NBA Free Agency: Salary Dump Options for the Utah Jazz
By Cody Powers
Before the free agency period started, some media outlets were reporting that the Utah Jazz could possibly be interested in some off season trades that would require them to take back some salary dump offers. As the rumor list of players that are on the trade market is starting to come out, there are a few possible players that the Jazz could take a look at.
According to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders, the Memphis Grizzlies have expressed interest in trading away Tayshaun Prince, as have the Houston Rockets said they are willing to part with Jeremy Lin. There are also reports that the Denver Nuggets are willing to trade Wilson Chandler, and the New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly open to trading away a number of players.
First things first, the Jazz would take back salary dump players if they were unable to find exactly what they are looking for in free agency. What they are looking for, for one, is a big man who can spread the floor and shoot from the outside. The first rumors once free agency opened late Monday night, was that the Jazz and free agent Marvin Williams could see a reunion next year.
If the Jazz aren’t able to bring Williams back, take a look at Prince. A lot of people would say that, at 34 years old, Prince is too old for the Jazz to make a trade for. He didn’t have a great year in Memphis off the bench, either. Prince seen a decrease in his three point shooting percentage (29.0%), but he didn’t really fit in Memphis for the role he was used to playing in Detroit. For his career, Prince is a 36.6% three point shooter, which is something the Jazz would be extremely interested in.
Prince is also entering the final year of his contract. He will be due $7,707,865 in 2014-15, which could actually be a legitimate contract the Jazz would be willing to take on.
If the Jazz decide to look at adding a back up point guard that can help relieve some of the ball handling pressure off the young guards like Trey Burke, Alec Burks, and Dante Exum, a player like Lin could be an option the Jazz consider.
Lin seen the majority of his statistical numbers rise this past year, as he averaged 12.5 points on 44.6% shooting from the field, and 35.8% shooting from beyond the three point line. Those three numbers were all better than his career averages.
Lin, like Prince, is entering the final year of his contract, where he will make $8,374,636 in 2014-15. Depending on which route the Jazz want to go, big man or point guard, Lin is another option that could help out right away, and the Jazz wouldn’t have to take on a long contract to worry about after this upcoming season.
In the report by Kennedy, he writes the following:
"Executives from multiple teams confirm that these players are on the trade block and may be traded at some point this off season, if their respective teams can find a taker."
The Jazz could be one of those teams interested in being a “taker” for the right player. This is all speculation, assuming the Jazz aren’t able to find the guys they want in free agency. If that is the case, I don’t expect the Jazz to take on these salary dumps anytime soon. If they do, this will be an option that they look into later this off season.
There hasn’t been much talk on the Jazz front, but keep in mind that there wasn’t much talk last season concerning the Jazz, and then the Jazz struck a deal with the Golden State Warriors to take on salary dump offers. Keep your eyes and ears open, but if any new information does break, we will try and get it to you as soon as possible.