Rewards of the tank:2014 off-season!

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[QUOTE]Murry is a 6

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The San Antonio Spurs are taking a more active involvement in the development of unsigned players whom they own the draft rights for in the NBA.

The Spurs have sent an assistant to work with Livio Jean-Charles.

"David was sent by the Spurs, and he will be present throughout the year," said Jean-Charles in an interview with BeBasket. "He is here to witness but also be involved with my season here. But I want to be clear, Peter Vincent is in charge of my evolution at ASVEL."

Tony Parker partially owns ASVEL.

The Spurs also played a role in setting a timetable for Davis Betrans' return from injury. Betrans was a 2011 draft pick of the Spurs, but he has no contractual obligations to the team.

Spurs continuing to lead the way. I guess the fact that Parker is the owner allows them to do that though.

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The Utah Jazz today announced that Andrae Patterson and Travis Walton have been named assistant coaches on Idaho Stampede Head Coach Dean Cooper

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Enes Kanter will be an important man this season.

For the new Quin Snyder offense to work for the Utah Jazz, the Jazz need Kanter to develop his jumpshot, and more importantly to develop the range on that jumpshot. The Jazz need floor spacing to open driving lanes to the basket and to allow Derrick Favors room to maneuver in the paint. A power forward that can shoot is essential to this operation.

Same as last year really. Be even better if other bigs could develop their perimeter or inside game so Enes isn't forced out on the perimeter all the time and sacrificing the best part of his offensive game in the post.

[QUOTE]That

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Idaho Stampede and Utah Jazz Systems:

Coach Cooper said that the plan is to fundamentally play how Coach Snyder wants to play. The goal is to make it easy on the players. Whether the players are with the Jazz or with the Stampede the system will be the same. Of course, they will consider talent level and skill set so, inevitably, some adjustments will be made. But, overall, the basic system on both ends of the court will be the same.

Utah Jazz and the D-League:

The Utah Jazz and the Idaho Stampede have not decided which players to send to Idaho for the season. Dean Cooper said that unless a team is extremely veteran there usually isn't anything predetermined. Many of the decisions made about how the Jazz will use the Stampede will depend on how the Jazz are performing this season. As a young team the Jazz will use the D-League differently than how maybe a veteran team would use it.

Good to hear!

Coach Snyder

In the last 3 weeks, Dean Cooper has worked with Coach Snyder and Utah's coaching staff throughout the open gym sessions in Salt Lake. Coach Cooper shared that both the Stampede and the Jazz will be playing with pace but taking the right shots. When I asked Coach Cooper what is the right shot, he laughed and said, "I'm not going to divulge that information." One can assume that the Jazz and Stampede will be playing a different style of play than the Jazz have in the past.

Not sure offensively it's a whole lot different. They'll be running more and taking more 3's and less mid range but in the half court they'll still be playing pick and roll and passing the ball and looking to take good shots.

Defensive Specialist

When Coach Cooper worked with the Houston Rockets, he was known as a defensive specialist. I asked him how his defensive knowledge could help the Jazz and the Stampede.

Coach Cooper on his role with the Jazz coaching staff:

"Coach Snyder has been great at making me part of his staff, which is why I have spent so much time in Salt Lake prior to to coming here. We share ideas in that. We have a really exhaustive collaborative effort from the coaching staff in its entirety. I think our discussions are healthy. I think we come to a decision and, once a decision is made, we just, boom. This is how its going to be. I think, hopefully, I have been able to contribute some things that I've learned along the way. Obviously, that's going to transfer here because we are going to play the same way. It's been collaborative."

Coach Cooper on Coach Jones and Coach Jensen:

Coach Jones and Coach Jensen have been a great resource to Cooper since they both have spent time as head coaches in the D-League. The D-League and the NBA are very different. Cooper knows that he is able to call up Jones and Jensen throughout the season to get their opinions and advice. They will provide a lifeline and clarity so that the Utah Jazz's system and vision is conveyed from top to bottom.

Snyder coached in the DLeague to.

On what Coach Cooper can bring to the Stampede with his 15 years of NBA experience:

What I can bring to the players outside x and os ... I have been very fortunate to coach with some very successful coaches in my career, I mean, very, very lucky. Everybody's dream is to play in the NBA. I've spent 15 years there. I know what it takes to play in that league, to have a chance to play in that league, and what can help you stay in that league. Besides just the x's and o's and how we're going to play and all that, I think I feel I can help them understand. I truly know what its like. So it's gotta be a partnership. You have to trust me when I'm trying to help you get there. I hope that half my team that I start the year with we only have half of that team when we're in the playoffs because they have been called up. That's my goal. If that happens, I think we've accomplished my mission.

Refinement:

Coach Cooper is said to be a great teacher and developer. I asked Coach Cooper if he will have to teach more in the D-League than he did in the NBA. Coach Cooper talked about refinement. He believes it is not really about teaching players new skills, rather it is about refining their game.

Don't know if you have to teach them more. You have to refine them more. Usually what it is its the refinement of their game which allows them to play at the next level. You're refining their game up there too but a lot of times its there's areas of opportunities, the things they need to work out. Instead of being a six inch hole its a nine inch hole, now you just got to shrink it. You have to refine it.

Guys up here a lot of D-League players. The guys up here, they may have a more complete game than an NBA player but a lot of the NBA is being special at something. You have to find something. These guys they're more utility guys but you try to find that one thing that you can that they can become elite at and boom and now they're in the NBA.

Conclusion:

Coach Cooper is a perfect fit for the Idaho Stampede and the Utah Jazz. Within the first two minutes of talking with Coach Cooper one can see how much he loves the game, that love shines through effectively to his players. After the practice players were going up to Cooper to thank him for the opportunity and asking to take pictures with him.

The Stampede and the Jazz will both benefit from Coach Cooper's depth of knowledge about the game. Cooper is a good teacher, yet he is demanding. His coaching style will help the Utah Jazz develop their young prospects when they are on assignment in the D-League. Cooper's style allows players to gain experience, learn the system, and to be disciplined. Players will leave his tutelage knowing how to play the "right way".

Exactly why Exum, Gobert etc. would be better off in the DLeague if they aren't ready to play every night in the NBA and even if they are might be better off playing big minutes in Idaho than bench minutes in Utah.

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David Stockton worked out with the Thunder last week and will work out with the Jazz this week, according to sources. Stockton is a point guard out of Gonzaga where he averaged 7.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists as senior. Sportando

love to see him in camp. His brother sure looked good in summer league the first year.

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Priority Sports: Congrats @Dahntay Jones on signing with the @Utah Jazz. We know you'll have a huge impact! Twitter

That leave one spot I think. Maybe Stockton.

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Tony Jones: The Jazz and Dahntay Jones are not quite official, NBA source tells the Salt Lake Tribune....The vet wing is in town today taking physical Twitter @Tjonessltrib

Tony Jones: The contract Jones is expected to sign will be non-guaranteed Twitter @Tjonessltrib

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Jorge Castillo: The #Wizards are considering inviting David Stockton to camp, as has been reported. His dad

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Gone is the gangly youngster. In his place is a sometimes snarling shot-blocker, a serious deterrent to guards and forwards with the audacity to drive into the paint. Will the Jazz benefit from their young center’s seeming improvement? Gobert certainly thinks so. "I feel way more confident than I did last season," he said. "I feel like I can help my team win. I feel like I can make a defensive impact, and help the team maintain. I was motivated to play in the World Cup. We had a good run and we finished high. I’m proud of what we accomplished." Salt Lake Tribune

No doubt he can make an impact defensively and on the boards. What about the other end?

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Gone is the gangly youngster. In his place is a sometimes snarling shot-blocker, a serious deterrent to guards and forwards with the audacity to drive into the paint.

He was a deterrent last year. Can he contribute at the other end is the question.

[QUOTE]Will the Jazz benefit from their young center

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Shams Charania: David Stockton, son of NBA legend John Stockton, plans to sign a training camp deal with the Wizards on Friday, league source tells RealGM. Twitter @ShamsCharania

Jazz still have spot if they want to use it on someone.

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With the starting five pretty much set in stone, the Jazz have to figure out a second unit.

Who's the shooters if they play those 5 together?

Booker and Novak will compete for power forward minutes behind Kanter.

Should be Evans, Booker and Gobert competing for minutes. Novak is a specialist not a rotation player.

The Jazz also have five or six players competing for the last open roster spot.

Are they going to add a 6th?

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Still, the Jazz will be under a bit of pressure to improve upon the 25 wins they were able to squeeze out of the 2013-2014 campaign. Lindsey and the entire Jazz organization knew last season would be difficult, and it was. But fans will want to see a step forward this time around, no matter how small.

Looks like they are tanking even harder to me. Not sure the fans care.

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Derrick Favors has established himself as a leader.

He has?

There is a thought that Burks could take a leap forward in Snyder’s pick-and-roll offense.

I'd expect it.

And center Rudy Gobert has the look of a defensive anchor, thanks to standout performances in summer league and the FIBA World Cup.

Not if he can't play both ends.

"Everyone’s excited to prove themselves, and we’re just chomping at the bit to get it all started," Hayward said. "We’re definitely going to be a little inexperienced. At the same time, we have youth, but we have a lot of athleticism on our side as well. With the way coach wants to play, we think we’re going to be able to surprise some people. We’re definitely going to be competitive. This is going to be a year of growth and learning. But at the same time, we’re definitely not going to be laying down for people."

This season will be pivotal in many ways.

Lindsey will have to make decisions on Burks and Kanter, who are both slated to be restricted free agents next summer. And 2014-15 will surely be a season of evaluation for second-year point guard Trey Burke, who will receive the bulk of the floor leader minutes

You sure? G and Burks are better floor leaders and Exum will be.

, but will do so with Exum’s shadow looming as the No. 5 pick and a potential franchise guy down the road.

The Jazz have many floating parts behind the core five, such as Gobert, Hood and players like free agent addition Trevor Booker, a power forward. There is a chance that the roster will need to be tweaked in order to add more shooting to space the floor the way Snyder truly wants.

Funny how Evans is a forgotten man after a solid year.

"There’s a little bit of unknown heading into the season," Lindsey said. "We’re excited to see the same players, but with added maturity. We’re excited that Trey has been much different; he’s taking on a leadership role. Gordon has added to his body to handle the load. We’ve all been able to see Rudy’s growth. Derrick has plugged himself into the community. When you wrap up all of that hard work, there’s a tangible excitement around the team. There are a lot of subplots, and a lot of intrigue."

It all translates into a different way of basketball for the Utah Jazz. Fans are more apt to see a Jazz team scoring 100 or 110 points in a given game, instead of 90 or 95. The 3-point shots at EnergySolutions Arena will be free-flowing and plentiful. A Utah team that has traditionally plays little transition basketball will get out on the break and run the floor.

Will all of this translate to wins? Probably not immediately, not with a team this young and callow. But the fans have been clamoring for the youth movement in full, and this is the first season where it will be on display.

tjones@sltrib.com

Twitter: @tjonessltrib