I think Mario Hezonja would be the best fit for us. Especially if he doesn't show up for at least 1 more year.
The reason why? If the Jazz wanna compete they need proper spacing.
Exum is developing a catch and shoot, his off the dribble is probably even further behind.
Gordon is a good shooter and if Gobert keeps up his development he'll get the 5 yr designated franchise player contract next summer.
Favors is an awesome fit defensively, he keeps slowly extending his range and soon he'll hit a point where the two together won't be a total liability spacing wise.
But you need to balance your roster out with spacing at different positions. Mario can do a lot of things with and without the ball. He has awesome length and if he focuses on defense his skillset may allow him to become someone who can be at least an average challenge for Durant.
Instead of laying all eggs in one basket and banking on Exum becoming such a good off the dribble shooter, that you can't go under and someone getting caught in a screen to be the only trigger that allows him to drive to the basket, we should really have more spacing options.
Alec Burks has strengths and holes that may prevent him from becoming more than a very valuable 6th man on a very talented and deep Jazz squad. Gordon Hayward competes defensively, but he lacks the length to bother Durant. Having two interchangable wings would allow the Jazz to match up accordingly on defense in playoff series. You need to limit Harden, Durant, Klay Thompson and soon probably also Andrew Wiggins.
If you only have some benchsquad defensive specialists who plays limited minutes to bring some nasty, you limit your offense at the same time. That's bad. If you wanna win a series against MVP candidates on the wing, you need to challenge these players the whole 40 minutes they play and be able to score at a higher rate than they do.
Gobert is an awesome defensive anchor, but there's so little he can do against great shooter. And if you wanna win a series, you need at least 1 plus defender on the wing who plays extended minutes.
That's the last step we need personnel wise to forge a deeper playoff team.
I know that Stanley Johnson, Justise Winslow, Devin Booker and some others have awesome 2 way potential.
But they're 19. That means they'll want a chance to prove themselves as the guys who carry the team. The Jazz don't have enough possessions to let them improve the way they want to and banking on them to improve despite getting a low number of possessions in actual games and hoping they'll still go hard and smart on defense is a long shot.
Hezonja is just as talented. But he's 1 year older and he's already played in the Euroleague. That's no joke compared to NCAA basketball. He's cracked the rotation of Barcelona, one of the most successful European programs. If he stays there an extra 1-3 years, you outsource his development, which is awesome. In Europe you don't play 30 min at such a program. You play 30 if you're playing good in a game.
And to play good in the eyes of a coach you have to go hard. Hezonja will learn to compete on both sides of the court or he'll be benched.
You can see how good Mirotic is in his rookie season in Chicago. Hezonja is just as talented. Probably his ceiling is even higher due, his floor lower though.
This year the Jazz have 90 shooting possessions per game. Hayward currently takes between 17 and 18.
Favors between 14 and 15, but that could increase.
Gobert is at 6, but he'll probably get more opportunities next year. That's going to go near 10 per game. He'll try to get some offensive game going that's more than converting lobs and putbacks.
Burks was at 13 a game before he was injured.
Trey is getting 14 right now(He'll probably be gone during next year - Just my guess)
Hood's 7 may also increase.
Everything else is up for grabs.
So if everyone of those combines 75 shooting possessions, that leaves up to 15 for Exum. And he'll need and get those.
I think he'll continue to start, but go to the bench very early in the first and come back with the 2nd unit where he has greenlight to do whatever he practiced during the summer. He'll need those 12-15 shooting possessions next year to develop his game. See what works and what not. Where to improve. Right now Exum is having 5 possessions a game. That will massively increase.
I realize that these averages are inflated because ppl are injured all the time and others do the shots then. But I simply take the averages now for simplicity and assume a fully healthy playoff roster
So where does that leave Trevor Booker? Unless he becomes a Mike Scott/Millsap/Draymond-ish stretch 4 with the ability to overpower and put it on the floor, I don't see a future. He's a monster contract though. It will provide another team $5M in capspace. You can combine it with Burke/Burks or whoever in case they're going Kanter over the summer or during the season.
This brings me to another point of emphasis. The Jazz need a skilled big. Who has range, can do different things offensively and works with both Gobert or Faves at the 5.
Porzingis could be such a guy, dunno who else in the draft has stretch 4 potential.
But can we add such a talent via a trade? I think so. But if we miss out on the perimeter stud, we totally should consider Porzingis.
TL;DR
-Hezonja is my preferred two way wing
-Draft and Develop overseas is the best case scenario
-Exum must be given additional room to make mistakes next year with the 2nd unit in the 2nd quarter
-Not crazy about keeping Booker unless he becomes consistent from deep and/or grows more into a Draymond/Millsap/Mike Scott role
-We need additional spacing, best case trade Booker's non guaranteed and/or Burke/Burks to achieve that
-Plan B is Porzingis
