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Team Assessment for the New Year

After probably the worst game of the season last night -- aside from the Spurs game -- the Jazz really turned it around tonight.

I think the turning point of this season was when Gobert was injured. It changed up minutes and gave opportunities to other guys. Most recently, we've had the injuries to Burks and Favors. Again, this has allotted minutes to guys who otherwise wouldn't be playing. Like the Gobert injury those injuries may be a blessing in disguise, that is if they do not turn into long-term problems for Gobert and Burks.

With that said, let's look at what the Jazz have and how it figures into their future plans.

1. Our core is Gobert, Favors, Hayward, Burks, Dante, and Hood.

2. Trey Burke is really starting to get it, and we have also seen improvement from Neto. I think if Dante can live up to expectations, we are going to be solid at the point for years to come.

3. Jeff Withey is definitely a keeper and should settle in as a solid back up to Rudy

4. Trey Lyles is showing continual improvement since the injury of Rudy allowed him to get minutes. I think he should eventually become a solid rotation player.

5. Trevor Booker is questionable and I see him eventually falling behind Lyles and Withey in the rotation. While a good rebounder, he does not provide much offense and is only adequate on defense, as well as being turnover prone. Does his high energy play offset his liabilities? Maybe, if his minutes are limited. But I think if we can get a really good 3-point shooter for him, we ought to go for it.

6. That leaves us with Ingles, Johnson, and Millsap -- I'm leaving Pleiss out, because I think he is a bust. You have to go with Ingles. He's the best 3-point shooter and has the highest basketball IQ. You never know, though. Johnson has a lot of energy and drive, and a good outside shot. Maybe he will take Booker's place.

7. In addition to getting another good outside shooter, getting a defensive stopper who can prevent penetration is desirable. Both Neto and Millsap have ability in that area, as well as Johnson, Burks, and to a lesser degree, Hood. But none of them are lock down, which is something that we need and which would prevent teams from getting back in the game quickly like Portland tonight with McCollum, and the 76ers the other night with Ish Smith.

Of course, you never know what trades might materialize. But I think letting the cake bake is not such a bad idea because it allows chemistry to improve which is so important in building a good team.
 
The key has been (and will continue to be) the development of Exum and Gobert. Favors and Hayward are solid NBA players. Both have shown flashes of star potential, but lack the consistency to be star players. Rudy and Dante are both two guys that (hopefully) have franchise player potential. If either one (or preferably both) reach that potential. . . the Jazz will have something special. Burks, Hood, Burke, Neto, Lyles and Jingles are all good role players. Some might develop into quality starters, but I don't see any of them really tipping the scales of success or failure.
 
The key has been (and will continue to be) the development of Exum and Gobert. Favors and Hayward are solid NBA players. Both have shown flashes of star potential, but lack the consistency to be star players. Rudy and Dante are both two guys that (hopefully) have franchise player potential. If either one (or preferably both) reach that potential. . . the Jazz will have something special. Burks, Hood, Burke, Neto, Lyles and Jingles are all good role players. Some might develop into quality starters, but I don't see any of them really tipping the scales of success or failure.

Gobert is never gonna be a star. He has no offensive game. Which is sad. We don't need him to score a 20 a night. If he could just develop one good move and counter move and score about 14.5 per while hitting 72% from the line, he'd be a great, great player.
 
Gobert is never gonna be a star. He has no offensive game. Which is sad. We don't need him to score a 20 a night. If he could just develop one good move and counter move and score about 14.5 per while hitting 72% from the line, he'd be a great, great player.

Never is a strong word for a player so young and raw.
Maybe he can develop one good move and a counter move and score about 14.5 while hitting 72% from the line. One thing about rudy is that he is super competitive and is a hard worker. I dont think its out of the realm of possibility
 
Gobert is never gonna be a star. He has no offensive game. Which is sad. We don't need him to score a 20 a night. If he could just develop one good move and counter move and score about 14.5 per while hitting 72% from the line, he'd be a great, great player.

Wouldn't you say Rodman was a star?
 
What has been discouraging about Rudy is that he hasn't shown any improvement offensively this year. It seems he lacks confidence on the offensive end and because of this fumbles a lot of passes. I don't think his hands are that bad but he certainly needs to strengthen them.
 
1. Cakk bakking was a stupid notion from the start because we don't have that kind of talent. OKC baked a cake. We don't have the ingredients.
2. We need to sign one highly-efficient, two-way player. I think it should be a wing.
3. Hope like hell that Dante blooms. Fast.
 
1. Cakk bakking was a stupid notion from the start because we don't have that kind of talent. OKC baked a cake. We don't have the ingredients.
2. We need to sign one highly-efficient, two-way player. I think it should be a wing.
3. Hope like hell that Dante blooms. Fast.


I'd like a starting SG and make Hood and Burks primary back ups. Exum will be good and Burke and Neto are a solid rotation.

Keep Withey as the back up C. Then take a long hard look at back up PF, Booker and Lyles

Gobert/Withey
Favors/Lyles
Hayward/Hood/Ingles
Starting SG/Burks
Exum/Neto/Burke

Any starting SG free agents worth it?
 
I'd like a starting SG and make Hood and Burks primary back ups. Exum will be good and Burke and Neto are a solid rotation.

Keep Withey as the back up C. Then take a long hard look at back up PF, Booker and Lyles

Gobert/Withey
Favors/Lyles
Hayward/Hood/Ingles
Starting SG/Burks
Exum/Neto/Burke

Any starting SG free agents worth it?

Hayward can still play SG. I'd rather sign a bigger more rugged player who could guard 2 and 3, and help take some defensive load off Hayward. That kind of flexibility helps down the stretch of close games by keeping Hayward fresher for buckets. This is why I wanted Carroll. Bazemore will be unrestricted. Batum will be unrestricted. (Courtney Lee is an SG, but could be interesting; he's unrestricted).

I honestly believe that Lyles is going to be a good rotation player. Withey has proven his value, but I still think he's marginally important, at best. That said, a guy like Myers Leonard would be an excellent backup big. I might even trade Burks + 1st + filler to get him. Pretty perfect fit. I'd definitely do it if I could sign one (or even 2) of the players above.

ROUGHLY:
Exum/Burke/Neto
Bazemore/Lee
Hayward/Hood/Ingles
Favors/Lyles
Gobert/Leonard/Withey

It's time for the Millers to open up the pocketbook. The window starts to open next year.
 
I think it's funny how people automatically assume Exum is going to be good...maybe even a franchise player. He had a season comparable to what Lyles is having. And he's coming back from a major injury which may take away a portion of what he has relied on to get on the court: speed. Exum was no better than a backup last season, promoted only because the other PG sucked so bad that ANYONE would have been better as a starter.

I HOPE all of you are right. Otherwise, next year will be another wasted season as Utah fights for the 7th/8th seed and Hayward opts out and joins a contender.

Naos,
I like Bazemore and Leonard. But I'd go hard after Conley and have Exum and Neto as backups. Hopefully DL will make a good pick at #15.
 
Hayward can still play SG. I'd rather sign a bigger more rugged player who could guard 2 and 3, and help take some defensive load off Hayward. That kind of flexibility helps down the stretch of close games by keeping Hayward fresher for buckets. This is why I wanted Carroll. Bazemore will be unrestricted. Batum will be unrestricted. (Courtney Lee is an SG, but could be interesting; he's unrestricted).

I honestly believe that Lyles is going to be a good rotation player. Withey has proven his value, but I still think he's marginally important, at best. That said, a guy like Myers Leonard would be an excellent backup big. I might even trade Burks + 1st + filler to get him. Pretty perfect fit. I'd definitely do it if I could sign one (or even 2) of the players above.

ROUGHLY:
Exum/Burke/Neto
Bazemore/Lee
Hayward/Hood/Ingles
Favors/Lyles
Gobert/Leonard/Withey

It's time for the Millers to open up the pocketbook. The window starts to open next year.

@ONE LOVE:

it's cute that you're quoting this post in a private forum somewhere.
 
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