Utah Jazz: What I Would Do In The Off-Season as GM
By Josh Haslam
Every fan thinks about what they wish the Utah Jazz would do and I’m no different. The great part about talking about a subject like this is it gives everyone ideas and lets everyone think of something maybe they haven’t already. For example I’m guessing 90% of fans think Trey Burke is a sure fire Jazz guy for at least the next 7 years, but what if the Jazz draft Dante Exum? What does that do to the team this year, next year or in 5 years?
My point is this, even though the Jazz have certain players you think will be around for a long time doesn’t mean they will be. Dennis Lindsey is trying to build a championship team and to do that the Jazz have a lot of options.
Who are the championship caliber players on this team?
Derrick Favors- If Favors can make another big jump in his offense like he did this past year then he will be a piece the Jazz will never get rid of. His defense is an anchor for this team and he has made a huge jump every off-season.
Gordon Hayward- I know a lot of fans are mixed on Hayward but he is the real deal. He is not an average player like a lot of fans claim, but he also isn’t a number one option either. G Hay does everything and when his shooting gets back to where it was before this season he will be a very coveted player. The Jazz need to keep him and hopefully pay him like the third guy on a team.
Potentially a star?
Alec Burks has shown he can score and get to the rim with ease. Now the question is if he became the number one option on the team could he be a James Harden type player? I think the Jazz should go that route as I think he can do whatever Harden does and play defense better. However, if he is not capable of being the number one option does that mean he needs to commit to the 6th man role like Jamal Crawford? What about like DeMar DeRozan?
The Order:
1. First thing I would do as GM is figure out what Alec Burks is to this team. If he can be the number one option let’s do everything we can to surround him with a game plan that maximizes what he can do for the team. If he is not that guy then the question becomes what guys are number one options in this draft and how do we get one?
2. Since I think Hayward needs to be on this team no matter what I sign him or match whatever contract somebody offers him. If they offer him a max then I think the Jazz would have to stay away but signing him to a 10-12 mil a year contract wouldn’t be detrimental financially.
3. Even though number 2 comes after the draft I still have made up my mind that Hayward is part of the team before I go into the draft. The draft becomes an interesting piece for the Jazz’s future as so many things can happen. After the lottery we will be able to look more closely at this, but let me throw out a couple scenarios:
First one is the Jazz end up one or two and draft Jabari or Wiggins. Now that we’ve drafted one of these guys and we have committed to Hayward, that entails Alec being the sixth man for at least one more year in which the Jazz will have to decide what to do with Alec. Or do the Jazz go back to Sloan’s ways and have the rookie come off the bench?
Second scenario is the Jazz fall back a couple spots and the Magic stay in the top 3 where they can offer both their picks and Kanter to switch spots since it is widely known the Magic want Exum or Smart. If the Magic think they can grab Exum at 5 they trade with us while gaining Kanter.
One more scenario is the Jazz trade out of the draft and get a veteran player that can fit nicely with the young guys we already have. ( ie Kevin Love)
4. Now that hopefully I have my team I feel in the spots with vets that can help out and guys that can shoot the 3.
Here is a mock depth chart of what I would love for the Jazz to look like next year considering we stay at 4 and Magic land at 2:
PG: Trey Burke (32), Kirk Hinrich (16), Diante Garrett
SG: Gordon Hayward (38), Alec Burks (28), Ian Clark
SF: *Jabari Parker (30), Marvin Williams (12)
PF: Derrick Favors(36), Jeremy Evans (8), Mitch McGary
C: Spencer Hawes (28), Rudy Gobert (12), Aaron Gray
*Jazz trade pick 4 (Dante Exum), pick 23, and Kanter to the Orlando Magic for pick 2 Jabari Parker