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So do we still need a star?

Not a star per se, but the Jazz need one more guy on offense who can consistently score 15-20 points a game. Maybe Hood can be that guy though.
 
sportsnut1232 said:
I think there is a chance we already have our star in the making in Dante. If he can become a Tony Parker with better defense I think we are set for contention.

Let me ask you guys this, and i do realize its blasphemy: the Lakers call us at draft time and offer us their pick (top 3) in exchange for Favors and Burke, do we consider it if Russell is there? And draft Myles Turner with our lottery pick?
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I'd be tempted, but Favors is showing a lot, is on a reasonable contract, and likes it here. So ultimately no.

Still if they did pull the trigger on that trade I wouldn't be upset.
 
I like the team as it's currently constructed. There's a lot to like about Gobert, Favors, Hayward and Exum as the Core group (strong defensive identity) with Hood/Burks supporting them. The Jazz need A.) a backup center who can score and will try on defense, B.) a backup PG who won't hurt the team on either end and C.) still can look to upgrade at the wing if an opportunity arises.

The nice thing is that they're in pretty good shape to potentially add some of those pieces. Tomic may come next year, and they have Neto/cap space and assets to land an upgrade at PG. The big question becomes what they decide to do at the wing. Ideally, I'd love an Alpha scorer to pair with Hayward at either SF or SG. Burks and Hood can round out the bench if they can get that guy.

The Jazz have been accumulating assets for the potential to make a big move. I wouldn't trade any of their top 6 players, but all other assets should be on the board to chase another star. I don't know who that guy is, but they have 15 picks over the next 4 seasons as well as a $30 million salary spot next year available with Jingles and Booker being the only two guys not under contract through 2017.

Don't screw with the team's identity, but definitely look to upgrade if you can and take a shot at a star if it comes available. Especially at the wing. That's the easiest place to upgrade because it doesn't displace one of the star guys in the starting lineup.
 
Nate505 said:
Not a star per se, but the Jazz need one more guy on offense who can consistently score 15-20 points a game. Maybe Hood can be that guy though.
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Was going to mention this. Hood has shown ability to both be a good spot up shooter and get his own shot. that is generally what people mean when they say you need a star. If we have Hayward, Hood, burks, and potentially Exum that can get their own shot I think we are fine.

I think Iso-ball is overrated. You need creators, but SA won last year without a traditional offensive superstar.
 
Ellis269 said:
The Jazz need A.) a backup center who can score and will try on defense, B.) a backup PG who won't hurt the team on either end and C.) still can look to upgrade at the wing if an opportunity arises.
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Agree with A and C for sure. The team still needs more offensive talent IMO. Hood and Burks are probably fine rotation players, but they're probably the most replaceable/upgradeable.
 
In a nutshell, yes.

To expound. Yes.
 
We don't need to add a superstar imo. We need to add some veteran talent to stay the ride. Theirs killed us last night as did Wall. Pierce, Gordot, and even Gooden all played well. Last night's game was near playoff intensity. If this team is to do well down the stretch and into the playoffs over the next year or two, a couple of solid vets off the bench will be needed.
 
Do we still need a star?
No, we have one in Rudy Gobert.

Do we still need that go to guy who can take over at the end of games?
Yes, unless 1 of Burks/Exum/Hood turn into that go-to scorer (which I don't see happening- not to say they won't all be good offensive players), we still need someone besides Hayward who can take over offensively at the end of close games, especially in the playoffs. He doesn't necessarily need to be a star, though.

Should we still do everything possible to try to get Russell?
Yes, depending on what you mean by everything possible. Although his recent play has been lessening what I would be willing to trade along with him, I would trade Exum for Russell (love Exum's long-term potential, just think an offensive minded/good passing guard fits better with GH, DF, & RG than a defensive minded/good passing guard does). I would also include a future pick, if necessary (OKC/GSW-maybe both), not sure about this year's pick. First choice would be to package this year's pick, both OKC/GSW, & another future pick or Burke to a team like PHI at #3. Everything possible is probably what it would take (Exum+this year's pick+OKC+GSW+future pick(s)+maybe even Burke or Hood), in which case I definitely would not do. As much as I think Russell is exactly what we need (#1 scoring option), it would likely take a massive overpay to move from #12 to #3. Because of this, I think we should hope Hezonja slips to the #6-8 range & try to move up for him as he is the closest thing to a #1 scorer in this draft after Russell.

While I do think that we can compete for the playoffs for years to come with the roster we currently have (+ this year's draft pick & a solid role-player or 2), I think the difference between this team competing for the playoffs & competing for championships will be that go-to guy who can take over at the end of games, as it's beginning to look like we have a championship caliber defense. Now, all we need is our Rudy Gobert on the other side of the ball & we will have a potential dynasty.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
Was going to mention this. Hood has shown ability to both be a good spot up shooter and get his own shot. that is generally what people mean when they say you need a star. If we have Hayward, Hood, burks, and potentially Exum that can get their own shot I think we are fine.

I think Iso-ball is overrated. You need creators, but SA won last year without a traditional offensive superstar.
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Getting your own shot isn't as important as being able to create easy baskets for teammates by leveraging the defense. The most efficient shots in the halfcourt - open 3s and layups/dunks - are mostly created by players who not only beat their own man off the dribble, but make the correct read and play once off-ball defenders rotate to help. That is, if the opponent's defensive rotations are good, beating the first line of defense leads to open pull-up 2s and contested layups, which are decent shots. Those shots still aren;t as good as open 3s and open layups/dunks.

Hood has yet to show an ability to bend the defense enough to create open shots for his teammates (without considering his ability to make the correct read and hit the open man), Burks has never been particularly adept at turning his forays into the paint into easy buckets for his teammates, and Dante isn't enough a of a threat to score off the dribble to attract much extra attention.

True, the Spurs and Hawks depend on more of their players making sequences of quick reads and passes, but having top end creators makes it easier.
 
A big part of the puzzle is to not have your starting one and two guards be rookies. Fortunately, that will be solved in the offseason, because those players will be more experienced. Seriously, three of our starters and three of the first four guys off the bench are Rookies and Sophomores. None of our vets are yet in their prime. We have a very good player coming back next year at the wing and a lottery pick (sorry, churro) to add for depth. We REALLY need to push for Tomic, because he fits like a glove and brings experience. I think we are way to early to start determining what exactly we have and what we are missing.
 
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framer said:
A big part of the puzzle is to not have your starting one and two guards not be rookies. Fortunately, that will be solved in the offseason, because those players will be more experienced. Seriously, three of our starters and three of the first four guys off the bench are Rookies and Sophomores. None of our vets are yet in their prime. We have a very good player coming back next year at the wing and a lottery pick (sorry, churro) to add for depth. We REALLY need to push for Tomic, because he fits like a glove and brings experience. I think we are way to early to start determining what exactly we have and what we are missing.
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Stop with the rational patience... No room for that **** here.
 
I think a lot hinges on Hood & Exum. If both show half the improvement Gobert has from last season to this season then we'll have an excellent starting-five with a solid bench. To have Booker, Burke, Burks, etc. as a 2nd-string is a luxury. Obtaining a solid back-up PF & back-up C (sounds like Tomic will be our C) is going to give us a very well-rounded team. Our bench will be solid and our starting-five will play excellent defense. The key is Exum & Hood - they must improve.
 
framer said:
A big part of the puzzle is to not have your starting one and two guards not be rookies. Fortunately, that will be solved in the offseason, because those players will be more experienced. Seriously, three of our starters and three of the first four guys off the bench are Rookies and Sophomores. None of our vets are yet in their prime. We have a very good player coming back next year at the wing and a lottery pick (sorry, churro) to add for depth. We REALLY need to push for Tomic, because he fits like a glove and brings experience. I think we are way to early to start determining what exactly we have and what we are missing.
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I disagree in part. I think we have some very clear pieces (Favors, Gobert, Hayward) and some are still up in the air (like Hood and Exum). I'd say that base don that it gives us areas of focus. Such as looking at back up 4-5s instead of wodnering if we have our starters at those positions.

With this team I think the jazz should focus on back up C, back up SF/SG (possibly starter depending on Hood) and back up PG.
 
gregbroncs said:
I like this team. I don't think we necessarily need a star. We definitely need a scorer, and we need a bit more depth. We are just missing some things on the bench. And we definitely need the young guys to keep improving.
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Though another consistent shooter would help too! Matthews?
 
kabenac said:
I think a lot hinges on Hood & Exum. If both show half the improvement Gobert has from last season to this season then we'll have an excellent starting-five with a solid bench. To have Booker, Burke, Burks, etc. as a 2nd-string is a luxury. Obtaining a solid back-up PF & back-up C (sounds like Tomic will be our C) is going to give us a very well-rounded team. Our bench will be solid and our starting-five will play excellent defense. The key is Exum & Hood - they must improve.
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OK, I am going to guarantee you that both Exum and Hood will be better next year. How many players declined after their rookie season? The question is will they be better or "Gobert better". . .
 
Stoked said:
I disagree in part. I think we have some very clear pieces (Favors, Gobert, Hayward) and some are still up in the air (like Hood and Exum). I'd say that base don that it gives us areas of focus. Such as looking at back up 4-5s instead of wodnering if we have our starters at those positions.

With this team I think the jazz should focus on back up C, back up SF/SG (possibly starter depending on Hood) and back up PG.
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We are going to have a tough time finding great players who are going to want to sit behind Gobert, Haywood, and Exum. Those three should be playing MAJOR minutes for years to come. I'm not convinced that Hood and Burks are not just as good as whatever we are going to overpay in FA. I'm really coveting Tomic, he fits a need AND we have his rights. . .
 
Nearly every NBA champion has had a great defense and at least one elite offensive player. Color me skeptical that Gordon Hayward being your best offensive player is going to get you there.

I'm really hoping Exum hits the gear that we've been hoping he would in the coming years and/or Hood is surprisingly good/consistent.
 
The guys at the top of the PER list are superstars.

Favors is 11th in PER in the entire league. Gobert is at about 16 and Hayward not far down from there. I think Favors is a star and Gobert will be one. Hayward is a great player, but I wouldn't say star yet.

Gobert exploded so the attention is on him, but Favors is that player we need him to be. Having said that we still need Exum to become that star level talent. If these guys continue the upward trent (Favors, Hayward, Gobert, and Exum) I legit believe we could hoist that trophy several years from now. Probably three years.

Now its about finding the right pieces around them. I don't go into games anymore hoping we can win. I think we have a shot any night now.

Our losses have been by such a small margin, even against the Wiz it was 4 pts. We are like 8 pts diff from about a 15 game winstreak arent we?
 
Favors is now ranked 4th in rim protection. So we have 2 of the top 5 rim protectors. We just have to get pretty good offensvie players at the other 3 positions. Hayward is good enough, now we just have to have Hood and Exum to develop further, or go out and sign another good FA. If we can get a super-star, great, but there is no reason to give up a lot of our players to get one. What super-stars are even available? I mean, a lot of teams have tried to go out and get super-stars under this line of thinking, but they got a dude like Carmello Anthony or Dwill and it hurt them. It's not like getting a super-star equals automatic success.
 
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