Utah Jazz Off-Season: Fact or Fiction

/ sgodfrey630

I miss watching the Jazz? Faction

Of course I miss them and talking about them and the joy they were and all the good things the season produced and it was such a fun year and I miss the nights watching them play so hard and yes, ah, I do miss them. But at the same time, Golden State beat San Antonio by 36,000 points (not a typo) and I do not miss watching things like that.

I do miss plays like this though.

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
We’re less than two weeks removed from the last Jazz game of the season, but some off-season story lines have already begun to sprout. Let’s play fact or fiction with five of them.

The Jazz have a shot with  Kyle Lowry. Fiction

If George Hill does not re-up with the Jazz, we will need a competent point guard to stay competitive in the west. After his Toronto Raptors were eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyle Lowry said he was interested in coming west (which, sure, you now avoid LBJ but instead get to face the GSW)  but also wanted to compete for a ring. This combination caused plenty discussion on if the Utah Jazz were a legit possibility, as they were a) in the west and b) in prime position to win.

Well, hold up.

Let me first remind you that the greatest Utah Jazz free agency transaction was probably getting Carlos Boozer to join forces with Deron Williams.  And yeah, he was great, but two words: Carlos Boozer. You could also argue spending big bucks on big boy Mehmet Okur was a big get too, but after that, what other big name acquisitions have chosen to sign here? Maybe snagging Joe Johnson last off-season? The point is: this is Kyle Lowry, an All-Star, elite point guard worthy of a max contract and out of all 30 teams, he is going to choose Utah? Nope.

And beside that, it’s not even a logical, financial possibility. Since Lowry has a resume, and is about to start his 11th year, he’s eligible for a super max, which outside of his current team would start at about 35 million bones. As it stands right now, the Jazz have 31.3 million dollars in cap space (with eight players under contract at 65.7 million) available. Without moving any one, or resigning Hayward, we’re short. So, to create that much space, the Jazz wouldn’t resign Hill or Ingles and they’d still be off. They’d have to cut ties with Boris Diaw and trade Alec Burks and even then we’d still be off. It would probably mean trading away a guy like Derrick Favors to be in the right ball park. Is that much depth worth it? Or maybe since he wants to win, he’ll take a discount? Again, this is Kyle Lowry, an All-Star, elite point guard worthy of a max contract and out of all 30 teams, he is going to choose Utah? Nope.

The Jazz will trade a draft pick. Fact.

The Jazz have two draft picks in the first round in the upcoming draft; one is their own, #24; the other is courtesy of a trade with a Warriors from years past, #30. They also have two in the second round.

If the Jazz get Hayward and Hill to stay in Utah, it is very unlikely they keep their first round draft picks on their salary cap and on their roster. Last year, the #24 pick made 1.3 million his first year whereas the #30 pick made about 1.2 million. The problem is, the draft is before free agency. If the Jazz want to go deep in the playoffs, they need every able body and contributor that they can, which sometimes late first round draft pick can’t itch. On top of that, playoff rosters need every penny to contribute and the Jazz also are penny pinchers. Since all 2017 draft picks will cost them about 4.6 million, that’s 4.6 million that could be used elsewhere.

Instead of keeping those contracts, I could easily see the Jazz trading out of the first round to get some extra money to sign veterans who would be more likely to make a difference in a playoff run or in practices. Jeff Withey, for example, was a solid backup and end of bench player and he made 1.1 million last year. Shelvin Mack and Joe Ingles, who both gave significant value at significant bargains, each made over 2 million/year. Those type of players are out there and can make a bigger dent than a late first round pick.

The Jazz can certainly keep a draft pick and develop him into a rotation player, but the odds of keeping both are unlikely in my opinion.

SIDE TANGENT: According to Sports Illustrated, the Jazz are mocked to take Ivan Rabb, a Forward from Cal, with the 24th pick and Jawun Evans, a guard from Oklahoma State, with the 30th pick. Former Lone Peak star, Frank Jackson, could also be available near the end of the first round as are a pair of Kentucky freshman Hamidou Diallo (guard) and Bam Adebayo (C). I want the Jazz to select Bam, just because of his name. Joe Coles, a writer for the Deseret News, has compiled  other mock draft picks:

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe Jazz and Boston will engage in a Sign-and-Trade. Fiction

After Boston secured the first overall draft pick, rumors began swirling that they would entertain trade offers. All season we know they have been enamored with Jimmy Butler and Paul George, two logical fits at small forward that would help them vault into a threat against the Cavs.

Another small forward they have been interested in? Gordon Hayward.

While George and Butler are still locked into contracts, it would take a trade of significance to pry them away. A trade centered on a #1 pick would certainly land a superstar.

As for Hayward? He’s a free agent, free to go wherever he very well pleases.

And if, BIG IF, that’s Boston, why would they part with a valuable draft pick when they can just sign him outright?  If the Celtics get him to agree to a Sign-and-Trade, then that means they’ve agreed to get him to sign which means there is no need to part with anything in a trade because they’ve already secured him.

Simply put, it’s not happening. So enjoy some highlights until July.

The Jazz will bring in an international point guard. Fact.

Milos Teodosic, a point guard from Serbia, has interest in coming to Utah. He’s looking for a three year deal, maybe close to 30 million total. If George Hill bolts, this is a solid option, at half the price. Even if Hill stays, this could be a nice back up option (while Exum develops into a shooting guard?).

I’m buying this rumor. Quin Snyder has called him “the best passer in the world” and coached him for a bit in 2012-2013 with CSKA Moscow. He is older, 30, but is considered the best point guard in Europe. He can shoot, has a highlight reel of sweet dimes, and is 6 ft 5 (but a little slow to guard NBA guards).

We’ve got a lot of international flavor on our team. I’m all in on adding some more spice.

The Jazz are the 8th best team in the NBA. Fiction

After the Jazz made it past the pesky Clippers, we were formally part of the NBA’s Elite Eight. We then got canned like an awkward kid in a junior high movie and swept quickly out of the conversation. This prompted many to consider the Jazz the weakest of the last eight.

I disagree. We played against a really good Warriors team and it showed we aren’t quite on the mantle yet. That being said, I would’ve liked our chances verses a handful of other teams, East or West. Consider:

  1. Golden State 67-15 (Warriors won 2 of 3)
  2. SA 61-21 (Jazz split the season series 2-2)
  3. Houston 55-27 (Jazz won 2 of 3)
  4. Celtics 53-29 (Jazz lost both in the regular season)
  5. Utah 51-31
  6. Cleveland 51-31 (Jazz split the season series 1-1)
  7. Toronto – 51-31 (Jazz lost both in the regular season)
  8. Washington 49-33 (Jazz won both in the regular season)

What does that mean? Well, Utah tied for the 5th best overall record of the bunch. Despite the regular season records, I would give the Jazz a fighting chance verses Washington (it’d be a close series) and Toronto in the East (I think Cleveland and Boston would beat us in a seven game series). In the west, we matched up well with Houston that I think we could have won that series too. In my opinion, just like the records suggest, we are the 5th best team of the bunch. I’d rank it Golden State, Cleveland, San Antonio, Boston, Utah, Washington, Houston, Toronto.

Leave a comment