So do we still need a star?

[Coach Ellis]

Like most other situations, I think Utah will have to look to the draft to add that missing element (which is inherently risky) but I don't see any other way to really add that scoring punch. Free agency is about to become really inflated and the Jazz don't want to be like the Thunder and have to get rid of a star (Harden) because they invested in a mediocre player (Perkins) first. That's why it was good to trade Kanter before having to deal with his impending free agency.

If the Jazz had a clear upgrade at the wing over Burks/Hood (especially if that player was an alpha scorer who didn't hurt the team defensively) added to the other 4 core players. . . that would be hard to beat. Imagine James Harden on the Jazz. That kind of offensive firepower plus the defensive abilities of Gobert, Favors, Hayward and Exum would be devestating. I'm not moving those 4 guys for anything right now, but every other asset (even Hood or Burks reluctantly) should be on the table for adding that piece - even if it is for a rookie.

The Jazz have cap space to add depth, but not enough for real difference makers - who are unlikely to leave anyways. Adding a player on a rookie contract or through the draft would be the best way to try to add that element. They have 15 draft picks over the next 4 years (including 6 first round picks in that time frame.) The Jazz will have to make a ridiculous offer to land one, but they should at least be exploring that possibility.

 

[Stoked]

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. . .

Your list still leaves 2 starting positions. Personally I'd limit to one started and make it look like this for example:

Gobert/Tomic
Favors/Booker
Hayward/Hood
Middleton/ Burks
Exum/Burke

The current team will make the playoffs next year but we are still clearly an all star (especially offensively) from being contenders. Basically stack the team until you know longer can.

Maybe Hood becomes that Allstar but Id still sign one.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

1) Need Exum and Gobert to develop to be reliable offensively.

2) Need Hood or Burks to be reliable for 18 pts.

3) Would be a good idea to upgrade Burke and Booker.

Then we might be able to get by.


Right now, the Jazz are about as good as the Wizards or Raptors overall. They're a playoff team, but they need to improve offensively for sure to reach the upper echelon.

 

[framer]

Your list still leaves 2 starting positions. Personally I'd limit to one started and make it look like this for example:

Gobert/Tomic
Favors/Booker
Hayward/Hood
Middleton/ Burks
Exum/Burke

The current team will make the playoffs next year but we are still clearly an all star (especially offensively) from being contenders. Basically stack the team until you know longer can.

Maybe Hood becomes that Allstar but Id still sign one.

No doubt that right there is a contender with ridiculous depth. However, if you have Booker, Tomic and Burks, you get no Middleton. You would need to forget about Tomic and cut Booker, or trade Burks in a salary dump to get Middleton. That is assuming that Milwaukee doesn't match, which they will. In reality, Burks has slightly better stats than Middleton. Burks shoots with a lower efficiency, but gets to the line 2 and a half times more often. I'd have to see Burks in the new defense before I could comment if Middleton is a lot better on defense, because Middleton has a pretty solid supporting cast helping him. Jazz were pure trash when Burks was playing.

That is completely discounting that Hood turns into something special. I think he will. For the next three years, Burks, Hood, and Ingles combined will be making less one Kris Middleton, probably significantly so. At some point we may need to set aside some money for Gobert's max contract, or adding in a ring chaser.

 

[framer]

1) Need Exum and Gobert to develop to be reliable offensively.

2) Need Hood or Burks to be reliable for 18 pts.

3) Would be a good idea to upgrade Burke and Booker.

Then we might be able to get by.


Right now, the Jazz are about as good as the Wizards or Raptors overall. They're a playoff team, but they need to improve offensively for sure to reach the upper echelon.

What is this "OR" business. How about "AND?" The churro frowns on you.

 

[Coach Ellis]

No doubt that right there is a contender with ridiculous depth. However, if you have Booker, Tomic and Burks, you get no Middleton. You would need to forget about Tomic and cut Booker, or trade Burks in a salary dump to get Middleton. That is assuming that Milwaukee doesn't match, which they will. In reality, Burks has slightly better stats than Middleton. Burks shoots with a lower efficiency, but gets to the line 2 and a half times more often. I'd have to see Burks in the new defense before I could comment if Middleton is a lot better on defense, because Middleton has a pretty solid supporting cast helping him. Jazz were pure trash when Burks was playing.

That is completely discounting that Hood turns into something special. I think he will. For the next three years, Burks, Hood, and Ingles combined will be making less one Kris Middleton, probably significantly so. At some point we may need to set aside some money for Gobert's max contract, or adding in a ring chaser.

Agree with all of this. While the Jazz can theoretically make it work, they'd be paying a premium price (in salary, assets given AND losing depth) for a guy who might not be a whole lot better than the guys he's being brought in to replace. I'd rather just keep Burks, Booker and Burke and add Tomic and another mid-level free agent on a two year deal (with the 2nd season inflated and un-guaranteed.)

I'd try extremely hard to trade up in the draft this year (with my top two targets being Russell or Johnson) and if that failed, I'd pick the best player on my board, add them to the bench with a couple of free agents and start loading up for the inevitable trade machine to create an unexpected opportunity for me to utilize my assets at the trade deadline. Keep adding assets until a really good opportunity presents itself.

Gobert, Favors, Hayward, Exum (and to a lesser extent Burks and Hood) all are safe, but everything else is on the table. Unless they're getting a top 5 pick in the draft or a true all star, I don't want them burning their assets just yet.

 

[Douchebag K]

I think Favors can still be an absolute monster superstar, still has so much potential. I would rather let the team develop organically and add bits & pieces. Oh and subtract one piece

 

[framer]

I think Favors can still be an absolute monster superstar, still has so much potential. I would rather let the team develop organically and add bits & pieces. Oh and subtract one piece

Agreed. That Joe Ingles is a locker room cancer.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

We need Exum and Gobert to emerge as stars offensively as well as defensively. Then I think we're in business.

 

[cowhide]

I don't think the Jazz need a superstar especially if they add more talent to the bench. Remember Exum, Hood and Gobert are going to get better. Burks will be back next year. I would not trade Favors. The combo of Favors and Gobert can be something special some day. Many people are forgetting that these guys have not even scratch the surface as a team. Imagine what this team will look like in a few years when our young guys will have some experience. It is obvious the Jazz need more scoring but Burks return and improvement from Hood and Exum with help the scoring.

Jazz need to strengthen the bench with the draft and sign a tough minded vet who can score. How many superstars are realistically going to come to the Jazz? Lebron, Westbrook, Durrant are not coming to Utah nor is Curry either.

 

[kabenac]

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". . .

You're repeating what I had stated.

 

[akirac73]

I think the Jazz as currently constructed will have to follow the path of the 2004 Detroit Pistons. They didn't have a "superstar" on that team. Gobert is our Ben Wallace. Hayward is our Rip Hamilton, Favors is our Rasheed Wallace, Millsap/Ingles/Booker is our Tayshaun Prince (LOL) but we're missing that consistent clutch guy like Billups.

 

[spycam1]

Good overall discussion in this thread.

I think things are mostly hinging on internal development. We have the defense (thank god), now we need everyone to improve offensively. Guys like Exum, Gobert and Hood all have lots of room to grow, and they have the right coach to help them do so.

Internal growth + a few extra pieces (Tomic; draft pick; free agent) and I think we can become a legit contender.

We're becoming a defensive powerhouse like the Pistons of old... now imagine if we can incorporate an offense on the Spurs' level like Lindsey and Snyder want.

 

[LogGrad98]

We need a true all-star caliber player. No doubt. You aren't going to get much beyond "contending" without that. And don't bring up the Pistons team. They had at least 2 all-star caliber players, Rip and Chauncey. I would trade just about anyone on our roster for one of those 2 in their prime.

 

[Fabtrey]

We either need Dante to become the Australian Kobe... or we need to bring someone over who can generate scoring chances while still maintaining our defensive identity.

We could also use another 3D guy. We have been shooting a lot of threes - We might as well make 'em.

first dante, will never be like kobe. kobe was a natural born killer. once in a generations scorer. dante will never be that.


i've heard kobe comparison somewhere here, and i'm sure somebody heard it from TV or rdaio. i don't know what kind of idiot who started comparing dante to kobe, but dante is so far removed from being remotely close to kobe's playing style. i mean even their body type is different. which idiot started this bologna? must be a jazz hater because unrealistic expectation kills players. hope exum never heard of kobe comparison.

 

[Fabtrey]

We need a true all-star caliber player. No doubt. You aren't going to get much beyond "contending" without that. And don't bring up the Pistons team. They had at least 2 all-star caliber players, Rip and Chauncey. I would trade just about anyone on our roster for one of those 2 in their prime.

ben wallace was perennial DPOY contender too.
sheed was one of the original stretch 4
tayshaun was athletic and could defend the best shooter with his length

and they had bullies everywhere.



we are not even close to being pistons like. we would need to upgrade basically every position except rudy.

 

[framer]

We need a true all-star caliber player. No doubt. You aren't going to get much beyond "contending" without that. And don't bring up the Pistons team. They had at least 2 all-star caliber players, Rip and Chauncey. I would trade just about anyone on our roster for one of those 2 in their prime.

Let's be clear, if current Favors and Hayward played for the Lakers, they would be all stars with a few more wins. Both are good enough to be all stars, and Gobert should be in contention for DPOY for the next 10. The majority of our team is first and second year players running a new offensive and defensive system. Solidify the team, get Burks back from injury, add the back up center (hopefully Tomic,) Add another lottery rookie for depth, and sign a blue light special vet and let that cook for a year. Nobody right now has any idea what this team is capable of yet. The NBA isn't great overall like it has been. Historically teams like the Warriors and Hawks wouldn't be really be at the top of the list of contenders and both were hot messes just a couple of years ago. Neither team is relying heavily on rookies and sophomores. No playoff team really is. . .

 

[Fabtrey]

I think the Jazz as currently constructed will have to follow the path of the 2004 Detroit Pistons. They didn't have a "superstar" on that team. Gobert is our Ben Wallace. Hayward is our Rip Hamilton, Favors is our Rasheed Wallace, Millsap/Ingles/Booker is our Tayshaun Prince (LOL) but we're missing that consistent clutch guy like Billups.

Pistons weren't superstar team. but they were 'star' team.

1. chauncey was the bully PG. not flashy guy with flashy stats, but he was definitely a top 5 PG.
2. rip was 20pt scorer. mr. mid range. arguably he was top 5 mid range shooter in the entire decade.
3. big ben - top 5 defender for a decade
4. sheed - chris bosh before chris bosh with an attitude. a matchup night mare
5. deep bench - they had a deep veteran bench
6. tayshaun, the x factor - locked down prime kobe. kobe shot under 40% in that series. taller and less athletic version of kawhi leonard.



that pistons team is criminally underrated. that was a great team. should've won 2 rings.

 

[Fabtrey]

Let's be clear, if current Favors and Hayward played for the Lakers, they would be all stars with a few more wins. Both are good enough to be all stars, and Gobert should be in contention for DPOY for the next 10. The majority of our team is first and second year players running a new offensive and defensive system. Solidify the team, get Burks back from injury, add the back up center (hopefully Tomic,) Add another lottery rookie for depth, and sign a blue light special vet and let that cook for a year. Nobody right now has any idea what this team is capable of yet. The NBA isn't great overall like it has been. Historically teams like the Warriors and Hawks wouldn't be really be at the top of the list of contenders and both were hot messes just a couple of years ago. Neither team is relying heavily on rookies and sophomores. No playoff team really is. . .

no they won't. who do they replace? west is too loaded. unless they somehow avg way more points, it's not gonna happen even with the lakers.

 

[ijazz]

I think Hayard and Gobert can be starish enough that we won't need a top 5-10 player. Obviously I'd rather have a top player but I don't see that happening.

Agree. These 2 are enough.

I am a HUGE believer in chemistry so this will make the off-season a challenge.

I am also a little concerned on Burks coming back, just from a chemistry issue.....