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Posted by: Jason Michael Crannell on May 25th, 2012
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.The Jazz have only been eliminated from the playoffs for a few weeks, and I already miss the games. I’ve watched a few minutes of this game, or a few minutes of that game, since the Jazz season ended, but I honestly could care less at this point which team wins the title (at least it won’t be the Lakers).
This will be an interesting offseason for this franchise. KOC has preached “improvement from within” and “patience” during every interview he’s given since the season ended. This would logically lead me to believe that there may not be as many offseason moves made to this roster as some fans may be anticipating (or hoping for).
KOC is a smart bird. He won’t pull the trigger on any deal that he doesn’t think will make the team substantially better, because the Jazz organization has always been built on stability. He would rather the players we already have work on their games, and show improvement. That doesn’t mean we won’t see some new faces on the roster come next season, but I don’t see any major deals in the works. Free agency is usually pretty much a bust for the Jazz, and if the lottery doesn’t work our way, we will be fairly limited in the upcoming draft. Making a trade will be difficult as well, without possibly having to give up a young piece we would rather keep, and build for the future with. Are best chance of being a better basketball team next season, is having our young talent (Favors, Hayward, Burks, Kanter, Evans, Carroll) improve their skills, and make a more significant contribution. Coach Corbin also needs to lean less on the veterans next season, and have more confidence in the young guys. If he does, I don’t think they will disappoint him, over the long haul.
I do anticipate that the Jazz will add an outside shooter between now and the beginning of the season, but Hayward and Burks have got to improve in this area. If they are going to be our future starters on the wings, they have got to become more consistent perimeter threats. I also anticipate that if Millsap is with us next season, he will see significant time at the small forward spot. I see a tentative starting lineup of Jefferson, Favors, Millsap, Hayward, and Harris next season (I could also envision Carroll starting at the small forward, if Millsap would be willing to take on a sixth man role).
The real wild card in the whole offseason equation is the trade exception acquired in the Okur deal last fall. This might very will end up being the key piece that brings us the most substantial roster addition (I believe the Jazz have until just before Christmas to use it or lose it).
I think our current roster, with Favors starting and playing 30-35 minutes per game, is good enough to win around 50 games next season (assuming all our young guys come back better players). The Jazz just need a few tweaks here and there, and they will be competing for home court advantage in the playoffs.
Replies: 11
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11 Responses
While Hayward can play the two or three spot, he seems most effective overall, when he’s at the shooting guard. This does create an issue concerning Alec Burks. Burks can play a little point guard, but he definitely isn’t a small forward. His natural position is at shooting guard. It’s always possible that they could find enough minutes for him coming off the bench, but a possible future starting lineup of him and Hayward together may not be very effective. At some point, the Jazz may need to make a decision between the two, and possibly move one or the other. I guess it just depends how good each player becomes.
I think you can pull Burks off the bench just give him more minutes. In a Harden like role and he would be just fine. Harden struggled his rookie year and then evolved into who he is today. Hopefully we see a big jump for Burks. I expect we will.
Honestly though I do not see this team winning 50 games next year with the current way it is constructed. They could surprise me but you saw at the end of the year how teams attacked Al in the P&R. Whenever they needed buckets that is what they would do. We barely beat some teams that we should have dominated and lost some close games cause when it came down to the wire they just ran P&R to get their players open. I do not see much improvement if the roster stays the same. Corbin will continue to go to Al in the post Iso and that will ruin the team chemistry and flow.
Not to be a negative Nelly just saying this is not a championship team the way it is constructed and if we do not use the assets we have while we have them then KOC is dumber then I thought
The team finished 36-30 last season. I figure if they had played a normal 82 game regular schedule they would have finished around 45 wins. Then I figure if you had Favors starting, and playing 30-35 minutes per game (rather then around 20 minutes per game), you could easily add five more wins to that total. Not to mention that I expect all our young guys to be improved from a season ago. Anyway, that’s how I arrive at that 50 win number.
The Jazz may be better off not trading Al, and letting his contract just come off the books after next summer. That would free up a ton of money to pursue free agents, and make possible trades. Not to mention, Favors and Kanter would have an extra season to develop, rather then being thrown to the wolves next season. I’m just not sure we can get equal value back for Jefferson in a deal this summer. Maybe…just not sure.
A possible two deep depth chart next season:
Center – Jefferson, Kanter
Power Forward – Favors, Evans
Small Forward – Millsap, Carroll
Shooting Guard – Hayward, Burks
Point Guard – Harris,(and a guy who can actually shoot the ball a little bit…possibly a Mo Williams, Damian Lillard type guy)
Then the following season, you don’t resign Jefferson, and as as result, have a great deal of spending money to resign the guys you have, or look for other pieces.
I think the Jazz would benefit from one more season from Jefferson, unless a team just offers a terrific package.
I think we will at least see Bell and CJ gone. As good as Tinsley was at times I don’t think his body can take a long drawn out season. Howard was too oft injured and cold and hot so I don’t think he will be back. If the Jazz keep AL they could resign him for much much less for the next couple of years as a bench player.Sap might get a nice contract for maybe about a three year period. Jazz will keep Evans just because he is a good team member and good chemistry and should not demand too much of a pay. (Unless Blazers stick their nose into it.)Next Wed is the lottery. Keep your fingers and toes crossed.. I could see Al or Harris moved if the right return comes up.
Maybe the question needs to be with the bigs is which one is willing to come off the bench?
With Al will he take a pay cut to 8 mil or will Millsap be willing to stay at the salary he is at.
If they will not come off the bench bye and if they will not play for that money then bye but honestly only one can stay long term with two 20 year old number 3 picks on the roster not next year for Kanter but if he takes the steps then they both need to play 30-35 minutes which leaves about 30 more minutes for two ROLE players at the bigs.
If we dont get a consistancy shooter, and rid Cj, I forget next season.
LOL!! Yes…I’m quite sure neither Raja or C.J. will return.
And, most likely, I will have to endure Dallan going off on Jefferson’s poor pick and roll defense, after each game (even the victories)…LOL!!
@Jason: Sounds like a cure. No one has mentioned it but to soften the blow the Clipps were swept also just as convincingly..Most interesting to me is how KOC will use the Trade Exeption..Four more days till the lottery. Get out your voodo dolls..
Haha
I also dont see jefferson leaving til the end of his contract unless something big goes down, that way team chemistry doesnt get too off balance and we keep some consistent scoring on the roster til that gap is filled. it will be all on him about staying next season. …but with the exception wild card, theres a much better chance that alot happens and jefferson or milsap gets traded. teams want to dump for cap space before free agency , and jazz could get involved in a multi team trade within the next couple months. If we dont take advantage of the flexibilty and options this year to get a solid perimeter defender, 3pt shooter , and exchange a backup that alley oops for a backup that defends, then this team is exactly what analysts and writers and everyone say ; a mediocre team.