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2011 Offsesaon Analysis by position
Posted by: Kyle Goodman on March 21st, 2011
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.So the 2011 season, a roller-coaster ride of trades and resignations for us Jazz fans, is coming to an end. For the first time in almost a decade, the Jazz may not be in the playoffs (though I hold out hope they could get there) and are now in rebuilding mode. It’s sad to see, but that is how it is. Anyway, I figured since most of us are looking forward to the draft and the off-season, I would do my own little thing on off season needs based on position. Lets get started.
- Point guard
Players: Devin Harris, Earl Watson, Ronnie Price
Outlook: Harris is the unquestioned starter, but is not really the point guard the Jazz need. He’s a score first point guard who does not understand when he should and when he should not pass. He is a high energy player who is extremely fast and quick. He’s been with the team for less then half a season so he is still figuring things out. Off the bench, Ronnie does not make a great point guard but is more fit at two. Earl is much more instinctive, but is up there in years and I do not know how well he can do as a starter by this point. Of all those guys, only Harris is under contract for the 2011-2012 season.
Likely course of action: The front office keeps Harris for another one or two seasons and during that time, drafts his replacement for the long term. Ronnie is probably gone after the season ends. Earl will be kept.
Preferred course of action: Trade Devin Harris for Raymond Felton. This guy is withering away on the Denver bench and George Karl clearly seems to favor Ty Lawson over him. Felton scores in all the traditional point guard manners (threes, pick and roll layups), is a much better passer then Harris, has a decent contract, and thrives in high energy systems. Both are pretty equal defensively. He would be a good point guard in the Jazz system. - Shooting guard
Players: CJ Miles, Raja Bell, Gordon Hayward
Outlook: After months of lackluster play from Raja Bell, Coach Corbin finally benched him in favor of CJ Miles, and has not looked back since. CJ is making the most out of every opportunity he can to start, and he seems to provide that extra energy that gets this team really moving. Hayward, originally drafted as a replacement for Andrei Kirilenko, has shown to be more fitting at shooting guard then small forward. He is getting better offensively, but is lacking bulk and is a tentative to weak defender. Raja was brought in to bring veteran leadership and tough defense at the shooting guard position, but clearly father time caught up with him this season and he has provided next to nothing offensively.
Likely course of action: CJ keeps the starting job under Coach Corbin and maddens us with his offensive inconsistency, but becomes a key part of the solution to the problem we have at finding a scorer. Hayward replaces CJ as the sixth man off the bench and develops into a reliable Kyle Korver clone. Raja asks to be traded and gets his wish.
Prefferd course of action: CJ remains the starter and Hayward replaces him as the sixth man. Raja stays and accepts his role as a bench player and helps out on the defensive end. - Small forward
Players: Andrei Kirilenko
Outlook: After a few years of being bitten by the injury bug, the ever useful AK47 of the Jazz Andrei Kirilenko has finally been healthy again (for the most part). He is playing well on both ends, stuffing up the stats, and giving us key plays and offensive facilitation when they are needed the most. His intended replacement, Gordon Hayward, looks more fit to be a shooting guard then a small forward at the NBA level.
Likely course of action: Out with the old and in with the new. AK wants to play for Jerry Sloan and not Ty Corbin and won’t get the payday he probably wants, so he leaves and heads back to Russia after a great career as Jazz man.
Preferred course of action: AK is kept for two years and a wing player is drafted this year to split minutes with him. There is an over abbundance of wing players in this year’s draft and small forward is a huge position of need for the Jazz. A player like Harrison Barnes or (if possible) Derrick Williams would be greatly appreciated and land in a good situation to be able to learn by one of the best wing defenders in the business. - Power Forward
Players: Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors, Jeremy Evans
Outlook: This is the one position where there is an absolute surplus in the Jazz system. After years of sitting behind Carlos Boozer, Paul Millsap has clearly earned a starting job and does everything his predecessor did with increased bulk and size. Rookie Derrick Favors, acquired in the Deron Williams trade, has landed in the perfect situation. His defense is clearly there and he has even more size and bulk them Millsap does, and the Jazz have a long history of developing quality big men. Jeremy Evans, a second round pick last year, has played limited minutes for the most part and is rather undersized.
Likely Course of Action: All three players are kept but Favors gets increased minutes and platoons with Millsap, who keeps the starting job for another year.
Preferred Course of Action: Trade one of them. Millsap has been courted a lot over the past few years and the front office is only hurting Favors (who they seem high on) by keeping Millsap in front of him. He plays better when he gets more minutes and his defensive skill is already there. Hopefully Favors learns post offense quicker then is estimated. Evans is best fit as a reserve. - Center
Players: Al Jefferson, Mehmet Okur, Francisco Elson, Kryolo Fesenko
Outlook: After coming over from a trade in Minnesota, Al Jefferson has played the best center in a Jazz uniform since Mark Eaton and is a player who gives you a lot on both ends of the floor. However, as much as a front court upgrade he has been, he is undersized when compared to other real centers (Pau Gasol, Chris Kaman, Dwight Howard) and is a poor fast break defender. He is probably more fit to be a power forward. Mehmet Okur, long time Jazz man and fan favorite, provides a lot with his outside shooting ability and rebounding along with center size, but has been hurt this whole year and does not look like he will be same player again. Elson and Fesenko are reserves.
Likely Course of Action: Both Al and Memo stay but Al keeps playing center while Memo becomes a reserve. Elson goes. Fesenko finally leaves after frustrating us all these years and no upgrade is really given to the position.
Preferred Course of Action: Sign DeAndre Jordan!!! This team needs a human wall to clog up the paint, block shots, and give the Jazz some extra size and lenght. Jordan has done a great job defenisvely starting for the Clippers and would not be required to score for the most part. He will be a free agent after this season, and deserves a look by the Jazz.
So what are your thoughts on the 2011 off season for the Jazz?
Replies: 8
Views: 758
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8 Responses
You have made some good points and some poor points. Overall you did pretty well. You didnt say to much about Favors, and I wonder if he wouldnt be better suited to call him an inside SF rather than a PF or Center as some call him. It would be fun to see him develop and outside shot.
I dont know about trading Harris. I am not against the player you suggest, but Harris has been pretty solid since he has gotten here. Since we have two draft picks and your suggesting we keep CJ and Hayward at the SG position, and bringing in Williams and or Barnes with the first pick, then why not a PG with the second. There are a couple who may be available by the time the second pick comes around. Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker or others.
I say we keep Milsap also. With Milsap, Favors, and Al we are smaller, but pretty solid in the paint. Favors may be able to play Center and PF positions. This would break all them out, but also up Favors minutes. Could be a very solid trio..
Again, not against looking at DeAndre just dont know that we could entice him here. Thats the big problem with free agency.. If Okur comes back 80 % we would be alright, if not, we may try for a trade to someone in need of cap space for the following season..
When looking toward the draft, a Solid SG would be helpful, but there are so few available. Guess we should wait and see what happens.. But you gave us things to consider…
Excellent post. I would hope the Jazz can sign a good SG or trade for one. I think we will have to trade Millsap in order to rebuild, hopefully getting a decent center and SG for him. Okur might not even be able to fill the role of bench player after all he’s been through. Harris is not the right PG for the Jazz, although I think he could be, but would need to change some things and learn to run the offense correctly. At the end of the season, we will be very weak at center and in dire need of shooters.
I agree with most of what you said however I’m completely against trading Millsap. He, along with Big Al, are definitely the heart and soul of this team.
My preferred course of action would be to start Favors, as he definitely is the future at PF, and bring Millsap off the bench. as much as we hate to admit it he’s incredibly undersized for the PF position and other teams seem to attack him on defense with much larger PF’s. off the bench Millsap would be 6th man of the year in no time. He matches up well with the other team’s second unit and with 25+ minutes a night would still be able to retain his leadership role.
Answering some questions
@ Patrick: A point guard at the second draft spot is not a real great idea this year. Kemba Walker won’t be able to really play the way he primarily does in the NBA. He’s trying to play like Carmelo Anthony in a point guard body, and that won’t be successful enough. Brandon Knight is pretty much a Monta Ellis/Jason Terry clone who can play defense. I am all for keeping Harris if he can learn how to properly run the flex system and work on his passing. That’s why I mentioned Raymond Felton. I like your point though about potentially playing Favors at center a bit to backup Big Al. They are of similar size and it would get him the minutes so he could learn offense better.
@Zach: We already have two pretty good shooting guards. CJ is the starter and should stay the starter. Hayward’s developing game that is similar to Kyle Korver’s once was. The future is bright for him, though he’s probably best fit as a sixth man.
@SuperPerksCanFly: I do not think that Millsap moving to the bench is likely. The only way he would start for the Jazz is if he got moved to small forward, which would work since he would have a height advantage over a lot of small forwards and has shown he can hit a jumper and the three.
I don’t think he’s quick enough to play the SF. He already has trouble guarding a larger more physical PF and all the hustle in the world can’t make up for lack of height. I think it’s safe to say the same about quickness. He would get torched trying to defend out on the perimeter
For what it’s worth…
• Hopefully, Devin Harris will learn the Jazzy system especially in terms of his involving other players. He’ll get his points. Though he’s not as strong as DWill, he has quickness that DWill doesn’t.
• Perhaps, when Favors develops, Corbin will platoon Favors and Millsap, depending on matchups. The Jazz will probably not have a consistent starting lineup so why not organize the team for the best matchups against any team in the NBA? Anyway, for the most part, the Jazz team consists of many good role players; no superstar at the level of LeBron James or Kobe Bryant.
• I recognize many Utah fans would want Jimmer Fredette who can be very good at what he does—shoot and pass. In that case, he would fit D’Antonini’s offense better. Perhaps the Knicks ought to draft him. When Jimmer is on, it’ll open up things for Amar’e and Melo down low.
• As I have suggested in past blogs, the Jazz will always look to draft players who are “good citizens,” athletic, and are not egotistic—team players.
• To me, great coaches will always look to create a system to take advantage of the strengths of what he has and look for ways to “hide” weaknesses.
• As I’ve mentioned in another blog, it seems the players feel they have more freedom to do their thing with DWill leaving. Look at AK. He’s been active.
• In spite of his obvious athleticism, I’m still not sure what to make of Jeremy Evans. Yes, when he and Watson connect on those all-oops, it’s WOW! But if Evans remains on the team, it seems he’ll definitely be a role player coming off the bench unless he develops significantly his physique and shooting abilities.
• I hope Gordon will come on. It seemed he was for a bit when he was willing to take shots when he could. Lately, he seems to have reverted to catching a pass and looking to pass.
• If Okur remains, his role will be to come off the bench to provide some outside shooting. If Fes remains, his role will be to clog up the middle on defense.
• The Jazz needs to draft a strong and big center to counter the big guys from the teams who have them. Remember, the Jazz needs to think of how to platoon and make use of the team’s strengths.
Ray, I almost agree with you, but another big? We have without Okur almost the best trio in the league, once favors develops. Everyone says we need bigs, but all season long we have dominated the paint. We havent won the rebound battle, but we are right there, but we have the points in the paint. We dominate there. Our problem is perimeter. Once we get some perimeter Defense, and shooting we will be solid. So when you look to drafting and the future, thats where you need to work.. Our rebounds and paint game will both pick up with some perimeter help. They will miss more shots, we get more rebounds. They will not pack the paint, we get more offensive rebounds. Its all about our perimeter game.
@Patrick: I agree with you in that this team has a lot of big men but it needs the size and length a real center can bring. That’s why I mentioned DeAndre Jordan.