Austin Ainge Says the Jazz Won't Tank, and They Won't Need to in a Loaded Western Conference

Austin Ainge says the Jazz won't tank, and they won't need to in a loaded Western Conference

The Jazz can get a high draft pick in 2026 without putting their thumb on the tanking scale

Are the Utah Jazz done tanking? The team’s new basketball boss says yes.

Ryan Smith said he “woke up frustrated" and “audibly screamed” the morning after catastrophe struck his Utah Jazz in the NBA draft lottery. Did losing out on Cooper Flagg change the team's plans?

Austin Ainge Says Jazz Won't Tank This Upcoming Season

Austin Ainge met with the media for the first time since being announced at the president of basketball operations for the Utah Jazz. One of the questions Ainge was asked about was if the Jazz would continue to manipulate playing time in an effort to tank for draft position. Ainge was concise, but clear in his answer. "You won't see that this year," Ainge said. Over the last three seasons, Utah has pivoted towards draft position at various point…

Jazz's Austin Ainge On Tanking: 'Won't See That' In 2025/26

Asked during his introductory press conference on Monday about whether the Jazz intend to continue tanking and manipulating players’ minutes in 2025/26, new president of basketball operations Austin Ainge offered a succinct response, per Kevin Reynolds and Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune and Tony Jones of The Athletic. “You won’t see that this year,” Ainge said. The Jazz held several of their most effective veteran players – including Lauri…