ESPN Insider: Future Power Rankings
8. Utah Jazz
The young roster is the story in Utah. Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors have developed into cornerstones, and Rudy Gobert is a force in the middle. Dante Exum, Alec Burks, Rodney Hood and Trey Lyles round out a youthful core that has Jazz fans excited.
The on-court improvement was obvious and rapid last season, with the Jazz winning 21 of their last 32 games.
Off the court, Utah scores well in the management category under the patient leadership of Kevin O'Connor, Dennis Lindsey and coach Quin Snyder. That's essential for a market that continues to rate low in appeal.
One major concern is at point guard. Exum is out for the season with a torn ACL, and Trey Burke has been a disappointment, making the future murky at that position. But if Exum can return to health and build on his potential, the Jazz have a very bright future.
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-- Chad Ford
(Previous rank: 21)
To determine the Future Power Rating, we rated each team in five categories. For an explanation of each category and a full view of how each team did in each individual category, click here.