My hot take on what I'd do in the off-season.

[Joncolton]

As I see it, the Jazz have only the MLE (mid-level exception) and the MIN (minimum player contract) to offer to free agents. We have our draft picks, and the possibility of doing a trade or two.



Step 1. Trade Mike Conley to Cleveland for Kevin Love. Why does Utah do it? We need rebounding, we need outside shooting and the Mike Conley-Donovan connection seemed more disconnected than not most of the time. Utah needs to push to compete in the 2020-2021 season, the Warriors will make the playoffs again this year, and it's going to be tight, but hopefully another team might be able to slip past them in the West as they try to integrate their new players (and it still might be impossible).

Step 2. Sign Aron Baynes for the MIN. Like Gobert, he's a fantastic screen-assist guy, and is a veteran who hits 35% from 3 and 80% from the FT line.

Step 3. Re-sign Jordan Clarkson - the Jazz have his Bird rights, so this is easy and a no-brainer.

Step 4. Sign the best mid-level shooter you can get - there is rumors that teams will look to dump cash this year, especially with not knowing when the season is even going to open and whether or not they will be even be able to fill arenas. There is the idea that there may not be a lot of buyers in this year's free agency and that will drive prices down (I doubt it, but we will see). The Jazz might want to look at:

Rodney Hood, Jerami Grant*, Evan Fournier, Goran Dragic, Davis Bertrans

Step 5. Draft your best athlete with the longest wing-span. Maybe Patrick Williams 6-7 w 6-11 wingspan SG/SF. Aaron Nesmith 6-6 w 6'10 span. Saddiq Bey 6'8" w 7'0"wingspan. Tyler Bey 6'7 w 7'1" wingspan.

Jazz Roster:

C- Rudy Gobert, Aron Baynes
PF - Kevin Love, Juwan Morgan
SF - Bojan Bogdanovic, Tyler Bey
SG - Evan Fournier, Joe Ingles
PG - Donovan Mitchell, Jordan Clarkson

 

[jom2003]

Pacers might blow it up so I'd ask them about the availability of Brogdon

 

[Ron Mexico]

If we trade for Love and sign Baynes let's just trade Gobert at that point for a wing or PF that fits.

 

[Ron Mexico]

We made some big moves last year and they didn't work out. I think we have a chance to fix it though. There will be plenty of players available.

 

[jom2003]

Also I won't touch Rudy until we've collected enough defensive pieces. We'd rank dead bottom in the League on D if we are to move Rudy right now.

 

[jom2003]

If we trade for Love and sign Baynes let's just trade Gobert at that point for a wing or PF that fits.

our whole defensive scheme lives on Rudy's paint presence. Without him, the Conley/Ingles/Clarkson/Niang combo won't guard a chair.

 

[Ron Mexico]

Also I won't touch Rudy until we've collected enough defensive pieces. We'd rank dead bottom in the League on D if we are to move Rudy right now.

To me it's up to Mitchell now. I think there might still be issues. If not, yeah I want to keep Gobert unless someone makes a good trade offer for him.

 

[Ron Mexico]

our whole defensive scheme lives on Rudy's paint presence. Without him, the Conley/Ingles/Clarkson/Niang combo won't guard a chair.

I agree but I don't want those players next year and I don't want our defensive scheme from this year. It wasn't good. We were awful on defense in the playoffs.

 

[juds101]

Resign clarkson, try and sign ibaka for the full mle.(he might get more but I’d try)

 

[green]

If GS dangles the #2 pick for Rudy do you laugh them off the phone or listen?

 

[Shad]

I love all of these steps. I was wanting a Conley for love deal mid season.

 

[zyzz]

If GS dangles the #2 pick for Rudy do you laugh them off the phone or listen?

Last year's draft, yes I listen. This year's draft, no.

 

[jom2003]

To me it's up to Mitchell now. I think there might still be issues. If not, yeah I want to keep Gobert unless someone makes a good trade offer for him.

this team gotta start giving Mithell the Doncic/Harden/Lebron treatment.

The kid has earned it. Surround him with shooting/energy/muscle then let him create and go to work.

 

[Agent#00]

we need to shift to positionless basketball.

 

[Pastramiking]

Like Baynes but he might get bigger offers. Conley played well in the playoffs post his paternity leave (except for game 7) so I don’t think he is going anywhere.

 

[jom2003]

This season serves as the perfect indictment of how too much scoring/shooting can actually do more harm than good.

Everyone want to shoot, dribble and be that hero. Yet no one want to do the little tiny things such as rebounding, defense, box out, setting screens, hustling for 50-50 ball, etc.

These things are integral parts to a basketball game.

You can shoot lights out every night but that is just one piece to the puzzle. If you don't fill the rest of the pieces, you can still lose.

And we did lose

 

[Ujfanatic]

I’m not sure why people think Conley will be hard to move. With the cap almost certainly going down and 2021 shaping to be a potentially huge free agent class, teams are definitely going to be interested in a large, expiring contract. Once we know the cap projections, take a look for any team that could use an expiring $35m open up enough cap space in 2021 for a max slot and there you will find our potential trade partners.

I could also see teams like the 76ers or Lakers looking at Conley for fit, as they both need a point guard.

 

[That1UtahFan]

we need to shift to positionless basketball.

I think Quin wants to but can only do so much with the players he's given. You can't go positionless with so many slow and smaller players. You need athleticism and size and then there's the question of Gobert. Can you go positionless (for the most part) with a player like Gobert on your roster? I think you can but it would take an almost complete roster overhaul and getting rid of players like Conley, Niang, Ingles etc... which isn't going to happen imo. This FO/ownership is too conservative to go down that path.

 

[The Jazz Wonderbra]

I think Donovan and Gobert can be part of a big three. But we need to address depth issues and get real serious if we think that Gobert is a major piece of a contender. If not, it is time to cut ties and build around Donovan.

Clearly size and athleticism are an issue.

 

[Joncolton]

I think Donovan and Gobert can be part of a big three. But we need to address depth issues and get real serious if we think that Gobert is a major piece of a contender. If not, it is time to cut ties and build around Donovan.

Clearly size and athleticism are an issue.

I think we do have 2 of our big 3 pieces. I think the Jazz FO was hoping the 3rd piece would be Mike Conley, but chemistry between Conley and Mitchell never materialized. I think we need a Scottie Pippen type to pair with Donovan. A playmaking 3, who is recognized for his defense first, but can hit open shots even under pressure. Every team in the league wants that guy though, so we're going to have to find another diamond in the draft. I think these guys can do it, and I think one of the players I mentioned above could be him.

You don't get rid of a DPOY when you are trying to win a championship, but you don't pay him a supermax deal either. Golden State sure didn't give one to Draymond Green. Who is much better than Rudy on offense, and gets a ton more triple-doubles. Draymond signed a 5 year / $82,000,000 contract last year. I bet the Jazz offer Rudy something in that neighborhood, but it may be a 4 year 75 mil deal, with the Jazz having an option the last year.