Editing Utah Jazz (section)

====2018–2020: Regular-season success; playoff disappointment====
The 2018–19 season began with promise for the Jazz after the surprising success of the 2017–18 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/09/14/utah-jazz-3-bold-predictions-for-2018-19-nba-season/|title=Utah Jazz: 3 bold predictions for 2018-19 NBA season|date=September 14, 2018|website=Hoops Habit|access-date=July 12, 2019|archive-date=July 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712052036/https://hoopshabit.com/2018/09/14/utah-jazz-3-bold-predictions-for-2018-19-nba-season/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, by the end of November they were 11–12 and in 10th place in the Western Conference standings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/standings.fcgi?month=11&day=31&year=2018&lg_id=NBA|title=Historical League Standings|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=July 12, 2019|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308201824/https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/standings.fcgi?month=11&day=31&year=2018&lg_id=NBA|url-status=live}}</ref> This continued in December as Mitchell struggled with his shot, and the Jazz record continued to be around the break-even mark.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2812405-donovan-mitchell-leads-balanced-jazz-to-easy-win-vs-damian-lillard-blazers|title=Donovan Mitchell Leads Balanced Jazz to Easy Win vs. Damian Lillard, Blazers|last=Goldberg|first=Rob|website=Bleacher Report|access-date=July 12, 2019|archive-date=July 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712052027/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2812405-donovan-mitchell-leads-balanced-jazz-to-easy-win-vs-damian-lillard-blazers|url-status=live}}</ref>

However, in the New Year, Mitchell's performance improved as he was averaging 27.7 points in January and 25.4 in February,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/splits/_/id/3908809/donovan-mitchell|title=Donovan Mitchell Stats, Splits|website=ESPN|access-date=July 12, 2019|archive-date=July 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701200324/https://www.espn.com/nba/player/splits/_/id/3908809/donovan-mitchell|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Jazz improved down the stretch, closing out the season with a 32–13 run to finish 50–32 and earned the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hoopshabit.com/2019/04/30/utah-jazz-5-takeaways-from-2018-19-nba-season/|title=Utah Jazz: 5 takeaways from the 2018-19 NBA season|date=April 30, 2019|website=Hoops Habit|access-date=July 12, 2019|archive-date=July 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712052037/https://hoopshabit.com/2019/04/30/utah-jazz-5-takeaways-from-2018-19-nba-season/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the first round, they played against the Houston Rockets, who were on a run of their own, going 33–14 in 2019 after a slow start. Houston proved to be too much for the Jazz, taking the series 4–1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/UTA/2019.html|title=2018-19 Utah Jazz Roster and Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=July 12, 2019|archive-date=June 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623181449/https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/UTA/2019.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 10, 2019, the Jazz announced the promotion of [[Dennis Lindsey]] to executive vice president of basketball operations and [[Justin Zanik]] to general manager.<ref>{{cite news|title=Utah Jazz announce basketball operations promotions of Lindsey, Zanik|url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/utah-jazz-announce-basketball-operations-promotions-lindsey-zanik|date=May 10, 2019|access-date=May 22, 2019|archive-date=May 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512090224/https://www.nba.com/jazz/utah-jazz-announce-basketball-operations-promotions-lindsey-zanik|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the 2019 off-season, the Jazz added several players by trade and free agency, including [[Jeff Green (basketball)|Jeff Green]], [[Mike Conley Jr.]], [[Ed Davis (basketball)|Ed Davis]], [[Bojan Bogdanović]], and [[Emmanuel Mudiay]], while [[Derrick Favors]], [[Kyle Korver]], [[Jae Crowder]], [[Raul Neto]], and [[Ricky Rubio]] left the team. Sports media viewed the changes as positive.<ref>{{cite news|last=Walden|first=Eric|title=NBA writers and analysts love the Utah Jazz's latest free agency moves. Here's what they're saying.|url=https://www.sltrib.com/sports/2019/07/01/nba-writers-analysts-love/|newspaper=[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]|date=July 1, 2019|access-date=July 12, 2019|archive-date=July 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702154310/https://www.sltrib.com/sports/2019/07/01/nba-writers-analysts-love/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Nadkarni|first=Rohan|title=Five lineups to look forward to after NBA free agency|url=https://www.si.com/nba/2019/07/03/nba-free-agency-warriors-sixers-celtics-jazz-pelicans-lineups|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=July 3, 2019|access-date=July 12, 2019|archive-date=July 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712052028/https://www.si.com/nba/2019/07/03/nba-free-agency-warriors-sixers-celtics-jazz-pelicans-lineups|url-status=live}}</ref>

On the opening day of the 2019–20 season, a press conference was held, announcing that Utah would host the 2023 NBA All-Star Game. This would be the second time the Jazz hosted this event; the first was in 1993.<ref>{{cite news|last=Falk|first=Aaron|title=Salt Lake City to host 2023 NBA All-Star Game|url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/salt-lake-city-host-2023-nba-all-star-game|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=UtahJazz.com|date=October 23, 2019|access-date=December 5, 2019|archive-date=December 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205195541/https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/salt-lake-city-host-2023-nba-all-star-game|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=McDonald|first=Ryan|title=The 2023 NBA All-Star Game is coming to Salt Lake City as Utah Jazz awarded showcase event|url=https://www.deseret.com/2019/10/23/20928737/nba-all-star-game-jazz-adam-silver-salt-lake-city|newspaper=[[Deseret News]]|date=October 23, 2019|access-date=October 23, 2019|archive-date=October 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023173851/https://www.deseret.com/2019/10/23/20928737/nba-all-star-game-jazz-adam-silver-salt-lake-city|url-status=live}}</ref>

On December 24, 2019, the Jazz announced that they had waived forward [[Jeff Green (basketball)|Jeff Green]], signed G-League free agent [[Rayjon Tucker]], and traded [[Dante Exum]] to the Cleveland Cavaliers for shooting guard [[Jordan Clarkson]], whose trade in particular was seen as overwhelmingly positive by the media, if also bittersweet for Jazz fans who hoped that Exum would eventually mature into the franchise cornerstone he was drafted to be.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Griffin |first1=Taylor |title=What does Jordan Clarkson bring to the Utah Jazz? |url=https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2019/12/26/21038386/what-does-jordan-clarkson-bring-to-the-utah-jazz |website=SLC Dunk |access-date=March 12, 2020 |date=December 26, 2019 |archive-date=March 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306231415/https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2019/12/26/21038386/what-does-jordan-clarkson-bring-to-the-utah-jazz |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hansen |first1=James |title=A fond farewell to Dante Exum |url=https://www.slcdunk.com/2019/12/24/21036321/nba-utah-jazz-trade-dante-exum |website=SLC Dunk |access-date=March 12, 2020 |date=December 24, 2019 |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226074821/https://www.slcdunk.com/2019/12/24/21036321/nba-utah-jazz-trade-dante-exum |url-status=live }}</ref>

On January 30, 2020, Gobert and Mitchell were named reserves for the [[2020 NBA All-Star Game]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert named to Western Conference All-Star team |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/46711338/donovan-mitchell-and-rudy-gobert-named-to-western-conference-all-star-team |website=www.ksl.com |access-date=March 12, 2020 |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630231034/https://www.ksl.com/article/46711338/donovan-mitchell-and-rudy-gobert-named-to-western-conference-all-star-team |url-status=live }}</ref> This marked the first time since [[2007 NBA All-Star Game|2007]] that multiple Utah Jazz players had been selected to the All-Star game, and the first time since [[2000 NBA All-Star Game|2000]] that multiple Jazz players had actually appeared in the game ([[Mehmet Okur]] had replaced an injured [[Carlos Boozer]] in 2007). In March 2020, Gobert and Mitchell were diagnosed with [[COVID-19]], making the Jazz the first major sporting franchise in North America to be directly affected by the disease, and resulting in the suspension of all remaining NBA games of the season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Botkin |first1=Brad |last2=Kaskey-Blomain |first2=Michael |title=NBA suspends season due to coronavirus outbreak; owners preparing for no games until June, per report |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-suspends-season-until-further-notice-after-rudy-gobert-reportedly-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/ |website=CBSSports.com |access-date=March 12, 2020 |date=March 12, 2020 |archive-date=March 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312205226/https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-suspends-season-until-further-notice-after-rudy-gobert-reportedly-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following the [[suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season]], the Jazz were one of the 22 teams invited to the [[2020 NBA Bubble|NBA Bubble]] to participate in the final eight games of the regular season.<ref>{{cite web |title=NBA Board of Governors approves competitive format to restart 2019-20 season with 22 teams returning to play |url=https://www.nba.com/news/board-of-governors-approves-nba-return-official-release |website=NBA.com |access-date=April 20, 2021 |date=June 4, 2020 |archive-date=October 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022021825/https://www.nba.com/news/board-of-governors-approves-nba-return-official-release |url-status=live }}</ref> The Jazz were mediocre in the eight seeding games, posting a 3–5 record. However, this allowed them to lock up the Western Conference sixth seed and a favorable matchup with the [[Denver Nuggets]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Griffin |first1=Taylor |title=The Jazz pulled off the tank job for the 6 seed |url=https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/8/13/21367973/utah-jazz-denver-nuggets-nba-playoffs-rudy-gobert-nikola-jokic |website=SLC Dunk |access-date=April 20, 2021 |date=August 13, 2020 |archive-date=January 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126180320/https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/8/13/21367973/utah-jazz-denver-nuggets-nba-playoffs-rudy-gobert-nikola-jokic |url-status=live }}</ref> In game 1, Donovan Mitchell achieved the third-highest single-game scoring total in playoff history (behind only [[Michael Jordan]] and [[Elgin Baylor]]) with 57 points,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Griffin |first1=Taylor |title=Donovan Mitchell's 57 points not enough in game one |url=https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/8/17/21372667/utah-jazz-denver-nuggets-game-one-donovan-mitchell-57-points-rudy-gobert-nikola-jokic |website=SLC Dunk |access-date=April 20, 2021 |date=August 17, 2020 |archive-date=December 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205042148/https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/8/17/21372667/utah-jazz-denver-nuggets-game-one-donovan-mitchell-57-points-rudy-gobert-nikola-jokic |url-status=live }}</ref> but the Jazz lost to the Nuggets in overtime. Mitchell's brilliant play continued through the series as the Jazz won the next three games, two of them by lopsided margins; however, they blew their 3–1 lead and lost at the buzzer in game 7 of the series.

Within hours of the Jazz's playoff loss, Mitchell agreed to a five-year, $195 million contract extension that would keep him in Utah.<ref>{{cite web |title=Report: Jazz, Donovan Mitchell to finalize max extension |url=https://www.nba.com/news/report-jazz-donovan-mitchell-reach-max-extension |website=NBA.com |access-date=April 20, 2021 |date=September 2, 2020 |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420150100/https://www.nba.com/news/report-jazz-donovan-mitchell-reach-max-extension |url-status=live }}</ref> On December 20, 2020, Rudy Gobert signed a five-year, $205 million contract extension,<ref>{{cite web |last1=McDonald |first1=Ryan |title=Utah Jazz, Rudy Gobert agree to reported 5-year, $205 million contract extension |url=https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/12/20/22191606/reports-utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-agree-to-5-year-205-million-contract-extension |website=Deseret News |access-date=April 20, 2021 |date=December 20, 2020 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126172302/https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/12/20/22191606/reports-utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-agree-to-5-year-205-million-contract-extension |url-status=live }}</ref> the third-largest contract in NBA history and the largest ever for a center.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goldberg |first1=Rob |title=Rudy Gobert, Jazz Agree to Historic 5-Year, $205M Contract Extension |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2923248-rudy-gobert-jazz-reportedly-agree-to-historic-5-year-205m-contract-extension |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=April 20, 2021 |date=December 20, 2020 |archive-date=May 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506183336/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2923248-rudy-gobert-jazz-reportedly-agree-to-historic-5-year-205m-contract-extension |url-status=live }}</ref> During the 2020 off-season, the Jazz traded away backup centers Tony Bradley and Ed Davis, re-signed Jordan Clarkson to a four-year, $51.52 million contract, and re-acquired Derrick Favors from the [[New Orleans Pelicans|Pelicans]] to serve as a more reliable post presence off the bench.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020-21 Utah Jazz Transactions |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/UTA/2021_transactions.html |website=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412180336/https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/UTA/2021_transactions.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[2020 NBA draft]], the Jazz selected Kansas center [[Udoka Azubuike]] 27th overall in the first round and Syracuse forward [[Elijah Hughes]] 39th overall in the second round.