SALT LAKE CITY – You don’t often want to say the quiet part out loud because it raises your eyebrows. But in the case of the Utah Jazz, after a 126-124 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in their season opener at the Delta Center, it’s certainly appropriate to say the quiet part out loud.

So, Hmlet’s go.

This was a big loss for the Utah Jazz.

Of course, there were serious faces in Utah’s locker room in the moments after the loss. Of course, Jazz head coach Will Hardy ran through a number of things his team could have done to get a win over a good Memphis team. And of course, you can point to Keyonte George shooting 3-of-18 from the field and conclude that at least one young Utah player needs improvement.

By the way, everything mentioned above would be true. The Jazz had a chance – several – to start the new season by eliminating a team that should be in the thick of things in the playoffs. But the same applies here: the big picture of this season is emerging. The potential greatness that will make up the 2025 NBA Draft class will soon be on display, and in the case of Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, two of that class’s prizes have already been put on display.

And the bottom line is: The Utah Jazz cannot afford to go 10th overall again. The Utah Jazz can’t afford to end up in the back half of the lottery. That’s where they’ve chosen for the last two seasons. This time, the franchise needs to emerge from the draft with a potential star. The Jazz have a lot of young talent on their current roster. But the franchise needs a Cooper Flagg, an Ace Bailey, a Dylan Harper, a VJ Edgecombe or a Nolan Traore. These are the names that are at the top of the draft. And these are the dynamic talents the Jazz need to bring together alongside star forward Lauri Markkanen.

But that requires defeat. And it requires losing often. And some of those losses will be painful. You just won’t be able to take much of some of these losses. They’ll be the kind of surprises that make you watch the movie, throw it away, and move on to the next one. But a 2-point loss that was competitive for much of the second half? These are the kind of losses the Jazz can endure.

“I thought there was more good than bad in this game,” Hardy said. “I think the second half is a blueprint for how we like to play. I think we adapted to the way we played defensively, especially in the second half. I thought our offensive mentality was a lot better in the second half. We moved the basketball much more and much better. So I think there’s more good than bad. The second half is a much better picture of how we want to play.”

Here is the formula that jazz should strive for. A close game against a good opponent. Find a way to lose this game. Develop the young players in the process.

Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks defends Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane in Wednesday’s season opener. (Chris Nicoll/Imagn Images)

That’s the most important part, and we saw that on Wednesday night. Sophomore forward Taylor Hendricks was great, especially in the second half. He scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds, but that only gives a glimpse of his value. A 6-foot-3 forward, he transitioned effortlessly on defense, guarding everyone from Ja Morant to center Jay Huff. He made several 3-pointers as the Jazz made their run in the third quarter to get back into the game. Entering his second season, after coming off a rookie season in which he often looked drained, lost and unready to play, the former lottery pick has made noticeable progress.

“His physicality stands out,” Hardy said. “You can tell he’s put a lot of work into his body.”

And this is where the 20-year-old Hendricks has made the biggest leap. He is more confident this season. He has been promoted to the role of starter. He is the most versatile defender on the roster and in the season opener he looked like a future cornerstone, even if his ceiling is that of a valuable role player.

“I think the game slowed down for me,” Hendricks said. “But I think it’s slowed down for me defensively. It’s really helped that I’ve gotten stronger, but I also just see the game differently than I did last season, and I think that helped tonight.”

Jazz center Walker Kessler drives to the basket against the Grizzlies. (Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

Center Walker Kessler was Utah’s best player alongside Markkanen. He scored 16 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked five shots. He was even better at protecting the paint than his blocked shot numbers would suggest. And he was great on offense, consistently making an impact on the offensive end and as a vertical lob threat.

This is an important season for Kessler as Utah’s starting center. He will be eligible for a rookie extension next summer. With all the maneuvering the Jazz have made and all the young guys they’ve acquired, Kessler will be the first of those young guys the front office will have to make a long-term decision on. This is not a typical contract season for Kessler. But this season could well determine whether Kessler makes it to restricted free agency or whether the Jazz want to lock him up with an extension.

Kessler has gained significant weight this offseason to be stronger and better prepared for the team’s scrum. But he has retained the agility and athleticism that made him famous in the first place. For example, as the Jazz tried to get back into the game, Kessler used the defensive possession for Memphis point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. And that’s the key to this season for the Jazz as a whole. It’s about development, it’s the young guys improving with every game and it’s their front office figuring out how to complement the current core.

“I was able to focus and work on my game all summer,” said Kessler. “I trained alternately in Utah and Atlanta, with the people I trust and my inner circle. I feel good. I feel ready for this season.”

(Top photo by Lauri Markkanen: Melissa Majchrzak / NBAE via Getty Images)