As an organization, the Utah Jazz are in good shape to be a yearly playoff contender.



Much of this is because of the structure of the front office and coaching staff that’s already in place. But, in the NBA you need players, and Donovan Mitchell along with Rudy Gobert represent pillars for the Jazz who figure to be in place for years to come. Mitchell is in his second season, is averaging 22 points per game and is one of the more dynamic young players in the league. Gobert is just rounding into his prime, is perhaps the NBA’s best defender and has evolved into a two-way center capable of dominating games nightly.



Those two are enough to take the Jazz to the postseason regularly. And as they proved in the playoffs last spring, they are enough to win you a series.



But, the Jazz don’t aspire to second-round postseason exits. General Manager Dennis Lindsey, head coach Quin Snyder, Gobert, Mitchell, those guys want to compete for championships.