Mavs Jazz Preview: Even smart moves don't always work out well

Every general manager in the NBA tries to make their team better.

Bad teams try to become mediocre. Mediocre teams try to become good. Good teams, great. Big teams want to become champions.

But it doesn't always work out, even when teams make good decisions.

The Utah Jazz have found themselves in a difficult situation despite doing a lot of things right.

They storm the American Airlines Center on Monday night and the team the Mavericks will face brings an 0-2 record into the 7:30 p.m. game. The Jazz have missed the playoffs the last two seasons.

In the six seasons prior, they made the playoffs every year, averaged 49 wins, and recruited some really good talent like Donovan Mitchell in the middle of the first round.

They previously defeated Rudy Gobert late in the first round. They were a dangerous team.

But it just didn't work. When it became clear that the assembled group would not reach the promised land, the Jazz made changes and a rebuild began under third-year coach Will Hardy.

The Jazz are still dangerous, but they're banking on young players like Keyonte George, Walker Kessler, Taylor Hendricks and Bryce Sensabaugh to develop into elite players.

They're not there yet, which means the Jazz will be led by Lauri Markkanen and an untested group behind him. They expect to pay the price of developing a young core this season.

You only have to go back a few years to find a time when the Mavericks were in a similar situation. The difference is that they made a high selection in the NBA draft and chose Luka Dončić. The rebuilding after Dirk Nowitzki's resignation was accelerated.

The Jazz will need similar luck to advance their rebuilding efforts. But in the NBA, you're never further than a No. 1 pick from Cooper Flagg from your franchise making a quantum leap.

Here's what to look for in Monday's matchup:

• The Mavericks are looking to bounce back from a 114-102 loss at Phoenix on Saturday. Last season they went 3-1 in a loss to the Jazz and Dončić averaged 30.5 points, 11.5 assists and 9.3 rebounds. This will be the Jazz's only trip to Dallas this season.
• Luka remains eighth all-time in triple-doubles with 77 points, tied with James Harden. With another triple-double, he will tie for seventh place on the all-time list with Wilt Chamberlain.
• Jazz was founded by Markkanen, Hendricks, Kessler, George and Collin Sexton. Markkanen is averaging 24 points and 8.5 rebounds. Kessler averaged 9 points and 11.5 rebounds. But their two losses, both at home, were by two points to Memphis and 41 to Golden State.
• Although it's a small sample, the Mavericks have averaged just 9.5 turnovers through two games, which is the second-lowest mark in the NBA.
• It's hard to argue with the three-point haul from the Mavericks' superstars through two games. Klay Thompson shot 50 percent from distance, Kyrie Irving 41.7 percent and Dončić 37.5 percent.

UTAH JAZZ (0-2) at MAVERICKS (1-1)

When: 7:30 p.m., Monday

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas

TV: KFAA-29; MavsTV stream

Radio: KEGL 97.1 FM; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @ESefko