RealGM Basketball Wiretap

06 October 2024

• Jazz Felt There Weren't Big Moves Available This Summer

  When last season ended, the Utah Jazz were prepared to go "big game hunting" this offseason per CEO Danny Ainge. Instead, Utah ended up using most of their cap space to renegotiate-and-extend Lauri Markkanen and to sign a handful of veteran role players.

  "You guys have seen how things evolve in an offseason," Jazz GM Justin Zanik said. "In this organization, we are extremely aggressive with pursuing any and all means necessary to make this a championship-caliber roster. When those opportunities come up, we're ready for it. There weren't any.

  "And so to sit there and not do anything, we decided that our plan was to completely throw our focus into our young guys and the best player on our roster in Lauri Markkanen."

  Utah is excited to build around their young players this season and beyond.

  "I think what's different this year is that we're starting to build a really good depth base. They just happen to be really young. So instead of having three guys that are rookies, we have seven guys now under the age of 23," Zanik said. "Our growth is going to come from developing our talent base so that we can win more games now and in the future. That doesn't happen overnight - but what's important about development is playing."

• Jazz Sign Taevion Kinsey, Isaiah Wong To Exhibit 10 Contracts

  The Utah Jazz are signing guard Taevion Kinsey and Isaiah Wong to training camp deals. Kinsey was previously with Utah on a two-way contract before being waived earlier this offseason.

  Kinsey was called up from the G League on a 10 Day contract with Utah last season, but did not appear in any games. In 50 games with the Salt Lake City Stars of the G League, the 6-foot-5 wing averaged 10.8 points on 56% shooting from the field, including 43% on three-pointers.

  Wong spent last season on a two-way contract with the Indiana Pacers. Wong saw limited NBA action, but the 6-foot-3 guard averaged 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Indiana Mad Ants of the G League.

• Jazz Exercise Four-Year Option On Will Hardy

  The Utah Jazz have exercised the option on head coach Will Hardy's contract. The 36-year-old is entering his third season with the Jazz and is currently the second youngest head coach in the NBA.

  "Will has done a great job of guiding our program and instilling the right values and competitive habits with our young group," said Jazz general manager Justin Zanik. "The organization looks forward to developing with Will as we strive for long-term success through strategic and deliberate growth."

• Babacar Sane Waived By Jazz

  The Utah Jazz have waived forward Babacar Sane.

  Sane spent the past two seasons with the G League Ignite, appearing in 46 total regular season games (16 starts), averaging 9.0 points and 5.9 rebounds in 21.6 minutes per contest.

• Jazz Sign Dane Goodwin

  The Utah Jazz have waived guard Dane Goodwin.

  Goodwin spent the 2023-24 season with the Stockton Kings of the NBA G League, appearing in 26 regular season games (14 starts), averaging 7.0 points on 43.8 percent from three, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 22.3 minutes per contest.

• Jazz Sign Dane Goodwin, Waive Keshawn Justice

  The Utah Jazz have signed guard Dane Goodwin. In a related move, the team has waived forward Keshawn Justice.

  Goodwin (6-6, 214, Notre Dame) spent the 2023-24 season with the Stockton Kings of the NBA G League, appearing in 26 regular season games (14 starts), averaging 7.0 points on 43.8 percent from three, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 22.3 minutes per contest.

• Isaiah Wong, Jazz Agree To Exhibit 10 Deal

  The Utah Jazz and Isaiah Wong have agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal.

  Wong averaged 14.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists in the G League last season.

• Jazz Expected To Sign Keshawn Justice To Camp Deal

  The Utah Jazz are expected to sign forward Keshawn Justice to an Exhibit 10 deal. This contract would likely see Justice join the Salt Lake City Stars of the G League as an affiliate player after the preseason.

  In 31 games for the Stars last season, Justice averaged 8.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-7 forward shot 39% on 5.9 three-point attempts per contest.

• Max Abmas Signs With Jazz

  The Utah Jazz have signed guard Max Abmas. Abmas is represented by agent Josh Beauregard-Bell.

  Abmas (6-0, 175, Texas) played four seasons at Oral Roberts (2019-23) before finishing his collegiate career at Texas (2023-24). In 2023-24, he averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in 34 games, being named to the 2023-24 All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Big 12 Newcomer Team. He was named the 2023-24 Men's Basketball Academic All-America Team Member of the Year and to the All- Academic First Team.

  The Rockwall, Texas, native appeared in 123 games (all starts) at Oral Roberts, averaging 20.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.1 steals in 34.8 minutes per contest. He was named to the All-Summit League First Team in three seasons (2021, 2022, 2023), was honored as the Summit League Player of the Year twice (2021 and 2023), and led the NCAA in scoring average during the 2020-21 season (24.5 ppg).

• Jazz Discussed Trades For Walker Kessler

  The Utah Jazz have discussed trades for Walker Kessler, sources confirmed to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.

  Kessler was reportedly a target for the Knicks earlier this offseason.

  Kessler lost playing time throughout last season and does not appear to be part of the long-term plan for the Jazz.