NBA Blog Previews: Utah Jazz

by Jeff Clark on Oct 6, 2011 8:15 PM EDT in NBA Previews

After all that stability under Sloan, the times they are a changin' in Utah.

NBA Blogger Previews 2011 - The Utah Jazz - SLC Dunk

You would think that a team that lost its Hall of Fame coach of 23 years and traded their All-star point guard would have gaping holes. You're not going to fill the shoes of either one of those guys but the Jazz head into the next season, whenever that may be, with a young and talented roster that could develop into a good team in the next couple of seasons.

One of the biggest needs the Jazz have is to decide what they're going to do with all of the big men they're collecting. There's a limited amount of minutes to go around and there's a compelling argument for each player to get those minutes. Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors, Mehmet Okur, and Enes Kanter will be looking for playing time. Kanter is probably the least deserving of the bunch right now, but he's going to be groomed to take over the starting center spot. Next season will start out with Jefferson and Millsap on the floor for the tip and with Okur and Favors backing them up. That leaves virtually zero development time for the #3 pick in the draft. So whether it's through the amnesty clause or a trade, there will likely be a move to free up a spot in the front court.

Seems like "too many talented big men" is a good problem to have.

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I’d like to see them trade Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson.

Millsap because I’d like to see Favors move into the starting lineup and play 30+ minutes a night from this point forward. Big Al because I don’t like rebuilding clubs building around such a flawed defensive big man. It is one thing if he was still a young up and comer but he hasn’t developed this area of his game for several years now. Also a poor passer who is too focused on getting his own shot.

If Memo Okur is up to it, I’d give him the starting C spot for one last season. Let him play 26-28 minutes a game and give Enes Kanter the other 20+mpg.

The Jazz also have an overload at the two guard spot with Gordon Hayward, Alec Burks and CJ Miles. They are going to have to trade one of those guys to free up time for the other two.

They could play small wing combinations with Hayward likely starting at SF and CJ Miles being the main backup wing. Then rotating Raja Bell (SG) and Jeremy Evans (SF/PF) depending on matchups as the fourth wing in the depth chart … but I’d prefer to see them trade CJ Miles and use Hayward/Burks as the two with Bell a third stringer + use Millsap or Big Al to bring in a quality starting small forward and leave Evans as the backup SF/PF. I think that work better and give them a better shot at developing Burks and Hayward.

by Who on Oct 6, 2011 11:12 PM EDT reply actions

im sure danny has called about at least 1 of those guys millsap,al or okur

being that we have 1 big man in the middle & they have too many

they’ll probably release okur throuh amnesty & or maybe al jeff too since i cant see atleast any contending teams taking on his salary millsap will probably be the one to get traded in my opinion since if im not wrong he has the smallest slary of okur/al & millsap

by stylo617617 on Oct 7, 2011 12:53 AM EDT reply actions

Any of them

would be a welcome addition to this roster if Danny can swing it for a reasonable cost.

by slamtheking on Oct 7, 2011 11:11 AM EDT reply actions

They have too many forwards..they will move someone.

I like Millsap. Okur is almost done. Have to see how Favors and Kanter develop. They also have Jefferson. One or two of these guys will probably not finish the season with the Jazz. They are a rebuilding team, so it will benefit the young guys development.

by tenkaistar on Oct 9, 2011 12:53 PM EDT reply actions