2026 free agency

[Park Bites]

Eason is my target first
Grimes is probably second
Ellis is probably the get

Alot rides on the draft and let me explain. If the jazz, with luck from the basketball gods, win the lottery and get a pick 1 through 4 the. A near max type contract for eason wouldn't make a lot of sense.

For an example we get AJ

You are probably looking at

Key
Ace
AJ
Lauri
Kess

As your starters and figure Kessler is resigned for around the 25 million range.

You are now looking at a team that will probably need a rookie max for Key the following year. You can't pay 30 million for a bench player in Eason.

I think Grimes at 20 million would be a lot more doable and he could be the 6th man the Jazz need.

Now with the balance sheets in mind Ellis seems to be the perfect fit. A defensive specialist how can knock down 3s. He is probably going to be had for the mid-level at best the bi annual exception is probably closer.

Now I'd the jazz stay at 6 through 8 they will be looking at more of a project and bringing in a more established player might make more sense but Key still needs to be resigned.

 

[NAOS_pt2]

... but Key still needs to be resigned.

Why? He's playing so well!!

 

[sip]

I love the idea of Eason but he is so injury prone and the only way to actually get him is through a sign and trade. In that case you are not only giving him a huge salary but you are also having to throw in at least some type of future 1st and probably a young player.

 

[KqWIN]

Bump

2026 free agency will be straightforward as far as their options. The Jazz will have the non tax payer MLE and BAE to use. They are not in any immediate danger of being a tax team, but will be the following year.

Non Tax Payer MLE: $15.1M
BAE: $5.5M

 

[KqWIN]

Melton will be near the top of my list of desire FA’s. Always injured, but still not too old and very impactful when he plays. Other names I like:

Melton
Dean Wade
Keon Ellis
Simone
Quentin Post
Paul Reed

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Melton will be near the top of my list of desire FA’s. Always injured, but still not too old and very impactful when he plays. Other names I like:

Melton
Dean Wade
Keon Ellis
Simone
Quentin Post
Paul Reed

That’s a nerdy list

 

[KqWIN]

That’s a nerdy list

That’s a winning list!

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

That’s a winning list!

I've never been more flaccid.


JK there are some names I like but that is a very "Luke Walton All-Stars" type list.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I'm not sure we actually do anything in FA. I would be a little bit surprised if we give anyone a multi-year deal in the MLE range. The budget will come for us in 2 years.

I think we might get someone on an expiring contract that nets us a pick, but I could also see us holding exceptions.

You figure we have 4 for sure starters: Lauri, JJJ, Key, Walk (if he's back)

We have the young guys who are actually fine as rotation pieces at this point and may take a leap: Brice, Flip, IC, Cody (shocking development there), Ace

We have guys that can be really helpful in the rotation: Vince (might be a diamond in that trade and may be our starter), Svi, Konchar (if he can stay healthy and find his shot).

So you have like 10 rotation guys or guys you want in the rotation and a couple pieces of depth help, plus whoever we draft. Maybe one or two young guys or rotation pieces are moved for different parts. I don't expect a big addition. Maybe wait and see who misses in FA and get a bargain. Likely need a center for depth but not someone that is in the rotation every night. That might be what I hunt down. Maybe go get Duop Reath when he is waived and give him a scam Svi deal and waive him is something better comes along.

 

[KqWIN]

I've never been more flaccid.


JK there are some names I like but that is a very "Luke Walton All-Stars" type list.

We could go an opposite direction and get one of the offensive guards. They'll be a lot of them....Sexton, Simons, Thomas. I think you could get any of them with the MLE and maybe even half of it. I'm really wanting a defensive guard that can play with and without Keyonte and that has Luke Walton all star in the job description. It's possible we're a little light on shot creation/scoring though. Wish we had gotten Ty Jerome in the trade.

I don't love the bigs as much this FA class. Struggled to find guys I'd want. Nurk+Flip is fine but wouldn't mind an upgrade there. The guys I listed probably aren't a huge upgrade except for spreadsheet god bball Paul.

I think I'm ok with our wing rotation as is. Lauri will play at lot at the 3, and the cheapness of Ace, Brice, Svi, Cody, Vince as backups is just fine with me. Plus we'll have Richie Saunders.

It seems like this draft has a lot of good bigs and PG's, so maybe we address one or the other or both there.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

We could go an opposite direction and get one of the offensive guards. They'll be a lot of them....Sexton, Simons, Thomas. I think you could get any of them with the MLE and maybe even half of it. I'm really wanting a defensive guard that can play with and without Keyonte and that has Luke Walton all star in the job description. It's possible we're a little light on shot creation/scoring though. Wish we had gotten Ty Jerome in the trade.

I don't love the bigs as much this FA class. Struggled to find guys I'd want. Nurk+Flip is fine but wouldn't mind an upgrade there. The guys I listed probably aren't a huge upgrade except for spreadsheet god bball Paul.

I think I'm ok with our wing rotation as is. Lauri will play at lot at the 3, and the cheapness of Ace, Brice, Svi, Cody, Vince as backups is just fine with me. Plus we'll have Richie Saunders.

It seems like this draft has a lot of good bigs and PG's, so maybe we address one or the other or both there.

Sexton, Simons are going to likely get a pretty light contract offer that will make me a little sad for Collin.

I haven't looked at the bigs. I think the draft is kinda gonna sway whatever I would do.

One note... not sure he can even make the rotation but Pat Spencer would be fun. We need his Ingles energy and Boler would say "sneaky athlete" the second he checked in.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Here's a guy. Jonathan Isaac. I think he almost surely gets waived and stretched (only $8M guaranteed) so will be a FA. I'd throw BAE there... we only need 10-15 minutes a night anyway. I think its got some upside.