to accommodate some additions on a new-look GSW roster.

Brandon Williams

• 1.6 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: He put up numbers this season for Dallas, but he’s a tiny guard who doesn’t shoot.

Bennedict Mathurin (RFA)

• 1.6 wins added, coming off rookie scale
• Quick analysis: Mathurin is a mid-efficiency, high-volume bench scorer, but LAC will be able to match offers.

Matisse Thybulle

• 1.5 wins added, coming off $11.6M
• Quick analysis: Thybulle’s outside shooting has improved, but the injuries have cost him some defensive mobility.

Dwight Powell

• 1.3 wins added, coming off $4M
• Quick analysis: It would be weird to see him anywhere other than Dallas (although he did play five games for the Ainge-era Celtics first).

Spencer Jones

• 1.2 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: Jones made his way into Denver’s rotation this year, mostly offering corner shooting.

Jaylen Clark

• 1.1 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: Two years as Minnesota’s 10th or 11th man hasn’t given us a huge indicator of what he is.

Micah Potter

• 1.0 wins added, waived off non-guaranteed minimum
• Quick analysis: The former Jazz two-way player had a nice year in Indiana.

Jonathan Kuminga

• 0.9 wins added, $24.3M TO declined
• Quick analysis: Kuminga's Atlanta stats were right in line with his final half season in GSW, and ultimately the Hawks decided to decline a rather pricey option.

Aaron Holiday

• 0.8 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: He’s small but tough, and his outside shot is really reliable for a low-minute bench guard..

Jalen Pickett - 0.6 wins added, $2.4M TO declined

AJ Lawson

• 0.5 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: The Toronto native played well enough on a 2-way to have his deal converted, but only has 1,131 total minutes in four NBA seasons.

Keshad Johnson (RFA)

• 0.4 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: An undrafted project who was mostly out of Miami’s rotation, and if they like him they can make him an RFA.

Jett Howard

• 0.4 wins added, rookie scale option declined
• Quick analysis: Orlando decided to forego his fourth-year option, which isn’t a great sign.

Jabari Walker

• 0.4 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: His production as a low-minute bench big for Philly was similar to his three years in Portland.

Kevin Love

• 0.4 wins added, coming off $4.2M
• Quick analysis: Love made the Jazz offense 6.8 points better per 100 non-garbage possessions, and made the defense 3.8 points worse – but if they bring him back, it’s probably just as much for locker room reasons.

Kelly Olynyk

• 0.3 wins added, coming off $13.4M
• Quick analysis: The Jazz alum has played a pretty small role for the Spurs this year, and has played even less in the playoffs.

Khris Middleton

• 0.3 wins added, coming off $33.3M
• Quick analysis: He’s still putting up decent role player stats, but will turn 35 in August.

Seth Curry

• 0.2 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: Injuries kept him off the floor for most of the season – just 10 games played.

Amir Coffey

• 0.2 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: The career Clipper finally left LA and averaged 3.2 points in time with the Bucks and Suns, and is now reportedly headed overseas.

Haywood Highsmith

• 0.2 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: Highsmith was salary-dumped, then waived, then signed with Phoenix where he played seven games.

Doug McDermott

• 0.2 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: McBuckets does one thing super well, and that one thing (41% 3-point shooting) has led to a 12-year career.

Gabe Vincent

• 0.1 wins added, coming off $11.5M
• Quick analysis: After being included in the Kennard trade, Vincent mostly backed up CJ McCollum for 13-15 minutes a night.

Keaton Wallace (RFA)

• 0.1 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: The older brother of Thunder starter Cason Wallace, Keaton has struggled to find consistent minutes.

Tony Bradley

• 0.1 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: Bradley is still hanging on eight years after the Jazz moved up to draft him.

Jeremy Sochan

• 0.1 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: After becoming the odd man out in San Antonio, Sochan signed with New York but averaged just 6.9 minutes.

Mason Plumlee

• 0.1 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: Plumlee had career lows this season, both before and after the Hornets traded him to SA.

Nic Batum

• 0.1 wins added, $5.9M TO declined
• Quick analysis: The Frenchman has averaged just 17.5 minutes in each of the past two seasons, and is now 37.

Jeff Green

• 0.0 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: Speaking of journeymen, Houston is Green’s 11th stop in the NBA, and technically 12th if you count Seattle and OKC as very different environs (I do).

Thanasis Antetokounmpo

• 0.0 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: Is this Antetokounmpo also bound for South Beach?

Joe Ingles

• 0.0 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: The Jazz fan favorite reportedly already has a deal in place to finish his playing career back in Oz.

Lindy Waters III

• 0.0 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: He has 51% true shooting since leaving OKC.

Bradley Beal (PO)

• 0.0 wins added, $5.6M player option declined
• Quick analysis: A fractured hip ended his season after six games.

Jahmir Young

• 0.0 wins added, minimum-salary TO declined
• Quick analysis: Young was a late-season conversion, but the Heat are moving on as they deal with tough roster math post-Giannis.

Julian Phillips - 0.0 wins, TO declined and no QO made

Killian Hayes - 0.0 wins, TO declined

Dalano Banton - 0.0 wins, waived off non-guaranteed contract

Ochai Agbaji (No QO)

• -0.1 wins added, coming off rookie scale
• Quick analysis: The Jazz absolutely loved “Och” as a person, but decided he profiled as a smaller 3-and-D guy who is just an OK shooter… and that’s basically what he has been since.

Xavier Tillman

• -0.1 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: Tillman’s minutes and stats have been heading the wrong direction.

Bez Mbeng

• -0.1 wins added, $2.2M TO declined
• Quick analysis: Per Tony Jones, the Jazz will still evaluate Mbeng during Summer League play.

Jae’Sean Tate

• -0.2 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: Once a starter for the Rockets, this PF-in-a-SG’s-body is now playing and producing less than ever.

Maxi Kleber

• -0.2 wins added, coming off $11M
• Quick analysis: He’s had four straight seasons abbreviated by injury, but when he plays he’s a floor-spacing big who can guard a few different positions.

Kyle Lowry

• -0.2 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: After 19 seasons, it might be close to the end for 6-time All-Star and 2019 champ.

Blake Wesley

• -0.3 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: He was a first-round pick, but didn’t really grab hold of a rotation role, and in fact had his 4th year option declined before signing on the cheap with Portland.

Bismack Biyombo

• -0.3 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: The minutes have continued to dwindle for this erstwhile rim protector.

Drew Eubanks

• -0.4 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: A low minute backup who could help if if the Jazz need another deep bench big, but he won’t change your world, especially on offense.

Anthony Gill

• -0.4 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: The career Wizard just had his best season for minutes (17.3) and scoring (5.8).

Gary Harris (PO)

• -0.5 wins added, $3.8M player option
• Quick analysis: There was a point in time when Harris offered so much of what the Jazz needed off their bench. Now he barely gets off the bench for a Milwaukee team that theoretically really needs that same stuff.

Andre Jackson Jr.

• -0.5 wins added, $2.4M TO declined
• Quick analysis: "Shooting guard who can't shoot" is a rough archetype; Ajax shot 38% from outside in his first two seasons, but just 25% last year.

Jalen Wilson (No QO)

• -0.9 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: He’s done OK for a second rounder, earning a real role for the Nets.

Bruce Brown

• -0.9 wins added, coming off minimum contract
• Quick analysis: Getting Brown back was supposed to be huge for the Nuggets, but the 3-years-later version is just doing a little bit less on both ends.

Trendon Watford

• -1.0 wins added, $2.8M TO declined
• Quick analysis: Watford showed some promise as a long wing in Portland and Brooklyn, but his one year in Philly didn't go great, and they've moved on.

Nick Richards

• -1.5 wins added, coming off $5M
• Quick analysis: Richards doesn’t win the “Worst by EPM wins” crown (that’s Bub Carrington), but he is the worst of the 2026 free agents in that metric.

Hayden Gray

• (not enough minutes for EPM), $2.2M TO declined
• Quick analysis: Per Tony Jones, the Jazz will still evaluate Gray during Summer League play.

Max Shulga - not enough minutes, $2.2M TO declined

‍

In addition to those listed above, there are nine players who had plus-value EPM but didn’t finish the season on an NBA roster:

• Vince Williams Jr. (1.0)
• Lonzo Ball (0.5)
• Jaden Ivey (0.4)
• Cam Payne (0.3)
• Duop Reath (0.2)
• Caleb Houstan (0.1)
• Tyrese Martin (0.1)
• Malaki Branham (0.1)
• Eric Gordon (0.1)

Other players who were under contract at some point during the season, but did not finish the year under contract: Trevon Scott, Drew Peterson, Luke Travers, Miles Kelly, Bobi Klintman, Omer Yurtseven, Cody Martin, James Wiseman, Garrison Matthews, Monte Morris, Adama Bal, Tyler Burton, Dariq Whitehead, DeJon Jarreau, Lucas Williamson, DaQuan Jeffries, Kennedy Chandler, Andersson Garcia, Chris Boucher, Alondes Williams, Kadary Richmond, Hunter Tyson, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Kobe Bufkin, Javonte Cooke, Nigel Hayes-Davis, Cam Thomas, Cole Anthony, Jacob Toppin, Malik Williams, N'Faly Dante, Chris Livingston, Colby Jones, Dario Saric, Jackson Rowe, Kevon Harris, Toby Okani, Georges Niang, Terry Rozier (pending legal drama), Jules Bernard, Jaden Springer, Buddy Boeheim, Orlando Robinson, Stanley Umude, Mo Bamba, Dante Exum

Players who finished the season on a 2-way contract (RFAs if their teams tender them a QO): Olivier Sarr (2.2), Ethan Thompson (0.5), Oscar Tshiebwe (0.4), Tyson Etienne (0.3), Drew Timme (0.2), Marjon Beauchamp (0.2), Kobe Brea (0.2), Chris Youngblood (0.2), Antonio Reeves (0.1), Yuki Kawamura (0.1), Curtis Jones (0.1), Nate Williams (0.1), Jalen Slawson (0.1), Nick Smith Jr. (0.1), David Jones Garcia (0.1), Lachlan Olbrich (0.0), Mac McClung (0.0), Moussa Cisse (0.0), David Roddy (0.0), Wendell Moore Jr. (0.0), TyTyWashington Jr. (0.0), Johnny Juzang (0.0), Josh Oduro (0.0), Kevin McCullar Jr. (0.0), Patrick Baldwin Jr. (0.0), Julian Reese (0.0), E.J. Liddell (-0.1), Isaiah Crawford (-0.1), Trey Jemison (-0.1), Christian Koloko (-0.2), Isaiah Livers (-0.2), Tosan Evbuomwan, Dillon Jones, Leaky Black (waived)

‍

Off the board

Collin Gillespie

• 8.5 wins added - new 4/$48M deal with Phoenix
• Quick analysis: GIllespie came out of nowhere, from 686 total minutes over three NBA seasons to arguably becoming the Suns’ second most important player.

Austin Reaves

• 7.3 wins added - opted out of $14.9M to sign new 4-year, $185M deal with LAL
• Quick analysis: Reaves will certainly opt out and cash in on a near All-Star level season, and the Jazz have had interest in the past. However, now that they spent their cap room up front with the JJJ trade, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to offer Reaves his market rate.

Julian Champagnie - 7.1 wins, Spurs declined TO to sign new 3/$45M deal

CJ McCollum

• 6.3 wins added, new 1-year, $21M extension with Atl
• Quick analysis: McCollum had a big impact on the Hawks’ turnaround under former Jazz coach Quin Snyder. But the Jazz probably have enough guards to not go after a 35-year-old (by the time the season starts).

Sandro Mamukelashvili

• 5.9 wins added, 4-year $52M deal with LAL
• Quick analysis: “Mamu” played a big role off the bench for Toronto this season, and if the Jazz don’t retain Jusuf Nurkic for backup center minutes, they could do a lot worse.

Isaiah Hartensein - 5.4 wins, Briefly hit FA when TO was declined so he could sign a new 3/$75M deal with OKC.

Norm Powell

• 5.4 wins added, going to Chicago for 2/$45M
• Quick analysis: By making the All-Star team in year 11, Powell became just the third second-round selection since 2013 to climb to that status. The Heat will have a hard time bringing him back after dealing for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Marcus Smart

• 4.9 wins added, 2/$13M deal with Houston
• Quick analysis: Smart would give Utah an additional ball handler as well as a second DPOY winner on their roster. He’s 32, and obviously has connections to the Ainge-era Celtics.

Tobias Harris

• 4.9 wins added, 2/$31M deal from San Antonio
• Quick analysis: The Jazz have two All-Stars at Harris’ position, and that’s without scrutinizing his rough end to the playoffs.

Jordan Goodwin

• 4.8 wins added - new 3/$19M deal with Phoenix
• Quick analysis: This was the first season Goodwin had a major role on a good team, and he played winning minutes for the Suns. He’s small for a combo guard, but solidified himself as a rotational piece.

Andrew Wiggins (PO)

• 4.8 wins added, declined $30.2M player option to sign new 3/$64M deal
• Quick analysis: The 31-year-old has been a consistent double-digit scorer throughout his career, but has never been a particularly efficient one. Plus, it’s unlikely he opts out of $30.2M anyway.

Nikola Vucevic

• 4.1 wins added, 1-year minimum deal to return to Orlando
• Quick analysis: The two-time All-Star had a pretty limited role in Boston after arriving via trade, and with his 36th birthday approaching, he is clearly in the “role player” phase of his career.

Javonte Green

• 4.1 wins added, signed a 1-year $3.95M (non-Bird exception) deal with Detroit
• Quick analysis: His best years were with Chicago, but he was an 8th or 9th man for top-seeded Detroit this year, adding spot shooting and wing defense.

Ayo Dosunmu

• 4.0 wins added - signed 5/$112M deal to stay with Minny
• Quick analysis: This is one of our guy Zarin Ficklin’s favorite MLE targets, and it makes sense given Utah’s relative dearth of ball handling creators. Minnesota, though, appears intent to keep him, after clearing room under the tax with the Julius Randle trade.

Kevin Porter Jr.

• 3.9 wins added, exercised $5.4M player option
• Quick analysis: Probably not a target for the Jazz, for umm reasons, but got to give KPJ credit for a nice turnaround year amid Milwaukee’s mess: 17-5-7 counting stats and his most efficient season ever.

Harrison Barnes

• 3.8 wins added, stays in SAS on 1-year, $8M deal
• Quick analysis: Remember when the Warriors owed the Jazz a top-7 protected pick and tanked like crazy in the final weeks of the season to move their pick into the protected range, and then selected Barnes? And got fined $0? Anyway, Barnes has been a great mentor to a rising Spurs team.

Coby White

• 3.6 wins added - staying in Cha for 3/$74M
• Quick analysis: Role-wise, White reminds me a bit of former Jazz guard Collin Sexton, which is ironic since the two were traded for each other in February.

Mitchell Robinson

• 3.6 wins added, 3-year $47M deal with Boston
• Quick analysis: Robinson could be a useful backup center, although New York will be plenty motivated to keep him coming off their Finals run.

Day'Ron Sharpe - 3.4 wins, Bkn declined his TO to sign him to a new 2/$20M deal.

‍DeAndre Ayton (PO)

• 3.3 wins added, $8.1M player option exercised
• Quick analysis: Fun fact about Ayton… he has had a double-double in exactly 50% of his career regular season games. He piles up big-time stats and just had a career-best .676 true shooting season. He also gets maligned for weird lapses of effort.

Tari Eason (RFA)

• 3.3 wins added, stays in Houston for 5/$81.5M
• Quick analysis: Eason just had a rough shooting season, but is a defensive disruptor with legit size. The question is whether there would be enough of a role for him in Utah to justify paying him what it would take to dissuade Houston from matching..

Mark Williams (RFA)

• 3.2 wins added, stayed in Phx for 3/$38M
• Quick analysis: The Suns traded two firsts to get him, and then got a “lite” version of Charlotte-era Williams, at least by raw stats. Still, they likely match reasonable offers for the center, who was originally picked seven spots ahead of Kessler.

Kristaps Porzingis

• 3.2 wins added, extended with GSW at 2/$40M

Quentin Grimes

• 3.2 wins added, 4/$60M deal with LAL
• Quick analysis: Grimes is one of this writer’s favorite targets if he could actually be had for the MLE. Why? He can do stuff with the ball, but he doesn’t NEED the ball. He can fill it up when featured but also has experience being a 6th/7th man type. Plus defender at his best. Smart connector type of offense. Good complement to Utah’s six core guys.

Collin Sexton

• 3.2 wins added, 2-year $19M deal with LAL
• Quick analysis: If you’re a proponent of bringing in White or Dosumnu for more bench creation, you have to at least consider a reunion with Sexton, the same type of sparkplug guard. I don’t think it’s particularly likely given that the Jazz already moved off of him once, but maybe in a super defined role...

Robert Williams III

• 3.1 wins added, agreed to 3/$44M extension with Portland
• Quick analysis: An all-defense guy before all the injuries, he’s now playing less. That said, the Ainges were part of the Boston brain trust that drafted and developed him in the first place.

Bones Hyland

• 3.1 wins added, stays in Minnesota on a minimum contract
• Quick analysis: He’s only ever really been a 10-20 mpg third or fourth rotation guard, but the Jazz have George, Collier and now Peterson, so probably only a Jazz fit if he’s ready for a break-glass-in-emergency type of role.

Precious Achiuwa

• 3.0 wins added, stayed in Sac for 2/$11M
• Quick analysis: The Jazz almost certainly will sign a backup center, although Achiuwa’s rim defense figure is in the Nurkic range, without providing Nurkic’s passing and vision.

Tim Hardaway Jr.

• 3.0 wins added, joining Miami (1 yr, $6.5M)
• Quick analysis: THJ was a 6MOY finalist, thanks in large part to career-best outside shooting.

John Collins

• 3.0 wins added, 3/$51M deal with Detroit
• Quick analysis: Tough to find minutes for a Collins reunion; even in his more complementary role in LA he played over 27 mpg, and I’m not sure Utah can find those minutes for him with Markkanen, Jackson and most likely Kessler still on the roster.

Kevin Huerter

• 2.9 wins added, stays in Detroit for 3/$27M
• Quick analysis: Huerter would certainly help the Jazz’s shooting quotient, but doesn’t lift them from a creation standpoint or on defense.

Jose Alvarado (PO)

• 2.7 wins added, declined PO to sign new 3/$14M+ deal with NYK
• Quick analysis: The high-energy guard backs up All-NBA Jalen Brunson, which limits his minutes, but he has had some big moments in NYK’s title run.

Dean Wade

• 2.7 wins added, left to Philly for 4/$39M
• Quick analysis: Not all that different from the Kyle Filipowski prototype, except that Flip is a better passer and Wade is much better on defense. Wade has more big-game experience, including now 32 playoff games.

Josh Minott - 2.6 wins, Bkn declined his TO to sign him to a new 2/$9M deal.

Simone Fontecchio

• 2.6 wins added, agreed to stay in Miami on a 1-year deal
• Quick analysis: Tech’s success in his Jazz stint yielded the pick that became Filipowski, but is he good enough to supplant Sensabaugh, Williams and Mykhailiuk as backup SF options? To say nothing of potential Ace Bailey minutes there.

Kelly Oubre Jr.

• 2.6 wins added, goes to Indy for 2/$17M
• Quick analysis: He has carved out a nice role with Philly but neither his shooting (32.7% career 3pt) nor his defense (consistently negative DBPM, D-EPM) really fit the 3-and-D moniker.

Anfernee Simons

• 2.6 wins added, 2-year $12.3M deal with Philly
• Quick analysis: SCH’s Mark Pereira has singled him out as an MLE target, to help with on-ball creation. His ‘23-24 peak was kind of similar to the season Keyonte George just had: 23-4-6 counting stats and some All-Star chatter. Now, he’s back to being thought of as a mid-efficiency bench gunner.

Jock Landale

• 2.5 wins added, staying in Atlanta for one year, $14M
• Quick analysis: The Jazz passed on adding Landale at the trade deadline, and he doesn’t sound like the world’s biggest Utah fan at present.

Josh Okogie

• 2.5 wins added, 2/$12M deal with Utah that includes a team option on year two
• Quick analysis: He’s a solid wing defender, but three different teams have now discovered that it’s hard to play him in the playoffs.

Quinten Post

• 2.4 wins added, signed 3/$30M offer sheet with Memphis that was not matched
• Quick analysis: Post isn’t really a shot blocker, but his overall rim defense stats are better than average, and he intermittently makes threes.

De’Anthony Melton

• 2.3 wins added, 2/$11M to stay in GSW
• Quick analysis: Melton is still youngish (28) despite being an 8-year vet, and he spent time with JJJ in Memphis, where he was a 6MOY candidate. He had an off shooting year after coming back from injury, but generally is a reliable bench guard.

Landry Shamet

• 2.2 wins added, signed 6/$24M deal to stay with NYK
• Quick analysis: A playoff hero for the Knicks, Shamet is an A- shooter who seems to always find his way into 7th/8th man roles despite never averaging double digits for a season.

Jusuf Nurkic

• 2.2 wins added, new 2/$22M deal with Utah
• Quick analysis: Bringing Nurkic back is a real possibility, but only if he’ll take a steep discount off of his 2025-26 price. A defensive anchor he’s not, but the Jazz figured out how to unlock some of his creativity and vision.

Luke Kennard

• 2.0 wins added, leaving for Phx, 2/$13M with PO
• Quick analysis: His career 3-point shooting figure (44.2%) is no joke, he’s the type of shooter opposing defenses have to track every single second. In fact, he’s led the league’s qualified 3-point shooters three times now.

Jonas Valanciunas

• 2.0 wins added, waived from $10M non-guaranteed deal, headed back to Lithuania
• Quick analysis: JV had a deal lined up in Europe last summer before the Nuggets acquired him and convinced him to back up Nikola Jokic.

Marvin Bagley III

• 1.8 wins added, 1-year deal with Denver (minimum?)
• Quick analysis: Don’t know exactly where that 46.2% outside shooting season suddenly came from (he was good with both the Wiz and Mavs). I could actually picture the Jazz doing something like this for backup C minutes if Nurk’s demands are too high; a bench big whose stock is kind of low but who adds real stuff.

Zach LaVine (PO)

• 1.7 wins added, $49.0M player option indeed exercised
• Quick analysis: LaVine’s people have to know there’s no way he’s sniffing $49M on the open market, so consider this option exercised.

Jaxson Hayes

• 1.7 wins added, Utah signed to 2/$12M with a TO
• Quick analysis: Here’s another traditional big man option if the Jazz need a backup center: decent interior defense, almost no passing, handling or shooting

Rui Hachimura

• 1.7 wins added, crossed town for 2/$28M with the Clippers
• Quick analysis: Hachimura has become one of the NBA’s best spot shooters, and someone the Lakers probably have to try to keep, especially with LeBron’s future unclear.

Ziaire Williams

• 1.7 wins added, 1-year $3M deal with LAL
• Quick analysis: Williams just had his second straight double-figure scoring average, but Brooklyn still decided to cut bait.

Al Horford (PO)

• 1.6 wins added - declined $6.0M PO to sign 2/$14M with GSW
• Quick analysis: The Ainges brought him to Boston – twice! – but he just turned 40, so I’m not sure I see the fit.

Kobe Sanders

• 1.6 wins added, new 2/$11M deal with LAC
• Quick analysis: Sanders was a late second-round pick last summer who shot decently in a fringe rotation role for LAC, but they decided not to exercise his very cheap second-year option.

Andre Drummond

• 1.6 wins added, 1-year minimum deal with NYK
• Quick analysis: Drummond is still a rebounding machine, but his interior defense has regressed a ton.

Thomas Bryant

• 1.5 wins added, agreed to new 1-year deal with Cleveland
• Quick analysis: He can be decently disruptive, but at 6’9” he’s pretty small at center when you share a conference with beasts like Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic.

‍Trae Young

• 1.4 wins added, declined $49.0M option to take 4/$212M from Washington
• Quick analysis: Young declined his player option, either because he and the Wiz have an idea on a framework for a new deal or because he thinks he has big money out there somewhere in the market.

Jamir Watkins - 1.4 wins added, agreed to new 2-way deal

Jordan Miller

• 1.2 wins added, $2.5M TO declined but then re-signed for 3/$15M
• Quick analysis: In his first real chance to play rotation minutes, Miller was a plus-value shooter by rTS%, but LAC declined his option.

Keon Ellis

• 1.1 wins added, 2/$18M deal with Brooklyn
• Quick analysis: The defense-minded guard finally got out of Sacramento, where he rarely found consistent minutes.

Jordan Clarkson

• 1.1 wins added, agreed to stay with New York on a minimum contract
• Quick analysis: It’s not an exaggeration to call him a Jazz legend at this point, and yet it feels like it’s OK to leave the JC-Jazz story where it is.

Ariel Hukporti (no QO)

• 0.8 wins added, 1-year $3.4M deal with Philly
• Quick analysis: An occasional energy guy off New York’s bench, he has really only seen garbage minutes in the playoffs

Brandon Carlson - 0.7 wins, signed with Portland for the minimum

Mike Conley Jr.

• 0.7 wins added, 1-year minimum in Boston
• Quick analysis: He’ll be 39 before the season starts, and at this point he’s pretty limited.

Mo Wagner

• 0.7 wins added, 2/$19M deal with Brooklyn
• Quick analysis: Orlando likely has some changes coming that could render the high-level bench big gettable.

Ron Harper Jr. - 0.6 wins, Briefly hit FA when TO was declined so he could sign a new 3/$9M deal with Boston.

Jonathan Isaac

• 0.6 wins added, back to Orlando on a 1-year deal
• Quick analysis: Isaac has the tools to be a special defender, but he's rarely healthy and the shooting has become a real problem... which is why Orlando ate an $8M guarantee amount in order to re-sign him cheaply.

Kenrich Williams

• 0.6 wins added, OKC declined TO then signed to 1-year $5M deal
• Quick analysis: Williams has increasingly been on the fringes in OKC, and they declined his team option.

Pete Nance (0.6 wins) - Milwaukee waived him, then re-signed to two-year minimum deal

D’Angelo Russell (PO)

• 0.5 wins added, $6.0M player option exercised
• Quick analysis: He’s been described by multiple people as a tough teammate, but it’s moot anyway as he picked up the player option..

Walker Kessler (RFA)

• 0.5 wins added, signed-and-traded to LAL for 4/$130M
• Quick analysis: The win math is obviously deflated by his injury, mabut Jazz fans know what Kessler is – starting with his 52% rim defense since entering the league.

Mohamed Diawara (RFA)

• 0.4 wins added - Multi-year deal with NYK for $10M+
• Quick analysis: Mostly just played spot duty for the Knicks.

Taurean Prince (PO)

• 0.4 wins added, $3.8M player option exercised
• Quick analysis: Injured for most of the year, Prince came back and averaged a dozen points on 44% outside shooting in his last 15 games.

Zach Collins

• 0.4 wins added, extended for 2/$17M with Chicago
• Quick analysis: This small center appeared in just 10 games this year, but had good stats when he played.

Guerschon Yabusele

• 0.4 wins added, going overseas
• Quick analysis: His second NBA stint has looked more solid than the first: 8.3 points on 59% true shooting compared to 2.3 on 55% for the Ainge-era Celtics.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (PO)

• 0.3 wins added, $21.6M player option exercised
• Quick analysis: KCP indeed picked up the player option, which is the smart thing given that he’s coming off 11-year lows at age 33.

DeAndre Jordan

• 0.3 wins added, returning to NOP (min?)
• Quick analysis: There were just 199 minutes available for Jordan in his 17th NBA season.

Bogdan Bogdanovic

• 0.3 wins added, 1-year deal (min?) with Houston
• Quick analysis: The Serbian guard had career lows in scoring, assists, 3-point shooting and more.

Daeqwon Plowden (0.3) - Signed 2-year minimum deal with Sacramento after playing on a 2-way last season.

Kevon Looney

• 0.2 wins added, 1-year minimum with LAL
• Quick analysis: Looney hits the free agent market after a late TO decline, and didn't play a ton last year.

Jevon Carter

• 0.1 wins added, stays in Orlando on a minimum
• Quick analysis: The diminutive veteran turned 30 and then got traded to his sixth team.

Pat Spencer (RFA)

• 0.1 wins added, agreed to 2-way with Phoenix
• Quick analysis: Spencer finally cracked the rotation for the Warriors, who hold matching rights if they want them.

Charles Bassey

• 0.1 wins added, stays in GSW on a 1-year contract
• Quick analysis: In five NBA seasons, Bassey has never played more than 508 minutes.

Kobe Brown

• 0.1 wins added, signed a 2-way with Indiana
• Quick analysis: Brown was a late first-rounder, and finally got a chance to play real minutes after getting traded to Indiana.

Amari Williams, 0.0 wins - TO declined, then signed a new 2-way deal with  Boston

Kyle Anderson

• 0.0 wins added, minimum contract with Toronto
• Quick analysis: I wouldn’t say Anderson’s time with the Jazz went great – and neither would he.

Garrett Temple

• 0.0 wins added, becoming an asssistant coach
• Quick analysis: He’s 40 and coming off less than a point per game… this might be it.

Jonathan Mogbo - -0.1 wins added, signed 2-way with Sacramento

Alijah Martin - -0.1 wins added, 2-year minimum deal with Toronto

Larry Nance Jr.

• -0.1 wins added, 1-year deal with Indiana for $4M
• Quick analysis: Career lows this year for Nance in minutes, points, rebounds, FG% and more.

Jordan McLaughlin

• -0.1 wins added, stays in SAS on a 1-year minimum
• Quick analysis: Here’s another longtime bench vet whose minutes are tapering down.

Kam Jones - -0.8 wins added, waived off minimum NG deal then signed a 2-way with Milwaukee

Gary Trent Jr. (PO)

• -0.9 wins added, stayed in Milwaukee for 4/$64M
• Quick analysis: Trent is somehow still just 27, and despite not playing much this year (again, why?!?! The Bucks actually needed stuff he provides!) he’s a good shooter and can credibly guard 1s and 2s.

Jericho Sims (PO)

• -1.0 wins added, Opted into $2.8M
• Quick analysis: It’s hard to be a modern 5 who neither spaces the floor nor protects the rim.

Ousmane Dieng (no QO)

• -1.0 wins added, new 3/$17.5M deal with Milwaukee
• Quick analysis: Dieng got decent minutes as a stretch five after being traded to the Bucks, but overall is a sign that not everything OKC touches turns to absolute gold... and Milwaukee chose not to present him with a qualifying offer.

Tyus Jones

• -1.0 wins added, re-upped with Denver on a 1-year minimum contract
• Quick analysis: I like Jones OK if the Jazz just want an NBA grown-up to be their third point guard, but man, he had a pretty rough season with three different teams.

Fred VanVleet (PO)

• Did not play, exercised $25M player option
• Quick analysis: Coming off a year-long injury, taking that $25M feels like a much safer bet while he reestablishes his value.

Mo Bamba (not enough minutes) signed a 2-year deal (presumably at the minimum) with Utah

Trey Lyles (in Europe last year) returns to the NBA on a 1-year deal with Minnesota

Chucky Hepburn (Tor), Chaney Johnson (Bkn) - Signed 2-way qualifying offers

Enrique Freeman, Rayan Rupert, Caleb Love, Chris Manon, Trey Alexander (Utah), Kobe Brea, Hunter Dickinson, Brooks Barnhizer, Collin Castleton, Elijah Harkless signed new 2-way deals

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