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Jazz any closer to knowing their 2019 roster configuration?

Et tu Brute

Et tu Brute

Well-Known Member
I don't know about you guys, but this season has had a plethora of unpredictable story lines that have confused the hell out of me as to what the FO will do (or even should do) moving forward.

So many questions existed prior to the season e.g. how quickly will DM prosper, will Exum justify a lengthy extension or become a RFA target, will Favors return to the old Favs, would Hayward's absence force an eventual rebuild, would Gobert become a top 10 player, would veterans get traded, will Jingles live up to his contract etc etc etc

But even more questions have been added to the mix:
- Is Burks part of the future? Has he significantly increased his trade value?
- Who is Hood? Gunner? Sixth man? Starter? Attractive RFA target?
- Is Exum more likely now in the Jazz plans than ever?
- Should the team be built around Gobert and Mitchell OR just primarily Mitchell?
- Should trading away a potential cornerstone (Gobert) be even uttered or whispered among the FO?
- Is the Rubio thing a failed experiment?


My question is, are we any closer to knowing what the team will look like in the medium term?
 
if there are any takers for Burks we should take it (sorry fish) that said he's easily playing his best ball in 3 years but young Royce O'Neale looks a player.

Hood? Who knows? Doubt he does.

I'd like to see Exum given more time but you know I want to see as many Aussies on the roster as possible

Mitchell and Gobert need to be given more time together, frankly Rudy is owed some damn loyalty, so is Favs but I reckon he is looking expendable at the moment.

I'd give Rubio another year, maybe two, that said a decision on him will have to be made at seasons close cause he enters free agency next year.

All in all the DL did a great job putting together a roster in the last off season but rubio, favors and burks account for 35 million in salary. None of them are all star level players, shifting two of them for a star caliber player could take us into the top four in the western conference next season, who that is others are better placed to answer.
 
I think Rubio plays much better with the Jazz when they go to their small lineups. Would probably be better with Gobert if Rudy could actually catch a bounce pass. Rubio seemingly makes some of the most oddly timed turnovers to me though which is troubling. How many times has he tried to wing a pass and hit the side of the backboard? I've counted at least 3 in the past few games. His play has been very up and down for us but for a pass first PG, I'm not seeing the assist level that he should be at on a consistent basis.

As for Exum, the guy has had some of the worst early career luck a player can be given. With that said, at what point do you cut losses and move on? I suppose that will be determined by his recovery and potential summer/training camp play. If he looks like he was starting to this past off season, than you build him into your future plans as was always supposed to be the case. If not, you gotta cut bait.

I think the team builds around the Mitchell/Gobert tandem. You don't get rid of a player like Hood and if Burks keeps his controlled play up, you try to keep him around as long as possible as well. My hope is that Utah can finally break the mold and get a mid-level star (budding All Star, or something of the like) without destroying their roster to do so. We potentially have a great nucleus if the Jazz can keep everyone relatively healthy.
 
This probably won't be popular but it might be essentially the same roster but without Favors and Joe Johnson.
 
- Is Burks part of the future? Has he significantly increased his trade value?
To be determined. I think he has. In my opinion, he isn't part of the future because he has never established himself as a specialist at anything. If he's just a solid all around player without any defining characteristic, I don't think we should overpay to keep him.

- Who is Hood? Gunner? Sixth man? Starter? Attractive RFA target?
I think we will keep Hood as a starter. He is probably better than anybody we could add in free agency. I look for him to re-sign with us and we give him a couple years next to Mitchell. If he doesn't work out, he will get traded while he still has value. We can't overpay to keep him though.

- Is Exum more likely now in the Jazz plans than ever?
In my opinion, he seems like a perfect backcourt counterpart for Mitchell based off of his summer league and preseason performances. He has to prove it over time, but like Hood, he is probably a better option than we can find in free agency.

- Should the team be built around Gobert and Mitchell OR just primarily Mitchell?
I think Gobert and Mitchell. Every great team needs great defensive players. Gobert is unique in his ability to protect the rim. We need to build around the two of them.

- Should trading away a potential cornerstone (Gobert) be even uttered or whispered among the FO?
I don't think so. I just don't see how we receive enough in return. He is signed for the long term. He likes it here. Keep him.

- Is the Rubio thing a failed experiment?
Probably
 
The pieces you are going to build around/keep in mind are Mitchell, Ingles, and Rudy. Everything else is just noise.
 
If we're talking the 2019-2020 season, there are some things that look pretty clear.

Favors - no
Exum - almost definitely yes
Rubio - still TBD, but looks very doubtful IMO

Still unclear on Burks and Hood.

Crystal clear that Rudy and Mitchell are the core of the team moving forward. Other guys you draft, sign, trade for, etc. should be done so with the thought of building around those two in mind.
 
Going into 2019, I see the following:

Guys still on the roster:
Gobert (two years left on current deal)
Mitchell (still on rookie deal)
Ingles (two years left on current deal)
Hood (contract in the $17 million per year range)
Bradley (still on rookie deal)
O'Neal (two years left on current deal)
Exum (contract in the $12 million per year range)

Gone are:
Rubio (no longer in the plans, maybe traded before summer 2019)
Favors (traded this year or more money elsewhere 2018)
Thabo (possibly retired or move to a contender like the Warriors or Cavs)
JoeJ (retired)
Burks (more money elsewhere)
Udoh (more money elsewhere)

Maybes are:
Jerekbo (depends on how much he wants in summer 2019)
Neto (depends on how much he wants this coming summer)
 
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