Do We Need a PG Going Into the Hayward Negotiations

[FalseFlagg K]

I am so against bringing in some bandaid PG. If Hill doesn't come back and you don't get a legitimate guy to replace him (to me this is Bledsoe,Dragic,or maybe Rubio if his improved shooting isn't a mirage) then there is no reason that you have to make some panic move. If you need to make a splash in FA to impress Hayward you can still get a good player at another position, and take a more reasonable vet PG option for a year or two to bridge the gap. The team had plenty of successful lineups that included Exum, and could be effective with a 20 Million dollar wing or big that fits the scheme Quin likes to run.

All I hear from the media is PG, PG, PG, but from a strictly basketball standpoint I don't think making sure you have a PG is as important as making sure that you add some more talented players before negotiations with Hayward.I'm probably in the minority with this opinion, but I would be very comfortable having Exum start and having a veteran backup PG there for insurance IF you bring in a Bledsoe/Dragic level player at a position other than PG. I could see the team being just as good if constructed around different positions than the team this year. Hopefully DL doesn't limit his options artificially.

Excellent post ...

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I am so against bringing in some bandaid PG. If Hill doesn't come back and you don't get a legitimate guy to replace him (to me this is Bledsoe,Dragic,or maybe Rubio if his improved shooting isn't a mirage) then there is no reason that you have to make some panic move. If you need to make a splash in FA to impress Hayward you can still get a good player at another position, and take a more reasonable vet PG option for a year or two to bridge the gap. The team had plenty of successful lineups that included Exum, and could be effective with a 20 Million dollar wing or big that fits the scheme Quin likes to run.

All I hear from the media is PG, PG, PG, but from a strictly basketball standpoint I don't think making sure you have a PG is as important as making sure that you add some more talented players before negotiations with Hayward.I'm probably in the minority with this opinion, but I would be very comfortable having Exum start and having a veteran backup PG there for insurance IF you bring in a Bledsoe/Dragic level player at a position other than PG. I could see the team being just as good if constructed around different positions than the team this year. Hopefully DL doesn't limit his options artificially.

Well you said you are against adding a bandaid PG then said you'd bring in a vet to bridge the gap... bridge... band aid its all the same.

We can't really make a splash in FA... we don't have cap space as long as Hayward's cap hold is on the books. If we bring back Hayward and Ingles the only spot where we'd have starter minutes available is PF unless we just start Favors and think he will be healthy.

Basically this roster has a hole at PG and the drop off from healthy Hill to what Exum will be next year is big. It is easier for us to improve that position then to find an upgrade for Hood, Favs, Ingles who is also going to work inside the budget.

That is why all the PG talk imo... if Hayward re-signs I don't really care if we try Exum and allocate resources to other positions. Hill leaving isn't catastrophic unless it cost Hayward too. The question is... Will Hayward re-sign without a PG option that is more proven than Exum?

 

[Quin's Murderface]

Well you said you are against adding a bandaid PG then said you'd bring in a vet to bridge the gap... bridge... band aid its all the same.

We can't really make a splash in FA... we don't have cap space as long as Hayward's cap hold is on the books. If we bring back Hayward and Ingles the only spot where we'd have starter minutes available is PF unless we just start Favors and think he will be healthy.

Basically this roster has a hole at PG and the drop off from healthy Hill to what Exum will be next year is big. It is easier for us to improve that position then to find an upgrade for Hood, Favs, Ingles who is also going to work inside the budget.

That is why all the PG talk imo... if Hayward re-signs I don't really care if we try Exum and allocate resources to other positions. Hill leaving isn't catastrophic unless it cost Hayward too. The question is... Will Hayward re-sign without a PG option that is more proven than Exum?

I guess I didn't communicate what I meant clearly. I meant that you could bring in a backup level player (like Dwill as an example. A guy who could mentor Dante and start/finish games in a pinch as needed). A Backup Vet with a backup's salary who has some starting experience.

For the Bledsoe/Dragic level of player you would obviously have to make a trade and probably get rid of Burks/Favors/Diaw/Picks. I'm fine with that as none of these guys have a real chance to be a big contributor in the mid to long term. If you can get one of those PG's then that's great, but if not I hope the team looks at any talented player as a trade target.

Hypothetically if you trade some of those assets and can get a player that fits the system (I've said somebody like Fournier for example as a non-PG that could still do a lot of what Hill does offensively, but there could be other big guys as well) and gives you similar production to healthy Hill then I think Exum can play and thrive in that kind of lineup.

Trades are hard. All the trades we have speculated about are unlikely to happen whether that is for a PG or another position. I would be disappointed if the Jazz settled for a guy like Knight, Carter Williams, or some similar type of player just to tick of the PG box. That's the kind of move that puts a ceiling on how good you can be, imo. The only way I would do something like that is if Hayward will not sign without doing it. But I don't think he would be as impressed with just getting a PG instead of getting a really good player that fits the team perfectly. I think having another high-level player no matter the position is the key.

In reality Hill is just a good basketball player. Probably his most valuable attribute is not his "PG" skill, but the fact that he is a good scorer and defender who is one of the best spot up shooters in the league. Replace a high level player with another of similar value as your first choice. If you can't make any trades for one then start looking at band-aids and hope you can move them in a year or two.