The Utah Jazz were recently slapped with a $100,000 fine for violation of the NBA's player participation policy. For an NBA franchise, that type of money is chump change for the likes of anyone reading this article, that dough could be tough to raise, and would likely have the target responding much like Michael Scott at the prospect of financial trouble.
Ryan Smith and the Utah Jazz aren't about to declare bankruptcy, nor will they even say it, but this fine could derail the overarching plans of the Utah Jazz in the final 16 games of the 2024-25 NBA season.
First, to define the fine. Sound fine?
Utah's loss was due to the aforementioned player participation policy. As written in an official statement from the NBA:
"A 'star player' is defined for purposes of this Policy as any player who, in any of the prior three seasons, was named to the All-NBA Team or All-Star Team (plus, at any time in a season after the All-Star Game, the addition of that season's All-Star Team)."
With Lauri Markkanen's inclusion in the All-Star Game three seasons ago, he falls under this umbrella of star player, and his recent string of absences caught the attention of league officials.
Whether the NBA recognized this violation of their own volition or if the transgression was brought to their attention is irrelevant at this point -- the fine was handed out, and Utah has to deal with it now.
But as already touched on, the monetary value of this punishment is trivial for an NBA franchise, but an unforeseen side effect could damage Utah's chances of securing the number one pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft.
Take, for example, Friday's scheduled matchup against the Toronto Raptors. A team eight games ahead of the Jazz in the standings but likewise struggling to maintain position in the draft lottery race, Toronto is resting the likes of Immanuel Quickley, Ja'Kobe Walter, Johnathan Mogbo, and Jakob Poeltl, while putting players like Scottie Barnes and Ochai Agbaji under questionable status for their battle with the inferior Jazz.
Utah, meanwhile, now has to be especially careful to play their best players so as to not get flagged by the NBA for further punishment. In playing Markkanen, Collins, Clarkson, and more veteran talents, games against the likes of Toronto could spell trouble for Utah's record.
At this point in the season, collecting meaningless wins only stands to harm Utah's lottery odds. This year's roster is very similar to the 2023-24 squad that wound up with the 10th pick in the 2024 draft. The Jazz can't afford to miss out on the incoming draft class.
So, while far from a doomsday proclamation, Utah's final stretch of games will prove to be critical to their chances of securing strong lottery odds.
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This story was originally published March 14, 2025 at 12:02 PM.