Three ex-players who have thrived post-departure from the Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz have undergone significant roster changes in recent seasons. While not all the players released were indispensable, many possessed considerable talent and could have contributed to preventing the team’s current struggles. However, the front office opted for a tanking strategy, leading to the departure of players deemed too skilled to aid in tanking efforts.
Some players left via free agency and found success elsewhere, though not all experienced similar outcomes. For instance, Jarred Vanderbilt is facing challenges with the Los Angeles Lakers, impacting their offense negatively despite maintaining solid defense. Bojan Bogdanovic, now with the New York Knicks after a trade from the Detroit Pistons, is not being utilized to his full potential, seeing a decline in scoring output and a reduction in playing time. Gordan Hayward, traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the deadline, is also experiencing a diminished role.
On the other hand, players like Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert are still in their prime, with Gobert potentially leading the race for the Defensive Player of the Year award and Mitchell emerging as a dark horse candidate for the Most Valuable Player award.
However, some veterans like Joe Ingles are nearing retirement and are making the most of their remaining time in the league. Today, we focus on three players who are having more successful seasons away from Utah than they did while with the Jazz.