Three Utah Jazz players who theoretically could have been playing elsewhere this coming season are instead all remaining with the team.
For now, at least.
Guards Jordan Clarkson and Talen Horton-Tucker both opted in to the final season of their respective contracts, while Kelly Olynyk had his deal fully guaranteed by the team, according to multiple reports.
Sarah Todd of the Deseret News was first to report on Clarkson. Brian Windhorst of ESPN had the THT news. And HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto broke the Olynyk deal.
Olynyk, acquired last fall for Bojan Bogdanovic, had only $3 million of next season’s contract guaranteed, meaning the team could have easily moved on from the big man had it wanted to. However, his return was seen as all but a foregone conclusion. His efficient shooting, quality playmaking from the frontcourt, and solid character in the locker room made bringing him back on a roughly $12.2M salary appealing.
The 32-year-old averaged 12.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, while shooting 39.4% from 3-point range.
General manager Justin Zanik said in his end of season media availability it was his expectation the team would bring Olynyk back.
The respective returns of Clarkson and Horton-Tucker, though, were not so certain.
Clarkson was acquired by the Jazz in December 2019, and signed a new four-year, $51.52 million deal with the team in November 2020, owing to a free agency period delayed by the COVID-19 hiatus.
However, the final season of that deal was a player option, and it was presumed by many that he would opt out, seeking a longer-term deal and a raise from the $14.26M he’s now scheduled to make this season.
After all, the 31-year-old started 61 games and averaged career-highs in points (20.8) and assists (4.4) per game, while tying his career-high in rebounds (4.0).
Whether the market simply didn’t develop to his liking and he intends to test free agency next season, or he’s hoping to reach an extension with the Jazz, he’s set to be with the team for at least one more season. He had a Thursday deadline to decide whether to pick up his option or not.
Horton-Tucker decided to do that on Wednesday, despite some speculation that he could opt out.
Just 22 years old, Horton-Tucker had a mediocre start to the season, but an electric finish. With the team having traded away Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (opening up more minutes at point guard), and then resting many of its key players down the stretch of the season to maximize draft position, he took advantage of increased minutes and higher usage.
While his season-long stats don’t any substantive improvement from previous seasons (10.7 points, 3.8 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 41.9 FG%, 28.6 3P%), his production over the final 19 games jumped to 18.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. There is some question about the sustainability of such stats, given who he was playing with and against.
He will now make just over $11 million this season, and is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Despite those players’ cleared-up contracts, the team’s roster is not necessarily settled.
The Jazz still have around $14 million in cap space to spend, and free agency negotiations can begin Friday. Meanwhile, after pulling off a trade for Hawks forward John Collins earlier this week, Zanik and CEO Danny Ainge could reshape the roster with further trades.
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