Why sinking Jazz is a good thing for Minnesota Timberwolves

The Utah Jazz organization is the ‘other guys’, the team that was the trading partner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and the team that so generously parted ways with All-Star center Rudy Gobert for the bargain basement price of four first-round picks, one option to swap first-round picks, and five players to balance out the financial components.

And so far, that Utah Jazz team, a team that many expected to sink straight to the bottom of the NBA rankings, has been putting up quite a fight. Well, a hot start to a long 2022-23 NBA season. But is that so surprising? In the treasure chest sent their way as part of the ransom to free center Rudy Gobert, the Jazz received five players.

Quite a haul for one player, eh?

One player, feisty point guard Patrick Beverley, was already flipped to the Los Angeles Lakers. But the Jazz still gets quality starts and minutes from PF Jarred Vanderbilt, rookie center Walker Kessler, and SG Malik Beasley. Even seldom-used Leandro Bolmaro has played in ten games for the Jazz already.

In fact, after 41 games played, they are 20-21, better than the Minnesota Timberwolves mark right now at 19-21.  But before we laud the Jazz too quickly, they are an NBA team with its own set of problems. Unlike the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have struggled early, but are now rallying, the Jazz started the 2022-23 NBA season red hot, climbing all the way to a 10-3 record. But nothing lasts forever, and the Jazz has since played to a 10-18 record the rest of the way.

So what? Why should fans of the Minnesota Timberwolves care about the Utah Jazz?