2021 Off-Season. Another short one

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/464362/report-...r-draft-picks/

Royce O’Neale, Jordan Clarkson, Joe Ingles, and Bojan Bogdanovic were all important members of the Jazz roster that finished with the best record in the NBA last season. Each player makes between $8.5 and $18.7 million next season and could give the Jazz financial relief in a trade that brings back a first-round draft pick.

Clarkson, Favors and Hughes

As a result, last year’s pick Udoka Azubuike is the only player on the Jazz roster on a cost-controlled rookie contract. Devoid of more established young talent, acquiring additional picks on Thursday night could clear salary-cap space to re-sign Conley while adding much-needed youth to the roster.

Hughes. Oni and Morgan I think might still have non guaranteed years left on theirs as well

[Xiao Yao You]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wireta...Mike-Conley-Jr

[Xiao Yao You]

League executives believe Conley is most likely to stay in Utah, with the Jazz investigating the possibility of reducing payroll to make room next to Donovan Mitchell’s new max contract coming onto the books. The Jazz have the 30th pick and could use that as incentive to offload salary if needed.
– via Brian Windhorst @ ESPN

[Xiao Yao You]

The Mavericks are also considered to be a possible landing spot for Jazz guard Mike Conley, although there’s a strong belief around the league that Utah will be successful in its attempts to shed salary and offer Conley a substantial deal.

– via Jake Fischer @ Bleacher Report

they can offer him a deal regardless if they shed salary. Rather the owner wants to pay is the question. Favors, Clarkson and Hughes

[Xiao Yao You]

Keith Smith: Rodney Hood’s contract with the Toronto Raptors will guarantee for $10,851,246 if he’s not waived today.

– via Twitter KeithSmithNBA

at least they aren't paying him

[Xiao Yao You]

The Jazz remain engaged in talks on trading the No. 30 pick to send Derrick Favors’ salary elsewhere, sources said.

– via Jake Fischer @ Bleacher Report

give up a 1st just to get rid of him

[Xiao Yao You]

On Sunday, ESPN reported “the Jazz reportedly have some luxury tax concerns” and may look to move a veteran like Joe Ingles for a pick. The Action Network’s Matt Moore said the Jazz are “eager” to move Derrick Favors and would attach this pick to do so. League sources have told me the same. If Utah elects to retain this selection, or add another, Sharpe is a perfect target. He’s a tough big who could back up Rudy Gobert and provide some small-ball 5 potential with his versatility.

– via nbadraft.theringer.com

took a center last year. A rookie won't play

[Xiao Yao You]

Bobby Marks: Toronto had until 5PM ET. on Tuesday to make a decision on the $10,851,246 contract for 2021/22. The guaranteed date has now been pushed back to August 3. The guaranteed dates of Baynes, Boucher, Watson, Bembry and now Hood are after FA begins.
– via Twitter BobbyMarks42

[Xiao Yao You]

The stars continue to come out to Wild Card Gym to take a peek at Sen. Manny Pacquiao as he prepares for his upcoming bout with Errol Spence Jr. On Saturday (Sunday, Manila time), Pacquiao had a star-studded group of Fil-Am guests headlined by Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson. Clarkson was joined by music artists Apl.de.Ap and J. Rey Soul — both of whom have Filipino lineage — of the Black Eyed Peas.
– via Luisa Morales @ philstar.com




A sign addressing systemic racism was recently removed from the Whitefish Bay Public Library grounds following vocal criticism from some in the community — including former Milwaukee Bucks player Steve Novak. The sign, which was placed in a rock garden display outside the library by Bay Bridge Wisconsin — a group that focuses on “raising awareness of racial and cultural bias in our community” — described its vision for the North Shore suburb.
– via Mary Spicuzza and Eddie Morales @ Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel






“There is an offensive sign posted in front of the public library that incorrectly generalizes our community. It says that Whitefish Bay recognizes systemic racism,” Novak, who works as an analyst for the Bucks on Bally Sports Wisconsin (formerly Fox Sports Wisconsin), wrote in a June 8 email to Nyama Reed, the library’s director. “What group has taken the liberty of speaking for our community in such a hateful, damaging and inaccurate way?”
– via Mary Spicuzza and Eddie Morales @ Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

[Xiao Yao You]

Tony Jones: The Oklahoma City Thunder are not expected to extend a qualifying offer to center Tony Bradley, League Sources tell The Athletic, making him an unrestricted free agent. Bradley, a former Jazz, is expected to have multiple teams interested in him on the open market

– via Twitter Tjonesonthenba

nice cheap backup. Who could use one of those?

[Xiao Yao You]

5 free agents who could help the Jazz (msn.com)

Nicolas Batum

why would he want to sit at the end of COTY's bench?

The Jazz’s most glaring weaknesses were exposed during their second-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers. The need for a small-ball five, versatility and to be able to win front-court battles in space were all things made clear when battling against the likes of Nicolas Batum. What better way to address those weaknesses than to go get the man who made you pay for having them.

their biggest weakness is no 4, 2 gunners that don't pass, too many guys that don't play any D and the coach

Raul Neto

stop with this shit already. He wasn't liked the first time he was here

Raul Neto spent a season in Philadelphia and then a season with the Washington Wizards. It probably wouldn’t be that hard to convince him to come back to a team with very little drama that would almost guarantee a trip to the playoffs.

unless he had no other offers he'd be stupid to come back even if it was more money

Solomon Hill

supposedly liked him before but that might have just been the Wizard

Here’s what we know. Payne was excellent for the Suns and has shown significant growth. He shot 44% from 3 last season and is a great ballhandler.

does he play D? Could have had him like the rest of the league

He might be willing to take a minimum deal to be on a contending team.

Jazz aren't contenders

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/464573/ingles-...against-italy/

The Boomers improved to 2-0 in Group B while both Italy and Germany have a loss apiece. Fellow Jazzman Miye Oni’s Nigerian team fell to 0-2 with a loss to Germany late Tuesday night.

so much for Nigeria being good

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/464459/utah-ja...ct-joel-ayayi/

Defensively Ayayi has good height at 6’5 and a wingspan around 6’7 which allows him to defend multiple positions in the backcourt and with added weight could potentially defend smaller forwards as well.

dino arms not Wizard approved

[Xiao Yao You]

https://saltcityhoops.com/mock-offse...mountain-mike/

So yeah, I’m talking about the type of fans that finds a good chunk of their entertainment from being an armchair general manager. If you’re reading this article you may be one of us. To be clear, I’m not an armchair general manager because I think I would do a better job — that is not the case despite occasional bemoaning like “what was Dennis thinking drafting a center?”. I realize there’s a layer of knowledge only the front office has access to and there are real limitations ESPN’s trade machine doesn’t account for. Mainly it’s just fun. Team building is an endlessly changing puzzle that’s never truly solved.

Both their rotation centers were free agents and out of their 6 rookies they had everything but a big center. Obvious pick

The easy answer to what the Jazz need is: long, athletic wings that can shoot and defend multiple positions. This also happens to be the most sought-after player archetype in the league. The Jazz are not going to find a do-it-all star wing like Jaylen Brown or Paul George. But they will look for lesser versions that can help with perimeter defense while not killing their spacing.

a starting 4 that can protect the rim and perimeter, play small ball 5 and not kill the spacing

It’s possible to find these guys on the margins. A few examples:

Ersan could have helped the Jazz but didn't because of COTY

Finding an impact low-cost wing takes some luck. Craig’s shot was shaky enough that the World Champion Bucks were willing to let him go. PJ Tucker is 35 and looked completely uninterested in Houston. Batum was considered washed before his buyout. Any of those moves could’ve flamed out.

you mean like Favors, Clarkson and Hughes?

Ingles is a fantastic player, but has seen struggles in the last two playoffs. The reason may be that he’s been asked to do so much when injuries hit. I’d like to keep turning-age-34 Ingles well rested and add another ball-handler so Ingles can remain a secondary distributor.

agree

In the Clippers series the Jazz needed one more guy with a little zip. With Conley’s hamstring and Mitchell’s ankle injures, the team lacked another guy who could break the paint. On the flip side, Los Angeles had that guy in Reggie Jackson, and Utah couldn’t stop him.

they had Clarkson! Need defenders more to stop the Reggie's

The Scenarios

Dump Clarkson, Favors and Hughes and go from there

The Jazz cut ties with Matt Thomas and Juwan Morgan. Both have potential, but the Jazz need different contributions and roster spots. I could go either way with Georges Niang. He had a very solid regular season, spacing the floor and defending much better. Count me in as Niang believer even after a lackluster postseason. I’d be happy if the Jazz brought him back. In this scenario the Jazz don’t bring him back for a few reasons: 1) he may have priced himself out of Utah’s budget, 2) the Jazz need minutes to offer more defensive-oriented wings, and 3) the Jazz prioritize proven playoff track records and perimeter defense over Niang’s floor spacing. That said, losing Georges would be a sad thing — he’s a great dude and has earned a place in this league.

They need Morgan to bad the coach sucks. Niang is likely gone. Niang was one of the few guys defending

Jarrell Brantley or Trent Forrest both have potential, but the Jazz already have enough young talent to develop in Elijah Hughes, Udoka Azuibuke, and their 2021 first round pick. There’s also Miye Oni, who in this scenario the Jazz keep as one of their wing options. One area the Jazz could’ve addressed differently last season was emphasizing veterans over young talent at the end of their roster. Yes, they brought in Ersan Ilyasova and Matt Thomas, but neither contributed in the playoffs. None of the other young guys were able to help much when injuries hit the Jazz. In contrast, we saw Frank Kaminsky and the afore-mentioned Craig and Tucker play valuable minutes in the Finals. The Jazz could prioritize more proven talent while still maintaining some youth development.

Hughes sucks. Ideally you're not developing more than 4 guys. Two two ways and two not dressing also in Gleague. The rest vets. Brantley needs to go because COTY sucks. Forrest is good if they think he can shoot. None of the young guys got a chance to help you mean.

This leaves the roster at:

Mike Conley, Joe Ingles

Donovan Mitchell, Jordan Clarkson, Elijah Hughes
Royce O’Neale, Miye Oni
Bojan Bogdanovic
Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, Udoka Azubuike

3 that definitely should go

The biggest need is a backup power forward who will replace Niang’s minutes. The best tool is their taxpayer mid-level exception. Salt City Hoops will look more in depth at options for this player, but a few ideas are: Nic Batum, Rudy Gay, and Otto Porter Jr. Any of those could end up earning more than the available $5.9 million, but the Jazz are a contender and could lure a veteran chasing a ring like the did with Joe Johnson. Right now I’ll pick Rudy Gay, whose size would be a great fit for this roster.

starting 4

The Jazz could use their $5 million trade exception (which again, Salt City Hoops will explore later), but since they’re already spending so much they elect to use a veteran exception. This could be another wing defender like Trevor Ariza or Torrey Craig, or a journeyman point guard like Raul Neto. I’ll go with Neto, who is a fan favorite and coming off a career year. But I’m tempted to just use this one more wing and resolve the point guard situation later with the last roster spot if needed.

when was Neto anyone's favorite but me? Need to COTY proof the roster. He doesn't like Neto

Utah retains flexibility. They can make a trade, or use their final roster spot later in the season if needed. If disaster strikes, they can try to shed money at the trade deadline.

disaster i.e. Gobert going down

[Xiao Yao You]

For Utah, the challenge is making a move for the roster that, in conjunction with the upcoming free agency, vaults the team squarely into title contention. And that probably won’t be easy with the assets the Jazz have. League sources tell The Athletic that All-Star point guard Mike Conley is likely to stay with the Jazz once free agency opens, but the price tag won’t be a cheap one. If that indeed comes to fruition, the Jazz will have to figure out how to fill the roster out and make improvements.

– via Tony Jones @ The Athletic





The Jazz need wings. That much is certain. League sources indicate the Jazz like rising second-year player Hughes to the point where he could find his way in Utah’s rotation. The caveat is that Hughes needs to have a good showing in Summer League play, especially on the defensive end. The Jazz really like what he brings offensively. They want to see what he is able to bring on the other end of the floor.
– via Tony Jones @ The Athletic

need a starting 4. Hughes?