The Utah Jazz have made numerous significant additions this offseason, and Charles Barkley is loving what they are doing, saying on ESPN First Take that the Jazz “might be the most improved team in the league.”
For context, Barkley noted how Kevin Durant, who agreed to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, would be missing the entire 2019-20 campaign, so that was his reasoning for placing the Jazz above the Nets, who also agreed to sign Kyrie Irving.
Utah traded for Mike Conley before the draft, and to open up free agency, the Jazz agreed to deals with wing Bojan Bogdanovic and big man Ed Davis, certainly outstanding moves for a squad that needed more offense and more depth.
This is a Utah squad that has been solid for each of the last two years, but clearly did not have enough firepower to truly contend. Yes, the Jazz eliminated the Oklahoma City Thunder from the first round of the playoffs in 2018, but they were then bounced by the Houston Rockets in five games in the second round. Then, this past season, the Rockets thumped the Jazz in five games in the opening round.
Now, Donovan Mitchell is no longer the only Utah player who can create his own shot, as both Conley and Bogdanovic can take on that role.
Also, Davis will replace Derrick Favors, whom the Jazz have agreed to sign-and-trade to the New Orleans Pelicans, as they simply could not afford to keep him after all of the moves they made.
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